“The Forbidden Tree,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 2 May 1925, Page 7

“The Forbidden Tree,”

(PUBLISHED BY SPECLAL ARRANGEMENT.)

POWERFUL STORY OF ATTRAC TIVE INTEREST,

By Christopher Wilson. Author of “Hearts in Bondage,” “Sundered Lives,” “Blindfold Love,” “The Heart of Delilah,” etc., etc.

(COPY RIGHT.)

CHAPTER X F. —Continued. When Lord Granton had Introduced Alerrick to the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty, the latter said: “1 hope we are not inconveniencing you, .Mr .Herrick. His Majesty has heard about vouv work, and is anxious to know how it is getting on.”. “Jt is finished, Lord Fessel,” said Merrick. Lord Fessel glanced sharply at the Premier. “You did not mention this, Granton. Had you planned it as a surprise?” _ “Xo, I did not know until five minutes ago,” said Lord Granton. “It is Mr Merrick, I think, who deals in surprises. ’ ’ “ Ah! I understand that you have a model. Might we have a look at it, Mr Merrick?” asked the Sea Lord. “With pleasure,” said Merrick, as he led the way to the- laboratory. For a few moments the Sea Lord busied himself in a silent examination of the mechanism of the engine, picking out the salient points of the invention with the swiftness of the expert. Then he said: A- The cylinders seem larger than I had expected. ” “They are really small.” said Mer-rii-l<. “The bore is only half an inch, ft is the thickness of the casing which gives them a bulky appearance. Great strength is essential.” Anthony Merrick was now completely s ,t. his'ease. Lord Fessel’s.question had at once revealed an understanding of the principles on which the novel engine was built, and Merick felt that he was in touch with a scientific intellect. “It was my work with 'high explosives during the war that suggested the idea to me,” he said, as he poured a yellow fluid from a par into a small glass tube shaped like a medicine dropper. “Yes, I think I understand,” said. Lord. Fessel, with a. quiet smile. “I suppose you have enough high, explosive stuff'in that jar to blow us all into the next county?” “Yes, if it were free to explode,” said Merrick. “But by controlling the rate of decomposition I have succeeded in utilising the enormous expansive power without the least risk of explosion.” • As he spoke he injected a. few drops of the liquid into a steel reservoir at the base of the cylinders, closing. it with a heavy forging that clanged into its groove like the breech-block of a gun. Then he mpved an electric switch and tiling over the starting lever. The pistons moved, and the large fly-wheel began to revolve. The First Sea Lord seated himself on the end of the bench and watched the operations with eager interest. Then Merrick touched the lever again, admitting more of the liquid fuel into the steel cylinders, and the throbbing beats quickened to a steady hum. “Is that full speed?” asked Lord Granton. Anthony Merrick smiled and shifted the lever across to the last notch oil its quadrant. The fly-wheel now seemed like a solid disc, and the whirling spokes cut through the air with a deafening scream. “How much can you get out of the engine?” asked Lord Fessel, almost shouting so as to be heard above the noise. Merrick slowed down the engine find let in a clutch which connected the pulley at the base of the fly-wheel with •a machine with a dial, which indicated the horse-power. Then he increased the speed again, and the hand on the dial crept round steadily till it reached 350, and at that figure it remained steady. “Wonderful! Perfectly wonderful!” exclaimed Lord Granton. “There is no fuel in the world that could compare with that.” “To get a steady drive of three hundred and fifty horse-power out of a few drops of liquid seems like mafic,” said the Sea Lord, as lie swung himself down from the bench and gazed thoughtfully at the throbbing engine. Then, placing his hand on Mcrnck s shoulder, he said: “I wish we had had your fuel at Jutland, Mr Merrick. It would have shortened the war.” . As they walked back to the waiting car. Lord Fessel, who had followed Merrick’s expanations with close attention. said: , . “Then, although the preliminary work was so complicated, the formula, for your Lcthol fuel, as it stands, is comparatively simple, Mr. Merrick?” “Yes. It is often so, in the case of .scientific investigations. Years- of laborious experiments and calculations, and then, the result could be- written down on a. couple of sheets of paper.” The Sea Lord held out his hand, as he seated himself in the car. _ s “Good-bye, Air Merrick. His Majesty desires me to assure you that your great services to the nation will not fail to receive tilting recognition, and I wish personally to thank you for the pleasure which it has given me to see this demonstration of your marvellous fuel. ’ ’ Merrick bowed. Then, just before the car moved off, Lord Granton said: “ You must come up to London at once, Mr Merrick. To-morrow, if it is convenient to you. I want you to have an interview with the Treasury people, us) soon as possible, so as to have things put on a proper basis.” “I shall go lip to-morrow evening, Lord Granton,” said Merrick promptly. When his distinguished visitors had gone, Merrick went back to the living room and seated himself at his writing table, pen in hand. For a < civ moments he gazed thoughtfully at. the blank •sheet of notepaper before him. Then his face lit up with a curiously boyish smile, and he began to write. “My dear Miss Severn, —I know you will be pleased to hear that I have, turned the corner at last. Thank goodness', .the job is finished and the fuel is a perfect success. I had intended to write you quite a long letter to tell you all about my final experiments, but you must forgive me for not being able ,'to chat on paper, just at. present. For a shy creature, the company of belted earls is ■rntlvor upsetting, and within the last half hour I have actually been honoured bv a visit from the First Sea Lord o.f the Admiralty and Lord Granton!!! The notes of exclamation faintly indicate my pride! Granton wants me to go up to town at once, and 1 am aiming at the express to-morrow evening. I heard a curious little bit of gossip about your friend, George Jevons, to-day, which 1 shall duly retail ( to you, for what it is worth, when we. meet again, which I hope will be on the day after to-morrow. —5 ours very sincerely, Anthony Merrick.”

