The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-05-06
THEIR LAST i; M E. ETIN }
 By Cy Warman
By Cy warman
Copyright, ioOa, by cy warman

outer office and asked Co see the gener- al manager Every morning the office boy had given hlm a blank form to an out.
 "Alr. A."
 "vlshes to see-Mr. B.
 "Buslness-private."
 As often as the boy went in with the Ilip of paper he came back with the answer. "The general manager Is too busy to see you"
 In time the employees learned to look not at the clock for the hour Of 10. but to the gate that swung In the low fence. When he had come and gone thirty-seven times. leaving thirty-sev- en neatly filled requests behind him. the manager instructed the boy.
 "AIr. A." said the boy and closed the door of the private office. leaving the two men alone The general manager was embarrassed. Instead of long haired. hollow eyed crank. with soiled linen covering his concaved chest. bis caller was a well dressed, intelligent looking gentleman.
 "Delighted, delighted. Mir. R." said the stranger. advancing with out stretched hand. "So good of you to see me! Yes. did call the Other-yes, yes. know how busy you are! Just SO, just sol Ah-hr
 The men shook hands hurriedly, ey- Ing each other precisely as a pair of prlzehrhters enter the ring.
 The manager noticed for the first time a peculiar look in the mans eyes. "Sit down." said the stranger, and the railway man sank back Into his swing ing chair. q shalt take much of your time-thls time." said the visitor. hook Ing one leg over the corner Of the table and sagging Into a comfortable pose The manager felt hdgety under the strangers lnqulsitIve. soul searching eyes.
 "Pye got a good thing" said the man, keeping hls eyes upon the managers conscience.
 "I was afraid of that" said the man. agCr half playfully. but the man did not smile.
 "You have some heavy grades on your line"
 "Yes," assented the manager.
 "You have doubtless observed that it Is almost invariably upon a mountain that the air plays out. Just when they nre needed most Is when the brakes refuse to work. You know that, don't youT"
 "Yes."
 "wen. I've spent sleepless nights working out a system that will always work and save millions of money now lost in wrecked rolling stock and thou sands of useful lives"
 What Is your schemel My time Is limited"
 'Flrst of ar. you shall build for me mammoth windmill on the banks of the Missouri The ceaseless winds that come crying across Colorado and Kan sas will push the paddles In the big wheel. which. revolving. will drive a great pump that will force air through a small pipe to be laid along the line under the ties. Beneath each water tank upon the mountain side we shall build an air tank. SO that while the fireman takes water the brakeman can take air. filling the air drum with good valley air. and then there will be no trouble. It Is because the mountain air Is too light to hold that the trains get away on the hills Knowing this, the blood of Innocent men. women and children will be upon your head if you fail to protect the lives of your pa irons"
 "Tu see you again about this" said the manager. putting on his hat and leading the way out through a private door. All the way out the man kept close tO the manager. The elevator dropped them to the ground floor. The manager called a cab. As the door closed the man reached through the open window Into the carriage. pressed the managers hand and said signlh- cantly. looking deep Into the railroad mans soul. "You won't lose me!'
 The inventor continued to call upon the manager. every day at first. then twice a week and later only three or four times a month.
 One evening the general manager sat In box at the theater. Between acts a gentleman who sat almost directly behind the railroad man left the box for a moment Presently the general manager became aware that his friend had resumed his seat. and, with his gaze still on the audience. remarked: "I lose half the pleasure of the play because of an Innate dread of fire. l wish somebody would invent some thing that would put out fire without drowning people"
 'I can do t." said the man at tho managers elbow.
 "HowT
 "How do you put out a candleT
 "well. I would blow lt out"
 Exactly. First 1 would lay a sys' ten of air pipes under the building"
 The manager felt a chill creeping slowly over him. Somewhere he had heard that voice before. He began slowly to turn hls head, but his neigh Dor put a hand upon his shoulder and