Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-11-21
The Capitals.
Short Story
Blown Up!
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright. ials. western Newspaper Union,

'SopsE1knA AsAo' "Steln newspaper tns~AJ
as that man still here?'
"You mean Mr.. Disney? Yes. Aunt
Marcia. he is still carrying on his ex-
periments down near the ravine."
Miss Marcia Walden, spinster. shiv-
cred, shuddered and drew her shawl
about her thin shoulders In a protect
ing way. THAT man" was Paul Dis
ney. He had come to Alton three
weeks previously, and had rented from
Elva Bissell's mother an old disman-
tied shed located on a barren seques-
tered portion of the old farm near
where there was a deep rocky ravine.
Then he had put up signs on the trees
all about, bearing the ominous warn
ing word: "Dangeri"
He had explained to Elva that he
was in the service of a company man.
ufacturing high explosives and de-
sired secluded spot where he could
experiment with no annoyance or peril
TO others.
Before he gets through he'll prob
ably blow himself up" Aunt Marcia
scolded now.
"Oh, ! think not. He tells me he
is very careful. hope not. Aunt
Marcia"
"You seem considerably interested In
the young man." limited Aunt Marcia,
with a searching look.
Il am" frankly confessed Elva. HE
is very kind to the children, insists
on saving mother going downtown for
things, and, as you know. is paying
us literally for the use of the old shed.
This was true. Bissell farm was
sterile, poorly watered In the dry sea-
son, as poorly drained in the wet sea-
son. Alton river, navigable and yielding
to the rich soil over beyond the ravine
the fruit of an inexhaustible fertility,
was diverted and cut Off by great
wall of rock, and everything to the
east, like Bissell farm, was designated
a part of ''the bad lands"
About noon, two days after that, the
bright-faced, kindly-eyed young fellow
answering to the name of Paul Disney,
came around to the rear of the porch to
the Bissell home, where Elva was iron
ing.
Thought I'd tell you, Miss Bissell,"
he announced casually. my expert
ments have succeeded and In day or
two I'll be going back to the city,"
Elva's face fell so palpably that by
its expression and hastened to say,
though blushingly: 1.-THE children will
miss you"
Il am about to make final expert
ment," proceeded Disney. land thought
you might witness it, for it will be
something like Fourth of July fire.
works."
Elva accompanied Paul to the old
shed. The latter went inside, brought
out clammy-looking tin canister, and
going over to where giant tree stump
was imbedded deep in the ground
placed 1t in among the fibrous roots.
He attached a fuse and ran back to
where Elva was sheltered by lean
to of the old shed.
snow watch and see what half an
OOnNC Va lhC new CAPAOSifC hufC 0AS-
covered will do" he said.
His last words were obscured by a
deafening report. Elva thrilled, alarm
ed, put her hands over her ears and,
awed, saw the great stump go hurting
up into the air, leaving hole In the
ground, big enough to hold horse and
wagon.
"It must be terrible stuff" she
tremored.
'Yes," replied Disney. "Early to-
morrow morning / am going to dump
and explode the rest of it near the
dead water arm of the river at the
ravine edge. I'm through here and
shall have some very pleasant men,
cries of the friends l have made"
sit has been a break in the mo-
notony, can assure you," murInured
Elva, and wistfully.
1t was just at dawn the next morn
ing that the inmates of the Bissell
home were almost thrown from their
beds by an explosion that ratified win
dows for a mile around. EIva dressed
hurriedIy and ran out.
"Oh, heard-that is, / hoped-yOu
are safer she stammered, with pallid
face. coming abruptly upon Disney.
'Oh. yes" he said in his easy smil-
ing way. Il never get too near the
giant I have created when 1t is likely
to growl. Miss Bissell, "and his face
grew serious" the explosion has done
something I never counted on, and l
am wondering IL the township won't
prosecute me for malicious mischief"
"Why, what do you mean, Mr.. Dis
ney?r
''The explosion has blown away one
entire side of the ravine wall and
look -
He caught Elva's hand and led her
beyond a line of trees. In marveling
wonder she stood. dumfounded, and
stared The ravine wall was gone, and
pouring over its lowest level was tor
rent, almost a waterfall of rushing,
sparkling water. The dry ravine had
become a waterway. a new arm of the
river had been created.
Propprfy went m two hundred Der