The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-27
The
Harmony Germ"
BY CEClLE LANCDON
copyright. 1919. By Western Nswspapss Unios.)

Vopyrgnt. lbAS. py western NsWspspW onzos-)
The young lawyer, Paul Drury. was
amazed as he saw old DIR. Eben Mar
ston take the arm of Ben Adams, the
confirmed inebriate of the town, and
| lead him into the nearest bar room.
Coming out of the place the retired
| physician observed Nat GoOkins, lad
Of eleven, putting away at a cigarette,
sheltered by an ash box In an alley.
DR.. Marston blandly advanced toward
| the callow youth, who dropped the
cigarette with a sheepish grin, and
| deliberately handed him full grown
cigar.
Paul was not only astounded, but
curious. Was the aged physician,
highest order, taking leave Of his
senses He kept closely on his trail.
The doctor was halted by Andrew
Reed, shivering, nerve-racked dope
fiend. lie made pathetic appeal to
the doctor. The latter conversed with
him earnestly. Then he took out his
medicine case and handed the suf-
ferer small phial.
"Well! what in the world does all
this mean?" marveled Paul.
II he had seen the aged physician
before he left home carefully prepare
several small capsules, one Of which
he had inserted In a slit In the cigar,
and two others, which he had dropped
in turn into the phial he had given
Andrew Reed and into the stimulant
he had bought for Ben Adams, he
would have been still further mysti-
fed. He and DR.. Marston were close
friends and later in the day he dropped
into his office.
Doctor" he said, II am no spy,
but l saw you do some strange things
today"
Eyes? I observed that you were
watching me-" nodded the doctor i'm
perturbably.
"You did? Then you can fancy how
was puzzled and-yes, actually
shocked. What were you up to, any
how? Helping that poor sot go fur
Their down the ladder Encouraging
that lad to smoke! Keeping up the
misery Of that poor wreck, Reedw
mot at ALL" responded DR.. Marston
quite casually. II am intent on cur
ing them"
Curing themf"
Saving them, I should have said.
Drury, you are friend l can trust
and am going to impart to you some
ahn til
three subjects you saw me operate on
today are experiments for my har-
mony germ system"
Harmony germ!" repeated Paul
vaguely. "And what HAY that beY'
'Listen-while was on my trip
around the world, at a choice little
island in the southern Pacific I dis
covered an earthly paradise. It's In
habitants were mild, friendly people
all kindness and geniality. Its fruits
and flowers were exquisite. The peo-
pie ate no meat. Even the birds and
animals Of that select spot subsisted
entirely on fruits, vegetables and
grain. / studied it all out. l made
a great discovery. / located the har-
mOny germ-that Is, substance per-
vading all the flora and fauna Of that
lovely ocean-bound Eden, which
seemed to make everything in nature
harmonious. 1t may not be precisely
germ, but it is vitality a substance
which puts good where there has been
bad. 1 have determined to expert
ment with it. You have seen three
subjects operated on. Wait month
to my erratic idea"
If Paul had known the truth hS
would have learned that Adams had
fallen and broken a limb the very day
DR.. Marston had administered his har-
mony germ. One lesson had been a
warning to him and he had reformed.
Likewise, Ned was smoking the doc
tored cigar in the woodshed when
his father called him. He had thrown
the lighted weed among some shaw
ings. The shed burned down. Ned
was scared into repentance and be-
came a better boy.
Now all this set Paul thinking seri-
ously. There was that upon his mind
which impelled him to seek DR.. Mar
stOn one day.
Doctor" he said, "it's a wonder
what that harmony germ has done for
your subjects. Maybe you can help
me-"
"How is that, Drury?" propounded
DR.. Marston.
swell, have been counting Edna
Bell for nearly year. know that
she likes me, but whenever 1 try to
talk Of marrying she puts me off.
Give me some of your harmony germ,
I'll mix 1t in with box of candy and
await results"
"All right" acquiesced DR.. Marston
accommodatingly.
A month to a day after that Paul
G.t-