The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-01-13
hand and, seating himself by my side

hand and, seating himself by my side
eXciaimed:
'My dear Mr.. Thompson, how can I
ever thank you? My fortune is made
The governments is going to cut all of
their old guns in two and introduce
my loading apparatus shall order
myself yacht at once and arm her
with small guns, all OIL my model"
mot so fast-not so fast" SAID |
But" he ratified on, Il have farm
in Illinois overlooking the lake. stun
ming sight! l shall build mt house
and surround il by a fort mounted
with these guns And on be ratified.
with plans equally wild. Then he sub
sided and ate his dinner like hungry
nan.
Eleven O'Clock Thursday morning
was set for the great test of the new
gun. The war officials. al their own
expense, had cut down one of their
large guns and altered 1t with the cor
onels new loading apparatus.
Wednesday evening, in greater ex-
citement than ever, he sent for me and
asked me to accompany him to the
testing grounds the next day, whi,
| consented to co.
| was somewhat detained on Thurs
day morning, for my wife had grown
worse, but arranging for her comfort.
| FASTENED TO the coionei's room. hop
ing to catch him there and rush with
| him in a carriage, which had ordered
to the testing grounds. knocked Al
No. 179. but no answer came. and after
several knocks | made my way quickly
! to the Office.
where is Col. Holden?" | asked the
clerk.
I'm his room sir, | suppose" an
swered he
Then he must be asleep. for | have
knocked loudly and received no reply.
Would you like me to go to his room
with you? Perhaps your wife is iil
and Col. Holden could be of service 10
| YOU" be ventured. in surmise to eX-
| plain my haste and excitement.
No" said !, as we hurried up the
stairs, I'VE had an official appointment
testing grounds now"
We reached the door and knocked
| even louder than before. No answer
came, ard the clerk turned the knob
of the door, which Offered no resist
ance. But where was the colonel?
Gone, the model gun-bag and bag
gage, the inmate had departed. could
not understand, but leaving the stupe-
ned clerk staring blankly, rushed
! down and jumped into the cariage
which was waiting.
War office" said.
AT the Office | was admitted without
ceremony 10 the secretary's presence.
"Have the officers gone to the test
ing ground?" | asked, quite breath
lessly.
"fou have just missed them" re-
piled the secretary, "but if you drive
rapidly you will overtake them"
Then you have heard no news of our
inventor?" returned.
only that he is to meet our officers
for the test trial"
81 beg your pardon for my precipi-
| tate visit. and will hurry as you sug-
gested. fear there is somesnystery,
for which | hope You will not hold me
responsible"
was gone before Herr Won Staed
could ask an explanation, and drove
madly to the testing grounds. | did
not overtake the officers. but found
them already giving their orders in
preparation for the trial.
Has Col. Holden arrived? ?" | asked.
Immediately.
mo we are waiting for him. But
what could detain him? We had wa
gered he would be ordering the gun
ners about before we could get here"
"Well, gentlemen" said, reluct-
antly, "you might proceed with the
trial. Col. Holden has left his hotel,
bag, baggage and gun"
"By jove, that's like the mighty in
ventor," said young Lieut.. Stein.
"Kind of disappearing gun carriage,
eh, fellows?"
Hell come around later to claim the
DOODLE" said another officer, for he
has mighty plans for yachts and
castles on an American lake"
well, gentlemen" said l, report
upon this trial as favorably as possible;
and | will try and find the colonel
Au revoir," and | drove back to my
hotel.
The clerk stood at the door waiting
for me.
"A messenger from the railroad sta
ton brought this, sir, after you left "
"Well, in the name of all that is
queer! The colonel is honest, if &C.
centric"
The envelope contained check for
the hotel bill, with neither word nor
comment
What messenger brought this?"
Zone of the regular porters, though
he must have been well fed. l could
get nothing out of him. Mum was the
word"
| went TO the railroad station The
booking agent knew the colonel by
sight, and remembered selling him a
ticket to Paris. | notified the war
office, and though the government de-
tectives were ordered to make an ex-
haustive search cur friend, the colonel,
has never appeared upon the scene.
even to claim the money.