The Harlowton news., 1913-12-05
q Scientific
Exp:erll
BY WILLARD BLAkEMAN

| When the Franco-prussian war broke
out Edward penton. a young American
! medical student who. on account OF
youth, had escaped being either killed
| by ammunition or disease in the great
struggle that had ended five years be
fore in his own country, went to Ger
many aud through the influence Of the
4 American minister was accepted us
assistant surgeon with rank Of lieuten
| ant. sEs$ @
After the battle Of Gravelotte, when
all the medical staff was most needed.
word was brought to DR.. Snedicker
4 medical director Of the PrussiaD army.
4 that the American had deliberately In
suited a medical officer Of his own
1 rank and that duel was to be fought
/ between the two
.'rhis is very wrong" exclaimed the
doctor with a scowl These two
young men may both be disabled, and
we have not now enough physicians to
A take care OF the wounded
"And yet. doctor, the challenge hav-
ing passed, there is no way out OF it.
Both would have to leave the army il
they did, fight
4 4They don't fight duels in America"
said DR. Snedicker Send this Ameri-
can to me-
/ Penton reported and the doctor en-
deayored to persuade him to apologize.
/ "I'll tell you what III do, doctor"
Penton replied TIL agree to fire an
imaginary shot at him, and if heis not
killed at the FIRST fire ! will apologize
to him.
| what do you mean by that! RI
Permit the duel on the following
terms: Make two tablets both harm
less. Announce that one contains a
deadly poison. The principals each
choose tablet. Convince my oppo-
nent. Lieutenant Berkhalter, that he
has chosen the poisoned one
IF that will satisfy you. proceed
AS soon MS the wounded were at
least temporarily provided for pr
Snedicker called number Of medi,
cal officers into his tent and. last of
all, the participants of the duel. He
showed them two pellets exactly alike
4 in appearance. announcing that one
was harmless while the other contain
the poison would have the taste Of the
kernel Of peach stones And now.
gentlemen" concluded the doctor
choose 1t is better for this army to
have one live surgeon than two dis
abied ones'
Berkhalter bravely stepped up to his
superior, put his hand into q glass
tumbler and took out one Of two tab
. lets. Penton took the remaining one.
Then at "a word from the commander
each put his tablet in his mouth. An
officer 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 prllssic acid given
him by his superior. One Of the off.
GERS stepped up to the doomed man
and said:
| "If you have anything to say, say 1t
\ quick. The poison acts at once"
II have only to say that propose to
| die as all officer of the Prussian army
| should replied the plucky doctor.
I At the same time he felt his legs
giving way under him. and he sank
T into the arms of his second, who car
: ried him to an army cot and laid him
upon 1t, Penton went to him and Of
fered him his hand.
i II envy you" he said your oppor-
tunity to show your bravery. would
| not have you die without withdraw wing
! the offensive words spoke to you"
T But Rerkhalter had passed into un:
consciousness.
"Are you satisfed?' asked DR.. Sned;
ECKER to Penton,
"Wait Il moment. His Imagination
cannot act while lie is unconscious. Hi
will revive presently"
Snedicker was disposed to put an
: end to the matter before 1t should be
too late. but German is nothing II
| not an investigator, and he was con
tent to grant the request on the grounG
OF science.
/ Presently Berkhalter opened his eyes
| but, seeing a group of officers stand
I ing over him. watching him die. ht
| closed them again.
| One Of the medical men present wen
/ to the cot and placed his hand OF
| Berkhalter's heart. then looked anxious
/ " at the American.
"a few minutes he said. will place
him beyond the pale of revival"
Penton whipped a vial from his pock
. ct and, removing the stopper. held i
! under his antagonists nose. Berkhal
| ter again opened his eyes.
'"Tell him." said Penton and immedi
ately left the tent.
u Doctor said snedicker. ''you have