Alpha Book

So the matter remained in abeyance, and Selwyn employed two extra men
and continued storage tests and experimented with rifled and smooth-bore
tubes, watchfully uncertain yet as to the necessity of inventing a
solvent to neutralise possible corrosion after a propelling charge had
been exploded.
Everybody in the vicinity had heard about his experiments; everybody
pretended interest, but few were sincere; and of the sincere, few were
unselfishly interested--his sister, Eileen, Drina, and Lansing--and
maybe one or two others.
However, the younger set, now predominant from Wyossett to Wonder Head,
made up parties to visit Selwyn's cottage, which had become known as The
Chrysalis; and Selwyn good-naturedly exploded a pinch or two of the
stuff for their amusement, and never betrayed the slightest annoyance or
boredom. In fact, he behaved so amiably during gratuitous interruptions
that he won the hearts of the younger set, who presently came to the
unanimous conclusion that there was Romance in the air.


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