Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1912-10-03
A Scientific
Experiment
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

struggle that had ended Eve years be.
fore In his own country. went to Ger
many and through the influence Of the
American minister was accepted al
assistant surgeon with rank Of lieuten.
ant.
After the battle Of Gravclotte. when
all the medical stan was most needed,
word was brought to DR.. Snedicker,
medical director Of the Prussian army,
that the American had deliberately in.
suited a medical officer Of his own
rank and that duel was to be fought
between the two.
This Is very wrong" exclaimed the
doctor with u scowl. "These two
young men may both be disabled and
we have not now enough physicians to
take care Of the wounded"
And yet. doctor. the challenge hav-
Ing passed. there Is no way out Of 1t.
Both would have to leave the army II
they did not fight"
''They don't nght duels In America y
said DR.. Snedicker "Send this Ameri.
can to me-"
Penton reported. and the doctor en-.
deavored to persuade him to apologize.
"l'll tell you what I'll do. DOCTOR
Penton replied. I'll agree to Are an
imaginary shot at him. and II he is not
killed at the FIRST Ore ! will apologize
to him."
"What do you mean by that?''
"Permit the duel on the following
terms: Make two tablets. both harm
less. Announce that one contains a
deadly poison. The principals each
choose a tablet Convince my oppo-
nent. Lieutenant Berkhalter. that he
has chosen the poisoned one"
III that will satisfy you. proceed"
Az soon a the wounded were at
least temporarily provided for DR..
Snedlcker called a number of medl-
cal officers into bis tent and. last Of
all. the participants Of the duel. He
showed them two pellets exactly alike
In appearance. announcing that one
was harmless while the other contain
ed prussic acid. The one containing
the poison would have the taste Of the
kernel Of peach stones. And now.
gentlemen" concluded the doctor.
choose. It IL better for this army to
have one live surgeon than two dis.
abled ones"
Berkhalter bravely stepped up to his
superior. put his hand into a glass
tumbler and took out one Of two tab
lets. Penton took the remaining one
Then at q word from the commander
each put his tablet In bis mouth An
omcer handed each a glass Of water.
which he was required to drink in or
der to make sure that he had swal.
lowed his Dose
Berkhalter turned pale. He had rec
ognized the taste Of prussic acid given
him BY his superior. One Of the OH.
GERS stepped up to the doomed man
and said:
III you have anything to say. say it
quick. The poison acts at once"
II have only to say that propose to
die a. an ohlcer Of the Prussian army
should" replied the plucky doctor.
At the same time he felt bis legs
giving way under him. and he sank
into the arms Of bis second, who car
RED him to an army cot and laid him
upon It Penton went to him and Of
fered him his hand.
II envy you" he said. ''your oppor.
tunity to show your bravery. I would
not have you die without withdra wing
the offensive words I spoke to you"
But Berkhalter had passed into I'M
consciousness.
"Are you sat1sfedr' asked DR.. Sned
ECKER to Penton.
"Wait moment His Imagination
cannot act while he IL unconscious. He
will revive presently"
Snedicker was disposed to put an
end to the matter before II should be
too late. but a German Is nothing II
not an Investigator. and he was con-
tent to grant the request on the ground
Of science.
Presently Berkhalter opened his eyes:
but. seeing a group of officers stand.
ing over him. watching him die. he
closed them again
One Of the medical men present went
to the cot and placed his hand on
" at the American.
"A few minutes" he said. Twill place
him beyond the pale Of revival"
Penton whipped a vial from his peck
ct and. removing the stopper. held 1t
under his antagonists nose. Berkhal
ter again opened his eyes.
Tell him." said Penton and immedi
ately left the tent.
Doctor" said Snedicker. ''you have
not swallowed poison. The duel has
been turned into a scientific demonstrn
ton. Neither tablet contained poison"
"Where Is the cursed Americana"
cried Rerkhalter. standing erect II
shall kill him.
Here Ia written apology"
II want no apology. I shall kill'-
A corporal came In. but Rerkhalter
had no mind to be handled ny an en-.
listed man and subsidized.
Penton received q warning from, his
commander that he had better keep
out Of his late opponents way II he
didn't wish to die q violent death. In
stead Of doing no. the next time he saw
his enemy he approached him with
,utstretched hand.
"'rhese Americans" said Rer:halter.
"have NO sentiment"
THE No0lEST ROMAN,
THIS was the noblest Roman Of
= them all.