, 1886-01-31
Extra l,ry and blintsd s1pectantiy a,

there any one here who has not tested
the wonderful capacities OF this extraor-
binary discovery. would not for a mo
ment ask that any consideration for this
enterprise should follow simply upon my
expression OF confidence in it,
At this poipt a small and very nervous
man, with light brown hair and n high
collar, who hnd timidly seated himself in
the background. rose and d%inldently
asked permission Toto
Certainly replied Jaggers, waving
his hand majestically. "Mr. Bassmage-
IAN, will you"
Bassmageran slowly lifted the heavy
drnpery and exposed n simple deal box,
in one Of which appeared a small open
ing. A crank handle protruded near
the top, which the Turk grasped. The
nervous man adjusted his eye glasses un-
easily and approached the apparatus,
then hesitated and looked at Bassmage-
ran. The Turk smiled reassuringly.
ne Hadji will put hims finger right
here-right there said he, pointing to
the aperture in the box, out OF which a
strange, fuzzy, gray object internationally
appeared.
"The end-at-the end OF my fingeri"
asked the nervous man.
NE knuckle-ze knuckle. Makee haste
-verra queeck," replied Bassmageran,
vehemently turning the handle.
"Owl Whoopi Graciousi' yelled the
nervous man. jumping several inches
into the air, and then examining his
knuckle, on which a small spot of blood
appeared, hastily into his mouth.
Jaggers smothered a hasty objurgation
in his throat.
@why-why," calculated the sufferer,
ait was just like a"
Bassmageran had quickly drawn the
drapery over the box, from which now
arose singular, mufiied, rasping sounds,
mingled with a sharp Sizing or kissing
sound like steam escaping intermittenly.
Several OF the solid and respectable
gentlemen looked alarmed and edged to-
ward the door. The nervous man was
with difficulty prevented from climbing
out Of the window IN order to effect his
escape by the lightning rod
"Eet ees Messing" said -Bassmageran,
hastily, "ze macheenere ees a leetle new
-joost n leetle new. / will remov it,
This last in answer to a significant nod
from Jaggers.
docs any gentleman desire n further
demonstration, began Jaggers.
A unanimous disavowal of any such
desire interrupted him.
Then, gentlemen, we may proceed to
business"
Jaggers seated himself at his desk and
opened a huge blank book. One by one
each solid and respectable gentleman in
tnrn drew from his pocket a smaller
blank book, and each in turn possessing
himself OF a pen, made certain letters
and figures on a long narrow page which
was duly torn out and handed to jag
gers. For each slip of paper Jaggers re-
turned n careful receipt.
After this the solid and respectable
gentlemen each took another glass Of Ex-
ira Dry, and shook hands each with the
other and with Mr.. Jaggers. They looked
casually for -BassInageran.
IL is placing the apparatus in the safe
deposit vaults" said Jaggers calmly, in
answer TO their inquiring ~glances.
@Ah, quite right, quite right" they OBJ
served.
As the door closed after the last solid
and respectable gentleman, Jaggers rap
idly footed up a column of figures.
1.-TWO hundred and thirty thousand.
Hum, not bad that, not bad"
Then he drew out his check book and
wrote n check for S230,O00-to his own
order. He glanced at the clock.
James" he called.
aSir."
deposit these checks and get this one
of mine certified
James departed. When the door had
closed, Jaeger went cautiously into the
hall, and then opened the loon of an I'M
occupied office. On the floor sat Bass
mageran, cross ~legged-Turk fashion.
Jaggers looked at him severely.
"Well, Meester Jaggers, l sure | did my
vera, vera bes, u
"Yes, oh yes, no doubt, but the next
time | rely on you III know ii. Where
is the Internal things"
Bassmageran lifted the drapery from
the wonderful apparatus and exposed
the box.
Jaggers roughly kicked open the lid.
There was a sharp spat, n piercing
ma-oow, and the machinery leaped out in
the shape OF n frightfully exasperated
Tom cat, with the fur on its back sadly
rumpled, as If it had been vehemently
rubbed by something to and fro and in
the wrong way, just as one rub n cat to
see the sparks fly.
Jaggers threw n twenty dollar gold
piece TO the Turk, who caught II and
submissively touched it to his forehead.
On the day following the meeting in
Jagger's office, a huge sign appeared on
the front OF a prominent building in
Wall street, bearing this inscription:
"The Bassmageran Electric Battery
Company Qimited)."
The stock was put forth. The day be
fore, as we have stated, the bueket-shop
quotations were $685.. Not n share was
sold for less than 500. The bucket shops
went under t~umultously. All of the
original promoters, the solid and respect
able gentlemen, have sold out at large
profit. That is, thirty-two Of them did
so. The thrty-third member of the syn
dictate refused to subscribe. He was the
nervous man. He said he could under
stand how an electric shock could pro
duce a queer sensation and be strong and
AL that, but never, so long as reason held
its sway, would he put a cent in al cleo
trio battery which bit and had a nose
with hair on it.-R. Conner Guph in
Taxaa Siftfuga