Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-02-22


70 his companion. "Our fortunes are
a mere detail. Money is a thing which
every heavy. witted merchant in the
country shares with us. My hopes rise
to something higher than that Our
true reward will come in the gratitude
and good will of the human race.
Brown shrugged his shoulders. "You
may have my share of that, D." he said.
81 am practical man. We must test
our invention.
"Where can we do it,"
"That is what l wanted to speak
about 1t must be absolutely secret If
we had private grounds of our own, it
would be an easy matter, but there is
no privacy in London"
1--WE must take it into the country. !"
81 have suggestion to Offer" said
Brown. MY brother has a place III
Sussex on the highland near Beachy
head. There is, l remember, large
and lofty barn near toe house. Will is
in Scotland, but the key is always at
my disposal. Why not take the machine
down tomorrow and test it in the barn?"
Nothing could be better. !"
"There is train to Eastbourne at 1. 1"
81 shall be at the station. {"
Bring the gear with you, and shall
bring the phlanges, D." said the mechani-
,ian, rising. Tomorrow will prove
whether we have been following a
shadow or whether fortune is at our
feet. One o'clock, at the Victoria" He
walked swiftly down the stair and was
quickly reabsorbed into the flood Of
comfortless, clammy humanity which
ebbed and flowed along the Strand.
The morning was bright and spring
like. A pale blue sky arched over Lon
don with a few gauzy white clouds
drifting lazily across it. At IL o'clock
Brown might have been seen entering
the patent Office with a great roll Of
parchment diagrams and plans under
his arm. At ~ he emerged again, smil-
ing, and opening his pocketbook he
packed away very carefully a small slip
of official blue paper. At five minutes
to his cab rolled into Victoria station.
Two giant canv; covered parcels like
enormous kites were handed down by
the cabmar from the top and consigned
to the care of a guard. On the platform
Pericord was pacing up and down, with
long eager step and swinging arms, a
tinge Of pink upon his sunken and sal
low cheeks.
'All right" he asked.
Brown pointed in answer to his bag
gage.
Il have the motor and the girdle al
ready packed away in the guards van.
Be careful, guard, for it is delicate ma
chinery of great value. So. Now we
can start with an easy conscience"
At Eastbourne the precious motor
was carried to four wheeler and the
great phlanges hoisted on the top. A
long drive took them to the house where
the keys were kept, whence they set off
across the barreH@ owns. The building
which was their destination was COM
monplace whitewashed structure, with
struggling stables and outhouses, stand
ing in a grassy hollow which sloped
down from the edge Of the chalk cliffs.
1t was a cherries house even when in
use, but now, with its smokeless CHM
neys and suffered windows, it looked
doubly dreary. The owner had planted
grove of young larohes and frs around
it, but the sweeping spray had blighted
them, and they hung their withered
heads i'll melancholy groups. 1t was
gloomy and forbidding spot.
But the inventors were in no mood
to be moved by such trifles. The lone
lier the place, the more fitted for their
purpose. With the help of the cabman
they carried their packages down the
footpath and laid them i'll the darkened
dining room. The sun was setting as
the distant clatter of wheels told them
that they were finally alone.
Pericord had thrown open the shut
tiers, and the mellow evening light
streamed in through the discolored
windows Brown drew knife from his
pocket and cut the pack thread with
which the canvas was secured. AS the
brown covering fell away it disclosed
two great yellow metal fans These he
leaned carefully against the wall. The
girdle, the connecting bands and the
motor were then i'll turn unpacked. 1t
was dark before all was set out in on
der. A lamp was lit, and by its light
the two men continued to tighten
screws clinch rivets and make the last
for their experiment.
"That finishes it, said Brown at
last, stepping back and surveying the
machine.
Pericord said nothing, but his face
glowed with pride and expectation.
1--WE must have something to eat"
Brown remarked, laying out some pro-
visions which he had brought with him.
"Afterward.
"No, now," said the stolid mechani-
clan. 81 am half starved" He pSlled
up to the table and made hearty meal,
while his Celtic companion strobe i'm
patiently up and down with twitching
fingers and restless eyes.
Now, them" said Brown, facing
round and brushing the crumbs from
his lap, who is to put it on?"
Il shall, cried his companion eager