Just as he had closed the envelope, Mis Wembley burst into the room with breathless excitement. “Oh! Mr Merrick, sir! Such news as I have just heard in the village! They say that it was the King himself who was in those motor cars this morning. ’ ’ “Really!”, said Merrick, with provoking calm. “I should have thought that even His Majesty could not occupy three motor cars at the. same time. But I suppose you know best, Mrs Wembley.” “I know all about it, sir,” she panted, eager to unload her burden of .sensational news. “There was a great luncheon party up at the Castle. Oh, it is a proud day for Lady Stahvorth, and a proud day for Combe Purvis. And they say that His Majesty, God bless ■hini, is to drive back through the village after luncheon. If 1 tidied up your bedroom, sir, perhaps you would let me go. ’ ’ “I am afraid you would be. too late. His Majesty probably passed through the village 'while you were chatting with Mrs Curt. Lord Granton and Lord Fessel were here about half an hour ago. ’ ’ “Lords —here!” Airs Wembley exclaimed with a gasp. “Two real lords here, and —the room in this condition! ” Her eyes ranged from the remains of “brunch” on the table to the old slippers against the fender, and she gasped again. “Well, I never! ” Then, as she caught sight of the twinkle in Merrick’s eyes, she recovered herself. “Oh, I see. It is only one of your jokes, sir. But you did give me a turn. Shall I take that letter down to the post office for you, sir?” “No, thanks, Airs Wembley. I shall post it my self. But you can go home any time you like, and see what is going on in the village. And. by the way, you might tell Trimble that 1 want him to drive me over to the station to-mor-row evening, as I , have to go up to London. ” “A r es, sir. Thank you, sir,” said Airs Wembley, as she filing herself with tumultuous energy upon the debris of the meal and began to “'clear away.” A few minutes afterwards, while she was engaged in the operation which is technically known as “washing-up,” she heard the sound of the front door closing, and her versatile mind turned from visions' of royalty to a little problem of her own. (To be Continued.)