The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-02-20
CHAPTER VII.

InlS maCn1ne, IL once set In mOC1Ou,
will never STOP" said the inventor, as
he poured out glass full of beer; 81 re-
gret to say that have not yet learned
how to set it in motion, but that is a
trifle, sir; trifle. The solution of this
little difficulty will come'-and he
tapped his forehead confidently.
He was lean-bodied, thin-legged
man, clad in ill-ftting and soiled gar
ments. His face did not harmonic with
his gaunt figure. 1t was of the German
type, round and full in the cheeks, with
high color, and sandy beard and mus
tache. The contrast told his story: his
invention had fed upon him, while he
himself had had only the poor nourish-
ment of hope. He. had been talking full
ly two horirss;; aud Russell had begun to
fear that the poor fellows yocal organs
realized the dream of endless motion
which his invention would forever dis
appoint.
81 have no use for this machine un-
less it can CO." said Russell. 81 read
the story Of reporter who said that its
movements were such as he had never
seen in any thing inanimate BEFORE"
The inventor smiled as he filled his
glass with beer and placed the empty
bottle with twenty others in circle
around the edge of the table, in the mid
die Of which stood the wonderful ma
chine.
II remember the young man well,"
said he. "A pleasant fellow he was,
too, but he hadn't your head for beer.
We drank only seventeen bottles that
morning, and yet he told me that this
machine went whirling round and round
with motion which no felt sure that
nothing in Heaven or earth could ever
stop. His description was not wholly
accurate, but it gave that idea of end
less rotary force which my machine will
realize some day. I think he must have
written the story Immediately after
leaving me, though would not at the
time have thought it possible. 1t was
not deception Of the public; 1t was a
view in advance Of the reality. We
shall see it some day."
81 am afraid I can not wait, said
Russell; "but let me give you some ad-
vice. Don't work too steadily at this
thing. Get something else to do and
let this be your relaxation. 1t will be
better for you and it will not hurt the
machine"
He forced a payment for the twenty
bottles of beer, bade the inventor q
cheerful goodbye and escaped just as
another lecture on occult mechanics was
about to begin.
1t was the second day of Russell's
search for an invention. He had begun
the work as soon as he had left Gilbert
Rays office after the little game Of
pulling sticks" An advertisement in
a newspaper had brought him bushel
of letters from inventors, and he had be-
gun to sift their merits The result so
far had not been encouraging. The
first load of replies had consisted OF
ninety per cent. lunacy and ten per
cent. fraud; but among those which
were waiting for him at the newspaper
office after his adventure with beer and
perpetual motion was one which gave
promise of real value. 1t was rough,
straight forward letter, signed John
Deering. The writer described him.
self as an assistant foreman in a shop
where electrical machinery was made.
He had long been familiar with the
subject, practically and Theoretically.
He had invented an electrical engine,
and he would like to have the adver-
tiser see it.
Russell called upon John Deering
that evening at his homo in suburban
town. The Deerings lived in house
we'll kept and full of comfort. There
was no sign of delt, dirt or other ap-
purtenance of genius. The inventors
daughter, neat and pretty girl of four
teen, answered Russell's ring and ush-'
cred him into the presence of her ia
ther, who sat in cheerful parlor read
ing book. Mrs. Deering and o little
boy were present, and it was evident
that the mother had been helping her
son with his lessons. Russell was made
welcome, few words of general CONVEX
sation followed and then the two men
were left together.
Russell looked at Deering and dis
trusted him. That feeling was the first
OF which he had been conscious at sight
of the man. Though he had found him
surrounded by every sign of peace and
good will and moral rectitude in the
light Of that best evidence of a mans
respectability, happy home, Russell
could not repress uncharitable suspi-
cions. 1t was Deering's face which bore
false witness against him. 1t had no un-
usual feature, and its general effect was
not uncomely, but it was face that dis
trusted itEelf. The eyes were pale: thew