The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-02-17


Belgian children are I'm dire need Of sho'
a look of despair.
The factory was place where ex-
ploslves were manufactured. The only
protection for the secret processes In
use there was to make life prisoners Of
those engaged In compromising the
chemicals which constituted the ex-
plosive substance. Most Of the men
employed were kept from knowing
these secrets by being confined to only
a portion Of the work Many were not
sufficiently intelligent. But there were
persons who understood the whole OF
one or more processes.
Peter was born scientist. He soon
showed that he was capable Of being
made one of the principal compound
ers. and. since there were books In the
factory suited to the work being done.
he studied. though rather from desire
to escape his memories of the outside
world than any desire to benefit him
self. When absorbed in the fairy tales
of chemical science. for the time being
he forgot all else.
Peter was so serviceable that after
awhile he was put in charge Of the
manufacture Of certain explosive. Ii
was not only expensive. but unrelia-
bic. Peter. being natural investiga
tor. set himself to work to find some
other combination that would not cost
so much to manufacture, but would
give better satisfaction.
One day an order came to the fac
tory to turn out as much work as pos
sible. New hands were introduced, and
large quantities Of stock from which
the product was evolved were brought
in. With the order came the news
that Germany had declared wal
against Russia.
Peter, who by this time was ip ex-
elusive charge of the explosive sub
stance for shells and could use any
process he chose. manufactured lot
Of shell explosive by his newly discov-
cred process. This went into shells
which were sent TO the front. Peter
who could not make any tests without
giving away his secret, waited for a
report of how his explosive worked
or, rather. to hear If there was any
complaint. None came. Then he sent
out some powder manufactured by the
old process. Very soon a report came
that n proportion Of these shells would
not explode.
Then Peter went to the governor OF
the works and told him that he had
I invented a powder for shells that had
worked perfectly. The governor at
tempted to get the secret. but Peter
| kept IT, This he could easily do since
there was one ingredient the nature OF
which no one knew but himself lie
offered to sell the formula TO the gov
/ eminent provided that I'm addition Il
/ the price paid he should be free "a
leave the factory.
Graft predominates in Russia, and
1 the governor determined TO force Pc
tcr's secret from him 10 use it for hi,
own benefit. He put Peter In irons In
/ dungeon and on bread and water
| II is quite likely that Peter would
/ have given way under this treatment
had it not been that by holding out he
might secure his terms. II he did hC
could marry Maya, who had ASSURED
| him that she would never he the wife
of any one else If he did not succeed
l death might relieve him of his impris
/ onmCnt.
/ Complaints came SO thick and fas
| Of the shells sent out from the fac
tory that one day the governor orderet
/ Peter 10 be brought 10 his Office
When liz arrived all others were or
/ dercd out ana when the two wer,
alone together the governor said:
81 have concluded 10 recommend e
/ the government to buy your formula
| How much do you ask for IL"
Ten thousand rubles,"
Every well; il will be paid. My com
mission will bc one-half"
II viii pay no commission. 4 MAJ
| who brides government official Is n
culpable as that official"
You win think better OF this" sal,
| the governor. Go back to your dun
seon."
Peter returned 10 his dungeon. Ill
was fun of expedlents and endeayore,
to find one by which he could com
municate with Marya. He could writ,
to her, but all letters from those I'm
side the factory were examined by ,
censor, Peter induced the man wh'
brought him his food TO bring also writ
ing material and bottle ON the shelves
In the laboratory, giving him the nam,
ON the label. Upon receiving them Pc
ter wrote letter TO Maya In ordinar,
ink and across its face with the chem
zeal n message stating that he had In
vented a new explosive, but was pre-
vented from using IT, What was writ
ten In plain ink contained this sentence
I'VE are suffering with the heat" Thl'
| waS IN conway nm tnSfruction IN MarVs