(Author's Note: this original fiction story inspired by Sir Conan Doyle's famous detective, done in an early Sci-Fi steampunk style)

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'A Race for Space Opera' (Shure-Lock Ohms #4) - (Part 1)

Johnny Watts (Junior) opened the daily New London Times to the Literary & Social News Section...

"My... Oh, My! Tommy, it says here that a Professor Weylan Wagstaff is raising funds. For a 'Moon Rocket'. Take a look..."

Thomas (Shure-Lock) Ohms: "Well, well, well... I wasn't aware that the Times was fond of pulling our collective legs. Ha!"

Also, on the same page of the New London Times was an ad for a new musical: 'The Moon Maiden: A Love Story'

When Ohms saw that, he commented:

"Well... This new musical sounds like it could be good... What you say we catch the opening performance, Johnny?"

John Watts Junior: "Aye! Wish I could bring my new lady friend Suzie along..."

Thomas Ohms saw the 'sad puppy love' look in his apprentice's eyes.

"Well... Alright. Just this Time... My treat. Three tickets, for sure!"

It was the least that Ohms could do, to show his gratitude for

all the years of assistance and friendship from Junior? Aye!

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Meanwhile, in a laboratory on the outskirts of Newbury, the next township from New London. More woodsy, less busy.

Professor Weylan Wagstaff was inspecting something under a microscope: a tiny piece of a rare meteor, from old Africa.

"My, my, my... This has some of the most unusual properties I have yet seen or read about, for an iron meteorite. Aye."

The Prof. was given to talking to himself? Now and then. But his helper, young Timothy Bagsley was nearby, watching.

"Hey, 'Bags'... If we can get a bigger chunk of this same meteor that fell a few years ago in Africa, we might just

have the 'Ticket'... To power my Moon Rocket! But the main, biggest chunk is now in the Royal Science Museum.

I know their curator, Doctor Lawrence Honeycutt. But I doubt he would give me any more bits than this one."

A moment later, young Bagsley hatched an idea, in his mind... But kept it too himself... For the Time being.

(To be continued...)