Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-31

q u . u CuNV - xOu lluSt
forget that ! am a practical cleo
~trician, mechanic, an invent0r-and-and
Ia desperate man"
He said the last two words under his
breath, as though rather ashamed of them.
In a moment he went on
Il have not yet solved oil the problems
presented to me, but you will admit that
if a mar could obtain complete control of
his own electric current, and Mt the same
time be able to learn the direction in
which the current of another person with
whom he was conversing was flowing he
could fascinate or antagonize that person
at will. Furthermore, if he could control
the strength of his own current, he could
moderate or increase that attraction or
repulsion at pleasure. Then would all the
prizes of the earth be his. For know, my
friend, that it is not merit. nor intellect.
nor energy, nor will, nor one of a thousand
other things conducive to success which
is the most potent factor in the attain
nient Thereof. Give me only the power to
win the affection of men and women and
l will squeeze from this queer world all
that men hold dear. l have seen men
who were pigmies beside me intellectually
far outstrip me in the race of life, because
they Were what is called magnetic My
FRIEND" here he arose and drew himself
up to his full height: +" my friend, I am
about to become a magnetic man."
l walked home musingly. The air was
cool, for midnight had come, and the
moon looked down on a city grateful for
the bracing breeze which blew in from
the sea. us Marcus Rodney a mailman
OF a genius?' was the problem in my
mind. Little did l imagine how important
to me would be the solution Of that ques-
ton.
CHAPTER II.
Weeks passed, but I did not see Rodney
again. In placing my friendship for him
upon a purely scientific basis, he had
shocked my tender feelings. For I had
been unseltish in my intercourse with him.
and had often sacrificed my inclinations
for the sake of cheering him up by my
presence. I would and could have done
more for him than 1 had if he had not
been such a proud, unapproachable fellow,
but, nevertheless, what small attentions
he would accept l had always gladly rem
dered. l was annoyed, therefore, Mt the
materialistic Interpretation he had placed
upon my affection for him and could not
persuade myself to see him again.
1t was early in the fall before I heard
of him. One day l read in a newspaper
that the War Department had adopted
''the Rodney sight for rifles" At the time
l did not realize that the item referred to
my friends device, but not long after
ward I read that Marcus Rodney, inven-
tor Of the improved rifle sight. had be-
come manager of the Graball Electric
Motor Company. / ut once wrote him a
letter of congratulation, to which he re-
turned no answer A week later a col
umn was devoted in one of the morning
journals to a description of Marcus Rod
ney's inventions, and the article stated,
incidentally, that "this wonderful genius"
was rapidly acquiring a large fortune
from his royalties. The writer also as
serted that "Mr. Rodney is one of the
most fascinating men in the country, pos
sessing a personality which attracts men
instantly and surrounds him with warm
and enthusiastic friends"
"Do you know Marcus Rodney?' / was
asked at my club one night.
Yes. l used to be intimately acquaint-
ed with him. Why"
"Well, his name is up for membership.
AAlc HAOIooNAo "a ~ III
their praise that they have almost made
him a laughing stock in the committee.
What sort of a fellow is he!"
"a gentleman and a genius. He will
be a valuable addition to the club"
/ said this pe%rfunctorily, though. to tell
the truth, l 4 did not look forward to Rod
ney's admission with any great pleasure.
His picture as l had last seen him was in
my mind, and l could not imagine him as
q ~presentable club man. The following
week. however, l was surprised to find
that / had done him an injustice. / had
entered the smoking-room of the club one
evening after dinner, when my attention
was instantly attracted by a tall, striking
looking man, dressed richly but in good
taste, who was putting a cigar in front
of the wood fire which cracked in the
crate. The back of his head looked famil-
lar, and as I stepped forward he turned
toward me. 1t was Marcus Rodney. The
old fondness for him came over me with
added force, and / sprang forward and
grasped his hand.
welcome, welcome, old man! I am de-
lighted to have you among u.s."
He smiled rather coldly and seated him
self. l touched a button, lighted n cigar
and drew a chair to the opposite side of
the fireplace.
"Permit me-" I began, rather nervous
~, ito congratulate you upon your sue,
cess. l knew it must come to you in
time"
Excuse me-" he returned, 'you knew
nothing Of the kind. In fact you had be-
gun to look upon me as a permanent fail
ure. But I told you one night last sum-
mer that wealth was within my grasp.
You doubted me then. You did not fully
realize that four parts of Ampere to one
Of Hamerton is the formula for the Phil
osopher's Stone"
"Great heaven! Rodney, you don't
mean to tell me that you have carried in
to practice your strange theory regarding
electric currents? l can't believe it."
He stood up and leaned against a table,
his hands behind him.
'"This is my first visit to the club he
said. you rang for a boy, did you not?'
Yes"
HE has never seen me, Of course.
Watch him when he comes in"
We were alone in the smoking-room,
and for a few moments there was silence,
except for the jolly cracking of the fire.
A boy in uniform entered the apart
ment.
"Two ponies of Curacao I said to him.
He did not heal me. With q TRANCE
smile on his face he was looking ut Rod
new.