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Page 1
"Begin at the beginning," she ordered gently. "I want to hear
the whole thing."
"Well, then," he commenced obediently, "this morning, as soon as
I got to the plant, I asked for a meeting with the bureau of
management. Well, I went in and told them what I had done; how I
happened on a partial combination when I was analyzing something
for the office. I told them that I had worked it out further and
further, and that finally I found what I was hunting for--a gas
that was powerful enough to affect a large number of men and put
them out temporarily, without injuring them after the effects
wore off.
"Well, they listened, and when I told them my idea was to use it
along the battle front instead of the ghastly deadly gases used
by the Germans, they commenced to sit up and take notice. You
see, sis, my invention is far reaching than anything yet known.
It puts out thousands of men with the contents of one grenade, and
sinks them into such a deep sleep that they are absolutely helpless
for hours. During this time, our men can occupy their positions,
and send hundreds of trucks to the rear loaded with sleeping
prisoners. When they come to, they are all right.
"They listened, all right, and then they commenced to ask
questions. I offered to try it out right there, but they didn't
seem to want to. Then Mr. Leffingwell spoke up. You know what a
good sport he is. He said, 'Well, fellows, there may be a lot to
this. I have a couple of hundred cows out Marcellus way, and I'm
going to sacrifice them to my country. Let's take the car, and
try this thing out if this young man has enough on hand for a
man-sized bomb.'
"Some of the men said he was a fool to risk that herd. My own
opinion was that he thought the stuff wouldn't work at all in the
open. Anyway, we got into the cars, and went out to the dandiest
farm you ever saw.
"We drove the cows all into one end of a big lot because there
was no way to send the grenade with sufficient force to spread
the gas; but I went as close as I dared, and threw with all my
might. It struck a stone and broke and right quick a couple of
cows close to the grenade sort of crumpled up and laid down, and
some more, and then one on the outskirts of the group looked
around and said, 'Dear me suz, it gets late early now!' and she
put her head on her arm, and went sleepy sleepums--"
"It's too wonderful; too wonderful!" mused Elinor.
"Well, the best part is," said her brother, "that it is so simple
and so cheap. That is, it is simple to combine."
"Where is the formula?" asked the business-like Elinor. "In a
safe, I hope."
"No, not yet. The only formula in the world is here in my coat
pocket." He patted the coat lying, on the hammock beside him.
"There!" cried Elinor. "Why, Lester, I call that awfully
careless! I do truly think you ought to put it in a safe!"
"That's all right," said Lester, leaning back and playing with
one of the dogs. "I have it in my head anyhow. Come on, hon; I'm
dead tired. Let's forget about it for a little while; let's go
see how the grapes are ripening."
An hour later a well-grown boy came rapidly along the road and
turned in the lower drive which led directly to the carriage.
Putting his wheel on its rack, he hustled into the kitchen where
Elinor, prettier than ever in her long blue apron, her face
softly flushed from the fire, stood dishing up a delicious
supper.
"You are late, small boy," she cried. "Get your hands washed,
and go call Lester. I think I left him about an hour ago, and
he has been as still as a mouse ever since. He has something
fine to tell you."
She turned to the old woman who was helping her, and Wugs,
whistling loudly, went through the house and slammed the screen
door as he reached the porch. Elinor went on serving the supper.
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