DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | En Garde, whole no. 17, April 1946

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En Garde, whole no. 17, April 1946

Page 18

page 18.

also and feigned to window-shop. Shy, I thought, bashful about making the first advances toward amending the wrong they had done me. I continued on my way, determined to wait them out; let them speak first.

For days these men, relieved by others in three daily shifts, dogged my staps. You might say they shadowed me. I got to know them well. By sight only, of course. They worked a 48-hour week, and were always on the job, regardless of the inclemencies of the weather. I showed them a bit of life.

In the weeks that followed I always waited for them to catch up in case I lost them in a crowd. Once I bade one good morning and to my disappointment and sense of loss he was immediately replaced by a man of more somber mien for whom I never did have the affection I had for the first. He was such a nice fellow.

One evening I returned from an unsuccessful drive in the park and found my room subtly disturbed.  (If the printer had italics I would ask him to use them here). I knew at once that my room had been searched---but for what? Jewels or items like that? I had a few around and fourteen or fifteen pounds of platinum that I used for this and that, and none of the things were missing. This was vexing. Who could have done it? And why? I could not imagine. Then I thought.....why, those men who are following me.....they will know.....they would have seen the intruder or intruders for they always watched the house. They could probably describe the culprits.

So I went out to where the night shift man was posted, and put the question to him. He and four others rose from the spot and took me into custody, as they said, and when we reached their headquarters I learned the identity of the organization which had been shadowing me. It is a national organization of some scope, allied in some way with the government. It is well worth an article in itself.

After considerable grilling during which I discomfited all, including the men from the research laboratories who were present, they released me. They seemed satisfied that I knew nothing whatever, for I immediately assumed the pose of a harmless eccentric.

You see what I have been illustrating. Some people will go to any lengths to withhold information instead of spreading it with a liberal hand, as I do. Some types of knowledge are even guarded. Is it any wonder, then, that I in turn, withheld the fruits of my own success in the atomic field when I completed my experiments some three weeks after the above-mentioned incident? I, what is more, perfected my devices, while they had to be satisfied with only half-results.

Next month I will give in this space instructions and blueprints for a toy you can build in your spare time in your own little workshop out of scrap. It is a toy gun that actually works.

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page 18. also and feigned to window-shop. Shy, I thought, bashful about making the first advances toward amending the wrong they had done me. I continued on my way, determined to wait them out; let them speak first. For days these men, relieved by others in three daily shifts, dogged my staps. You might say they shadowed me. I got to know them well. By sight only, of course. They worked a 48-hour week, and were always on the job, regardless of the inclemencies of the weather. I showed them a bit of life. In the weeks that followed I always waited for them to catch up in case I lost them in a crowd. Once I bade one good morning and to my disappointment and sense of loss he was immediately replaced by a man of more somber mien for whom I never did have the affection I had for the first. He was such a nice fellow. One evening I returned from an unsuccessful drive in the park and found my room subtly disturbed. (If the printer had italics I would ask him to use them here). I knew at once that my room had been searched---but for what? Jewels or items like that? I had a few around and fourteen or fifteen pounds of platinum that I used for this and that, and none of the things were missing. This was vexing. Who could have done it? And why? I could not imagine. Then I thought.....why, those men who are following me.....they will know.....they would have seen the intruder or intruders for they always watched the house. They could probably describe the culprits. So I went out to where the night shift man was posted, and put the question to him. He and four others rose from the spot and took me into custody, as they said, and when we reached their headquarters I learned the identity of the organization which had been shadowing me. It is a national organization of some scope, allied in some way with the government. It is well worth an article in itself. After considerable grilling during which I discomfited all, including the men from the research laboratories who were present, they released me. They seemed satisfied that I knew nothing whatever, for I immediately assumed the pose of a harmless eccentric. You see what I have been illustrating. Some people will go to any lengths to withhold information instead of spreading it with a liberal hand, as I do. Some types of knowledge are even guarded. Is it any wonder, then, that I in turn, withheld the fruits of my own success in the atomic field when I completed my experiments some three weeks after the above-mentioned incident? I, what is more, perfected my devices, while they had to be satisfied with only half-results. Next month I will give in this space instructions and blueprints for a toy you can build in your spare time in your own little workshop out of scrap. It is a toy gun that actually works.