The Washington times., 1901-08-25

otherwise and long In our employ, so we
hated to part with him. Must have tried
II once too often last night Shocked at
such horrible thing. of cocrse. but we'd
so often cautioned him, and so forth
see?''
The thin man rose.
You're a genius" said he. ITS the
very thing"
:. 'Tisn't genius" said the other. short
ly. It's a case of have to-
On the evening preceding the above con-
versation. the Commonwealth Explosive
Works. in the dingy little village called
the Plains. had verified its name by sail
ing skyward in the widst of vivid pyro-
technical display. accompanied by roar
like several concentrated Fourth of Julys.
which had shaken the earth for miles
around Severed hours after the explo-
sion. in a little belt of larches some rods
away. a heap of wreckage stirred uneasi-
ly and finally broke apart From the
wreckage came a thing. which wobbied
about the ground in its vain attempts to
rise Finding this impossible. it began to
crawl thdough the grove toward a light.
which showed in window some little dis
lance beyond The thing made progress
painfully, sometimes creeping. sometimes
worming. but always groaning weakly.
The light seemed leagues ay, and more
over. it hobbled about in a wonderful
fashion. and showed all variety of color,
from blood-red to pale blue. Sometimes it
was lost to sight completely and the thing
would utter a sound between a gasp and
a moan, but it always crawled. until at
last the light showed its Kaleidoscope
hues close at hand. Then the thing after
numerous attempts. found a feeble voice
and sent ont frail shout, while the light
swung around In huge circles ard dripped
green sparks in its trail. Som cone came
running and bending down, said. Good
Cod! in voice that rang and Jared like
heavy bells--then darkness.
1t was late next afternoon when the
thing opened its eyes, and even as IL
moaned in its pain the presses in the
neishboring city were running out, In
their first editions, the account Of MORT
arity's affection for his pipe.
Now to bring into the semblance of a
man thing which has scared through
the air in company with loose boards.
stray Orders. and miscellaneous debris.
takes some little time and vast amount
of surgical skill. OF time there was pIen-
ty, and there was no lack OF other reuuf-
sites at the hospital. to which the thing
was finally taken. The two In contunc-
ton worked wonders. Out of the battered
mass OF broken bones and lacerated flesh
came slowly but surely the likeness OF a
human being-a very sorry human being
1t was, Scared and disfigured, and prfst-
Ing with splints and banGages; still,
through it all, 1t chung to life with a ten
acity which was little less than marvel
GUS After many weeks it vas able to
sit up every day in a chair About this
time, this much-bandaged man began to
read, and CHANGING to come across a bum
die OF weeks-old papers, he read therein
the account Of the thoughtIess Moriarty.
Ii pleased him immensely. He chuckIed
and grinned and read the account several
times. Then he folded the paper and put
1t under the pillow Of his cot Moriarty's
troubles seemed to be powerful tonic for
him. He improved rapidly and nearly
drove the doctors insane by asking them
many times day how long it would be
before his condition would permit him to
go out.
One visiting day he dictated a note and
sent 1t out by the nurse. In the afternoon
three men were shown to the bandaged
man Waru' where he sat propped upin
his chair
three. as he caught site OF the shrunken
figure.
The bandaged man favored them with a
srin' which the crosses OF adhesive pIas-
Ter on his face and the absence OF six
front teeth rendered particularly hfdeous.
SIT down, sit down. he said, joviaIly.
LOOK at the product Of bad chemicals.
viii your
The trio sat down and chatted away
until white-capped nurse gently limited
1t was time for them to leave. Then the
bandaged man turned to the visitor near
est him.
DAN" said he. did you ever see me
smoker"
L don't think I ever did. Denny" the
man addressed replied
The patient turned to the next in order
Tom" he said solemnly. did you eveI
see me smoker
Sure not" said Tom.
Did you, Jim?' the patient went on
addressing the third, who shock his head
We'll, then" said he. remember that
will you? It's money IN your pocket tc
keep that in mind" And when the three
reached the street they agreed there was
something wrong with Denny's mind.
| 1t was bright September day when the
patient left the hospital. He entered a
| carriage and drove to one of the office
buildings downtown. He hobbIed into q
! spacious office on the seventh floor, hi.
| clutches making vigorous humping OF
the thing he swung past a stcat mar
! at a desk in the outer room and entered
/ smaller o:iv, where a thin little MAI
/ with d grey beard bent over pile of let
/ tiers. The man from the hospital still
wore bandages swathed about his neck
and there was yet enough adhesive plaster
on his face to make his grin rather pro-
I nounced.
Good morning." said he. pleasantly
! sinking into chair. Don't let me in
terrupt. My business can wait
"Well?" said the other, sharply
Are you ready the intruder asked
| Then he grinned and the thin man expert
enced shock. That grin would have
| startled mummy.
Il think I'll smoke" said the man with
the crutches.
We'll. why don't you the thin mar
| queried, after waiting for some mo-
ments for the other to produce his weed
No hurry" was the calm response
I've got to learn first Want me to learn
don't your
Want what want WHAT said the
| thin man.
You want me to learn to smoke. don't
you?" the other went on. Course you
want me to-" he added. insinuatingly.
Now see here" began The thin man,
| but the other interrupted him.
II don't mind learning TO smoke. but it S
expensive. Costs a lot of money to smoke.
l wouldn't undertake it less'n ten thou
sand dollars.