Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-08-21
The
Harmony Germ
By cEcllLE LANCDoN
Copyright. 1919. By Western N.vsss,se -uaies.

StOn take the arm OF Ben Adams, the
confirmed lnebriate 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 cigarette.
sheltered by I'm ash box in an alley.
DIR. Marston blandly advanced toward
the callow youth, who dropped the
cigarette with sheepish grin, and
deliberately handed him full grown
cigar:
Paul was not only astoundetl, but
curious. Was the aged physician,
whose morals and habits were of the
highest order, taking leave Of his
senses! He kept closely on his trail.
The doctor was halted by. Andrew
Reed, a 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.
If he had seen the aged physician
before he left home carefully prepare
several small capsules, one of which
lie had inserted in 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 nm no spy,
but saw you do some strange things
today"
Eyes? l observed that you were
watching me-" nodded the doctor i'm
perturbably.
"You did, Then you can fancy how
I was puzzled and-yes, actually
shocked. What were you up to, any
how? Helping that poor sot go fur
thcr down the ladder! Encouraging
that lad to smoke! Keeping up the
misery of that poor wreck, Reed!"
mot ut ,all," responded DR.. Marston
quite casually. II am intent on cur
ing them"
Curing them?"
"Saving them, I should have said.
Drury, you are friend can trust
and l am going to impart to you some
thing absolutely confidential. Those
three subjects you saw me operate on
today are experiments for my har-
rnonv nerm system" =
Harmony gerln!" repeated Paul
vaguely. "And what may that bet"
'Listen-while was on my trip
around the world, ut choice little
island In the southern Pacific dis
covered an earthly paradise. Its 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 subslsted
entirely on fruits, vegetables and
grain. studied It all out. I made
great discovery. located the har-
mony germ-that is. substance per-
vading all the fora and fauna Of that
lovely ocean-bound Eden. which
seemed to make everything in nature
harmonious. It may not be precisely
germ. but 1t is vitality substance
which puts good where there has been
bad. I have determined to expert
ment with 1t. You have seen three
subjects operated on. Wait month
and then decide If there is any basis
to my erratic idea."
If Paul had known the truth he
would have leurned that Adams had
fallen and broken 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 better boy.
Now oil this set Paul thinking seri.
o,lsly. There was that upon his mind
which impelled him to seek DIR. Mar.
ston one day.
Doctor" he said, "it's wonder
wllat that harmony germ has done for
your subjects. Maybe you can help
me-"
"How is that, pruryT propounded
DIR. Marstoa.
"Well, l have been counting Edna
Bell for nearly year. know that
she likes me, but whenever try to
talk Of marrying she puts me off.
Give me some of your harmony germ,
Ill mix 1t in with a box of candy and
await results"
IAN right" acquiesced DR.. Marston
accolnmodatingly.
A month to day after that Paul
sat beside the fair Edna, being pos.
sessed of joy Incredible. for she was
his promised bride.
'Pnul," she said, ut was that box
Of candy that urged me to accept
you"
"Har' whispered Paul to himself,
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