The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-08-19

10 SHHFiy wv " etS
Harm the Thing Might Do"
I mean. In the possession of Grim
inal there is simply no limit to the
harm the thing might do"
"How many people know about your
invention, Owen?"
"Up to this minute, just two of us
you and myself. haven't talked
about it to anybody, partly because the
whole thing was experimental and !
didn't want to have to answer lot Of
curious questions. But now, as I've
said, I'm like the man who invented the
Frankenstein thing in Mrs. Shelley's
story. When think of all the harm
1t might do in the wrong hands, feel
as if l ought to tie stone to the box
and pitch it into the river"
There was a thoughtful pause, and
at the end of it, Markham said, "You
are quite sure nobody else knows
about it?"
II hope I am"
"Have you any reason to doubt ii? ?"
"Not what you could call reason;
no. But have worked here in the lab,
a good many nights, sometimes until
quite late, and there have been mo-
ments when I've had a queer feeling
that / wasn't alone; that somebody
was spying on me. Pure auto-sugges-
ton, guess"
Markham nodded. "WeIl let that
part of it rest and pass on to the ma
terial things. You want to make some
money out of this invention of yours,
don't you? Or are you too much of an
inventor to look. that far ahead"
Lands smiled. "Pm not quite so
much of dreamer as that, Wally. If /
could only be sure the thing wouldn't
be put to evil uses"
you'd like to see some hard cash
results" Markham finished for him.
''That Is right and proper-and hui
man."
Il suppose so; while was at work
on it did think that if it should prove
success it might help me find a place
as research man with one of the big
electric companies"
'Too modest, as you usually are,"
grunted Markham. There's q frilly
fortune in that box If it's properly ex-
plotted. But to make money out of
an invention you have to spend money.
Suppose you let me talk to dad-in
strict confidence, of course"
you'd do that for me?"
"Sure I would. Why not?"
There was moment of silent en-
barrassment, and then Lands said,
half alphabetically, "Give me day or
so to think about it, Wally. want to
see if can't fight down that feeling
about the criminal possibilities. It's
fearfully good Of you to offer to step
in and +"
Markham cut the protests short.
"Take as much time as you want, of
course. And never mind the acknowl-
edgments. We've been pretty chummy
for a good many years, you and I,
Owen, and it would be pity if either
Of us wouldn't give the other hand
when the chance offered" Then, with
glance at his watch. "If it wasn't
so late I'd stay a bit longer and raw
hide you about another matter. But
I guess the other matter will keep"
ut isn't late for me. What have
been doing that / ought not to have
done?"
Il was watching you tonight when
Betty Lawson was on the stage.
guess you know good and well what
I SAW"
Lands flushed boyishly and looked
down.
"Ypu didn't see anything more than
you have known for a good while"
Markham laughed. Nothing more
than all Carthage has known, for that
matter. But, say, boy-what do you
think a girl is made of? For a half
year and better you've buried yourself
in this work. shack of yours, and If
you've thought anything at all about
Betty, you've taken it out in thinking.
What social pleasure she's enjoyed
she's had to forage for in other direc-