Telegram-herald., 1890-03-11

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There he occupied a modest little house,
known by the name of ~B4llistic Cot
tags." having for his income only his
pension allowed 70 him As q retired oai-
Ger Of artiaery and the salary which he
received as secretary OF the gun club.
hs lived alone, served by his negro
'klre-k1re. This negro vas not an or
dinary servant; he vas rather an sp-
preelstiye friend and treated his mas
ter as II he were his own brother.
Mr.. Maston Was a decided bachelor,
having an idea that being bachelor
was the only sensible way OF liy-
ing ~ the present world. He knew
tho proyerb. "a woman can draw
more with one hair than four oxen
at the plOw." and ne disproved
It IL he occupied his cottage alone 10
sas only because hs wished TO do so.
We know that he only had 20 make the
motion TO change his solitude of one 70
a company OF two and his small income
70 the income Of millionaire. lie did
not doubt IL Mrs. Evangelina Scorbitt
would have been only too happy TO
But up 70 this time NJ. Maston
had not been happy 10 and IL
seemed certain that these two beings,
30 well made one for the other-at least
this was the opinion of the tender
widow-would never reach the transfer
nation period The cottage was
very simple one A ground floor. with
veranda and floor over il; small
parlor and small dining-rcom, with
kitchen and another room in an out
building standing at the back of the
garden Upstairs his sleeping-room
and his working studio, looking on the
garden and where the noise OF the
Within these walls there had been
made calculations which would have
made Newton. Euclid or Laplace jealous.
How different was the mansion ot Mrs
Evangelins Scorbitt, situated in the
richest quarter of New Park, with a
facade to balconies, finished In
the finest architecture, half Roman
ssque, half Gothic, with its richly-fur-
nished apartments. It's grand halls, its
picture galleries, in which French art
lists held the highest places; it's mag
nifcent staircase, its great number
OF domestics, its stables. its coach
houses its garden. with tho finest
Of flowers, statues, fountains, and
the tower on the top OF the
building. on which the blue and gold
coat-of-arms of the Scorbitt family was
upon glittering banner. Three miles,
three long miles az least separated the
palace at New Park from the "Ballistic
Cottage" But private telephone wire
connected there, and in answer TO Hell
10. hello" a conversation could be car
ried on between the mansion and cot
tage. If the persons could not look at
each other they could at least hear each
other. II will aStonish none TO hear
that time upon time Mrs Scorbitt began
talking and ringing on the telephone to
Mr. Matson when he was busily engaged
with his figures Then the calculator
had to quit his work with some reluc-
tance. lie received a friendly How DO
you do?7 from Mrs. Scorbitt, which no
answered with a grunt, which was
sweetened into kindly greeting
BY the distance over the tele-
phone. After conversation he was
glad 10 go back TO his figures. II
was on the Sd OF December, after long
and last conference, that Mr.. Maston
took lesve OF his friends and members
of the club TO begin to do his share Of
the work. IL was very important
work with which be had charged him
self. for it was the question OF figure
mechanical appliance which would
enable him 10 gain access TO the North
Pole. and which would allow him to
make use Of those large fields OF snow
now covered with impenetrable ice. lie
estimated that he needed at least week
20 accomplish this mysterious calcula-
tion, exceedingly complicated and del
iDate 20 handle, involving several deep
and important problems. Therefore,
to avoid all unnecessary annoyance, It
had been decided that the secretary OF
the gun club should retire to his cot
tage ana that he should not be dis
turbed by an7 one. This was a grea.
disappointment for Mrs Evangelina
Scorbitt but she was compelled 70 sc-
cept it While President Barbicane,
Captain Nicholl and his associates the
Jolly Bilsby. Colonel B,oomsberry. Tom
Hunter. with the wooden legs were all
saying their good J-byes 20 him and wish
ing him success. Mrs Evangelina Scor-
bitt appeared and made her last visit TO
NJ Naston
'You viii succeed ny dear" said she.
a. The moment OF separation
And Above all. do not make a mis-
- 3 - De- n,~F-s-.-o
A mistake, Hep" exclaimed MrA
Scorbitt
No more than God has made mis-
take in putting together this world. =
modastiy answered the secretary. Then,
after shaking hands al around and stter
several more sirhs and wishes Of s1c-
cess and suggestions not 20 make tOo
severe work % IL the calculator vas
left alone. The door Of the Baliistc
cottage vss closed and Fire-Eire had Or
ders 70 sduais none. noteven If the Pres
idens Of The United States should ask
admission
During his frst two days of se-iusicr
J n. Msston thought and Thought. VI "a
out even touching the piece q chalk.
upon the problem vbich he had taken
On himself He consul ted certain books
relative ~ The elements, ths earth
SIS size. IS thickness. its volume it.
form, ia rotstion upou IS avis-al sis
uents Vhich be hsd 20 asa - The basis
Ct his calculations
TIE primes pes of ths<e elements
vbich ha useli. sn5 which re PIT befors
the rea3er. were ss foiIc~E