Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-07-19

inches square. He opened this, and.
from where 1t was nestled in wad-
ding, took out what looked like a
cylindrical-shaped piece of lead of
the thickness and length of ones lit
tie finger. He held it out in the palm
of his hand for their inspection.
Inside this sealed lead covering"
he explained. lis glass tube her
metically sealed. The lead, of course,
absorbs the rays, which otherwise
would render. the radium extremely
dangerous to handle. You perhaps
remember the story-ifl not. it may
possibly be of interest. Radium, you
know, was discovered in lsaS by
Monsieur and Madame Curie: but
the action of radium on human It's
sizes was unknown until 1901. when
Professor BecQuerel.s of Paris, having
incautiously carried a tube in his
waistcoat pocket, there appeared on
the skin within two weeks the severe
Inflammation which has become
known as the famous .Becquerel
active Investigation into the action
of radium has been carried on, re-
sulting in the establishment in Paris
in 1905 of the Laboratoire Biologique
du Radium,"
The doctor from Selkirk reached
out, and. obtaining a smiling per-
mission, picked up the lead cylinder
from the others hand. The reporter
sucked noisily on the butt of his
cigar.
And dye mean to say that's worth
one hundred thousand dollars?" he
demanded helpiessly.
Fully" replied the foreigner
gravely. IL should consider myself
very fortunate if 1 had the means
and the opportunity of purchasing it
at that price. There are only few
grains there, it is true. and yet even
that is very appreeiable percentage
of the worlds entire output for a
single year. The Austrian govern
ment, when 1t bought the radium-
producing, pitchblende mines at
you know, acquired
what is practically II worlds monop-
oily of radium. And since the an
iiuai production of ore from those
mines is but about twenty-five thou
sand pounds, and that from those
thousand pounds only
like folty-six grains of
ieadium are obtained. it is not diff
cult to understand the enormous
price which it commands"
The little lead cylinder passed from
RI n ~ J,,c ~
Hawk. He examined it with no more
and no less interest than had been
displayed by the others, and returned
1t to its owner, who replaced it in
the black handbag.
Look here" said the reporter i'm
Inlsiyeiy, II don't want to nose into
personal affairs; but, If it's fair
question. what are YOU going to do
with the stuff"
1t was the doctor from Selkirk
who spoke before the foreigner had
time to reply.
Il was being tempted to ask the
same question myself" he said
Quickly. II am a physician--Docto
NdorelIng is my name-and from
what you have said l imagine that
possibly YOU are q medical man your
self?''
"And you are quite right" the
ether answered cordially. II am
Doctor Meunier. and / come from
Paris"
What" exclaimed the Selkirk
physician excitedly. Not Doctor
Nieunier, the famous cancer special-
tSt and surgeon, of the Salpetriere
hospital!''
The other shrugged his shoulders
protestingly.
WELL" he smiled, little embar-
rassed. my name is certainly Neu-
nier, and 1t is true that l have the
honor to be connected with the in
s'itution you have mentioned.
The reporter had q notebook in his
hand.
"Gee!" he observed softly. "You
don't mind, do you, Doctor Meunier?
y his looks like luck to me. I'm on
the Evening Journal--Selkirk."
Aha reporter" The dark eyes
seemed to twinkle humorously from
behind the heavy lenses. II have
met some-when / landed in New
York. They were very nice. l liked
them very much. Certainly, young
man. why should you not say any
thing have told you? You have
My permission
Fine" cried the reporter enthusi-
q sticaliy. And now, Doctor Meu-
nier, If you'll just round out the
story by telling us why the celebrat-
ed Paris surgeon is travelling in
America with q hundred thousand
dollars worth of radium, I'll be glad
! got PANIED on the story 1 went
after this morning and so had to
take this train back"
"Panned?' inquired the. other
Yes" The reporter nodded. TT
blew up. you know"
BLEW up! Ali" The foreigners
face was at once concerned. $50!
You were In an accident, then?"
mo. no. laughed the reporter.
There wasn't anything in the story.
It didn't have, any foundation
Again learn" observed the for
eilsner, with an amused drawl. He
studied the reporter for an instant
qrizzically. And 80 am to supply
the place of the panned story that
blew UPS that 1T? Well, very well!
Why not? / see no reason against
It, II it will be OF service to YOU
Very well, then. I have been sum-
m',ned to Japan to attend q case Of
treatment-and am
IN my way there now" He smiled
again. Il have noticed that Amer
ctln reporters are observant, and it
may occur to you that might have
-e.Iched my destination quicker by
way OF Russia. AS a matter of fact,