Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE SUPERFL UO US MA NSION. 30 1
numbness. Yes, dear boy, I have, as you
say, put my contrivance in motion. The one
on which you are sitting, I have timed for half
an hoiir. Yon other "
' ' Half an hour ! ' ' echoed Somerset, dancing
with trepidation. "Merciful heavens, in half
an hour ! "
"Dear fellow, why so much excitement?"
inquired Zero. "My dynamite is not more
dangerous than toffy ; had I an only child I
would give it him to play with. You see this
brick ? " he continued, lifting a cake of the in-
fernal compound from the laboratory table ;
"at a touch it should explode, and that with
such unconquerable energy as should bestrew
the square mth ruins. Well, now, behold ! I
dash it on the floor."
Somerset sprang forward, and with the
strength of the very ecstasy of terror, wrested
the brick from his possession. "Heavens ! " he
cried, wiping his brow, and then with more
care than ever mother handled her firstborn
withal, gingerly transported the explosive to
the far end of the apartment, the plotter, his
arms once more fallen to his side, dispiritedly
watching him.
"It was entirely harmless," he sighed.
" They describe it as burning like tobacco."
"In the name of fortune," cried Somerset,
' ' what have I done to you, or what have you