Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-03-22
AN APRIL DAY.

Had Capt, Ivan Maddix been an early
riser, or meth0dical man of business,
this tale of love, cupidity and shipwrecl
would never have been written. But it
was quarter past 10 by his cathedral
clock when Capt. Maddx parted the cur
tains of his bed on this April morning
and rang for his man The was the one
inhabltant of Sempronius who enjoyed
this luxury. and proceeded leisurely with
his toilet
Having completed this, Capt. Maddix
read over n letter upon the composing
of which he had bestowed much care and
thought the night before. 1t was adj
dressed to Miss Constance Lanisdale, and
contained an offer of marriage. He dis
patched the letter by his man. toyed with
Il roll, and slipped his coffee, and, last Of
all, languidly took up the morning paper.
lie yawned delicate!y, slapped midway in
the yawn, stared. jumped to his feet
and with bang the action begins.
To retrace a little, Capt Maddix had
been resident in Sempronius some ten
months. He was handsome, courtly, and
AN adyenturer. Gossip had been swift
to connect his name with that of Con-
stance LaniSdale, orphaned and beauti-
full. Nor were these Miss Lanisdale's
only attractions. Almost CONFIDENTLY
with Capt. Maddixs meeting with her.
4 wealthy, eccentric aunt living in Nova
Scotia, or some place equally remote, had
died, leaving Constance $4,000. An
humble prize, perhaps. for gallant
cheyalier dindustrie to risk much in win
ming, hut $50, 900 in cash (aS Constance's
fortune was) may become in the hands
OF man who is truly great (ike Capt
MaddlN. for example, the nucleus of Il
splendid fortune.
Now. Capt Maddix numbered among
his wide acquaintance certain brilliant
scientific man known to fame as Prof.
SchnitZwaSSer. The professor was the
inventor of an electric airship which
promised to supersede all existing modes
of travel, After years of experimenting.
4 magnificent machine had been con.
structed after the perfected model, and it
had worked like charm on several pre-
liminary trials. A great test trip from
New York to Chicago was soon to be
made.
Capt. Maddix had talked electric air
ship to Miss Lanisdale. She had bent an
attentive ear. He had told her that he
had invested in the greatest of modern
inventions everything he had on earth,
which statement was not half so far
away from the truth as other things the
captain had said. She was seeking an
investment. Could she do better than TO
put her legacy into the electric alrShln
linef Fifty thousand shares at $40 each
had been put on the market. They were
quoted now ut almost par. After the big
test trip from New York to Chicago the
stock would soar aloft as high as the
airShip. Miss Lanisdale'S twenty thou
sand would become a hundred thousand
"a million. Constance was breathless.
She consented TO think OF it-then to act
upon the captains advice-and had end
ed by sending her man of business TO
New York to invest her fortune in cleo
trio airship stock.
This man of business" Capt. Maddix
had seen more than once at Constance'S
home. He was n young lawyer about 81
years old. His tie was knotred with no
distinctive grace whatever; his gray suit
did not lit him as though he had been
poured into it: and his hands and feet
were a good deal in evidence. He was
also one of your silent men, and he cut
but a poor figure beside brilliant CON
versationalist like Capt. Maddix-in the
eyes of the brilliant captain az least. He
had other disadvantages, too. this young
lawyer-a pair Of clear. gray eyes which
had an uncomfortable way Of looking
straight at one who might nave some