Scientific Sprague

A novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Calvin Sprague, a government chemist who becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious incidents surrounding the Nevada Short Line railroad, particularly regarding a deceptive wire that leads to chaos and panic among railroad employees. As the plot unfolds, the narrative delves into themes of deception, the pressures of high finance, and the intersections between science and detective work. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to a tense situation in the despatcher's office of the Nevada Short Line railroad, where the employees deal with a potentially disastrous false report of a train wreck involving the Apache Limited. The characters Connolly and Bolton engage in banter about their personal lives while attending to their crucial roles in the operations. Meanwhile, Maxwell, the railroad's superintendent, learns about the dire situation and seeks to save the day, eventually calling on Calvin Sprague, a friend and expert, for help. The opening effectively sets the stage for the ensuing drama, laying the groundwork for what appears to be a thrilling mystery involving sabotage and the uncovering of a larger conspiracy at play within the railroad's operations.