The Saint Paul globe., 1901-12-15
lied. pulling himself together.

piled, pulling himself together.
| care you on a friendly footing with
| either of the lodgers?"
| mo, I have run across them occasion
ally, but I purposely keep them at a dis
round my place. There Is no love lost
between u.s. he added with a laugh.
| 1 could well imagine that.
| ST suppose they are out all day? Do
| you know what their work is, or any
| thing about them?"
"The woman who has the first floor is a
| dressmaker. The old man at the top
| is half daft, I fancy, but harmless
| enough
'In what way is he daft2"
"Well he looks crazy enough and he
| very seldom goes out, but spends all the
| day and half the night too, very likely,
| making experiments. But I've never
heard Of their coming to anything. Th.re
is horrible smell of chemicals some
| times and l should not be surprised at
an explosion any day. However, the
woman of the house wouldn't listen to
me when I advised her to give him
notice."
"Have you any printing ink?" 1 asked
after a moment. He looked at me In
surprise.
mo, but I can get some. What do you
want it for?"
Never mind now," I replied. Bring
in small blotting pad at the same
time"
He returned in few minutes with both
articles. poured some of the ink on
the pad and when it had absorbed enough
to leave the surface moist l wrapped it
up carefully with the plaster cast.
Now" l said, II must leave you a
little while Wait here till my return -
And before he could raise any objections
I had gone, closing the door behind me.
Passing myself off asa traveller, with
a wonderful domestic article to recon-
mend, I managed to secure interviews
with both the landlady and the dress
did not match with the hand of the eel
lar Now there cnly remained the old in
ventor to be examined
I paused on the landing to collect my
thoughts, and to think of an excuse that
should pass muster with him. AS an in
ventor he would naturally be interested
in any new discovery; l would ask his
advice and assistance in an imaginary
experiment of my own.
l knocked at the door, and in few
minutes the key was turned, and it was
opened a little way. A curious figure
met my gaze. 1 did not wonder that a
eoarse-natured man like Moss should call
him half-crazed. A pale, worn face, sur
mounted by shock of white hair, under
which pair of brilliant dark eyes looked
out with the fixed absent gaze of the
enthusiast. A man who would be only
fully alive when he was at work. A
man of mind and brains, evidently, if q
dreamer; certainly not a common thief
I glanced from his face to his hands, but
they were immersed in thick leather
gloves to protect them from injury, no
doubt He looked at me impatiently
holding the door with one hand.
Il must apologize for disturbing you, -.
1 said courteously, "but 1 have heard
that you are a clever inventor and have
considerable scientific knowledge, and I
am anxious to consult you about a little
experiment of my own
Twill you come in?' he said, his face
lighting up. 81 did not think 1 was so
well known. In what way can serve
your"
Mine is only very humble inven
tion,'' I said with a laugh, ''but I hope
it will be a paying one. So, if you can
help me over the difficulty 1 shall be
glad to acknowledge your services in a
liberal manner. I am trying to invent
new ink, which shall dry of itself almost
instantaneously. You will understand
how useful such an invention would be,
as it would do away with the need of