The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-01-19
About a
Fellow Countryman.

" EARS ago was employed a. an ex
| pert engineer by European gov,
eminent and chanced to be- closely tied
down at our hotel by my wifc's serious
ii!aess. being thus alone and de,
pressed, I welcomed the sight of a
fellow country man, solitary like my.
self.
We met for several days. both al
able and iu The smoking room. and
as our acquaintance ripercd the con.
'ersatioH naturally dritied TO q topic
oi mu'1ai interest ordnance or gun.
merry.
&c! a=ss coins :" EuS"i,r," -ai,i ny
friend, Who was man Of some 81
winters. TO introduce patent
Nh, that is interesting" said |.
YES, | have worked for years upon
The loading Of heavy guns and have
reached What / consider a happy re-
suit"
And have YOU presented your pa.
pcrs to The war Office inquired.
Well, that is The trouble" tx.
claimed Col. Holden. whose face flushed
rith suppressed irritation II have
done So, with no SUGGEST"
nut what was the reply what were
their reasons for no, try Ing or exam.
ming Your muiel?" asked
"fhsr" ha. been ne reply =" BE hlur;
ed out, bis Indignation showing itself
mere aud morc.
"Ah, that l. strange" said l. Il am
closely connected with the officers of
the department, aud though ! cannot
fai they are quick to adopt inno,a-
uurs, they are always courteous TO
those who prcselt Themselves and viii
usually, at least mah, fair rNamiun.
lion"
We'll, don't see what Is wrong with
my paPcrs,' sald The choltric colonel.
a. uow observed him to he. Since
you are acquainted with those matters.
II cCn do no harm TO show you my pa
prrs, ard II you will have alike pa.
uencc and kindness sou may throw
some light upon my quaudarics."
i am quite at your service" / as
'ured him aud so wc appointed time
when / should go TO bis room.
The neat day. a, the hour named, /
raped at bis door Il was promptly
opened and the colonel usherrd me In
With evidences Of excitement. \ gun,
about the size OF one uscd on a pleas.
ure yacht, little beauty. stood 10 If
ready Tor action, IN one corner Of the
room, while the large center table was
covered with papers.
To commence with. here j. a copy
Il my letter 10 the war Office"
] took up The sheet and controlled
m! features while ! rcud plain state.
msnt that in view Of the utter ipuor.
nice and deBlnrahlc lack of advance
mcut IN the European ordnance" the
writer almost from sense Of pity
would show the --- war office how
to convert their very ancient guns
into modern ones If invited to make a
test Of the model which be had
brought
This was followed by second aud a
third note requesting an audience or
n hearing. And 10 none had there come
ary reply
We'll, my friend, said !, after look
ing With considerable surprise at the
model and the patent, which was mar.
Nriausly clever, 81 fear yuu have not
been happy in your tone toward those
Officials, You see, though you may
consider them behind the time. il Is
beat not to tell them 50. aud II you
like | viii undertake TO get you, not
unl! hearing. but trial"
He thanked me heartily. and the
follow ing day found myself at the war
office. Herr Won Stacd," said TO the
secretary, diRnificd, courteous man,
"a country man Of mine chances to be
at my hotel, and though be is. perhaps,
what wc term rough diamond. an old
soldier as well, lie has certainly struck
a clever invention which would be Of
use TO you"
indeed said the secretary, may
l ask who your friend is, aud what IL
bis inycntion?"
Ills name Is Holden"
At which the secretary smiled and
drew from pigeon hole The eccentric
communication. copies Of which had
already seen.
Il fear your friend Is over burdened
with coneelI," observed the secretary.
Are you sure he has good thing2"
YES" said, '-sud IL sou will ar-
cePi my apology t0r his ia,iiscrrct ana
awkward style. vii! undertake to re.
duec him TO greater respect"
The secretary motioned 10 q domestic
near the door and told him TO request
Lieut.. stalehRver TO join US. when the
young officer appeared the secretary
kindly said, Lieut. stalehavcr. please
l.sten TO Mr.. Thompson's account Of the
invention offered TO us last week In
those extraordinary letters"
After had explained the invention.
Good" said the honorable secretary,
Lieut.. Stalehaver. form committee
Of three officers a:.;. wait upon this gen.
,leman. Bring me the result"
I repaired OF once 80 Col. Holden /
siih the good news, and some DAYS
later not only an investigation was |
made, but the model was tested.
] was absorbed In other matters anu |
iiso greatly disturbed by gy wife's
illness, 40 only from time to time did |
see my American friend, whose choI.
,ric propensities had changed into
'land amiahility and high spirits.
Seated at dinner one evening, nv /
!uiet was disturbed by the excitement
u Col. Holden. who Rrusped me by the
iaEG and, stating himSelf by my side.
acclaimed:
My deHr Mr. Thompson, how can
YER thRnk yon? My fortens IL made.
he government: ia going 60 cut all of
heir old guns IN two and introduce
~ leading apparatus shall ordsf
nyseh yacht AT once ard arm her
sith small gnns, all ou my model"
Not 70 fast--not 20 fast.r said
"Hut," he ratified on. u have farm
4 Illinois overlooking she lake. stun
Ing sight, shall hasld me house