Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-04-14
| he Automaton Accuoer
TOriginaS1

Deen maze ricn Dy the discovery had
he recognized its value under its I'M
polished exterior. Many an invention
has been made wherein the inventor
supposed he had contrived a use
less bit Of mechanism. Half a cen
tury ago Peter Muller lived "over the
Rhine" as they call the German dis
trict across the canal in Cincinnati.
He was a mathematical instrument
maker and lived over his shop. BY
economy and hard work he got together
$1,000, the savings Of twenty years.
He had selected a site on which to
build a home wherein to pass his last
days in comfort. He had drawn all
his money from the bank in order to
pay for the lot and the house he in
tended to build on it. He had placed
the funds in a wooden stocking, which
he hid in his shop. When he went to
get the money for the first payment all
was gone.
Go at once to the police Office" said
his jOurneyman, Hans Klockke, ''and
report the theft"
what should do that for?'' replied
Muller. In order to put the thief on
his guardP'
''To discover the thief
MY many years savings are gone
The home hoped to enjoy will never
be built I must be satisfied to live
and labor as l have always lived and
labored"
With this the stolid German went to
work, as usual.
But Muller was not so content to let
the matter rest as he would make it
appear. He suspected the thief, but
had not a shadow Of proof. At the
first sign of suspicion he would dis
appear, and the money with him. Null
Ter kept his eye upon him, but the sus-
pected man never spent money freely,
never talked loosely = indeed, always
bore himself as he had borne himself
before the robbery.
Meanwhile Muller spent much time
late at night in his shop. His acquaint-
ances, passing the place after having
been to the Turner hall or to one of the
beer gardens, would see the light and
ask: Il wonder what old Muller is do
4A4S at WI II ~ 1ClS dI light! I1C LuuSI
have an order for some secret machine
with which to assassinate the car of
Russia" Muller worked on for months;
then one day he invited his friends to
an entertainment in his rooms, an
nOuncing that he had something curl
Gus to show them.
Hans Klockke was the most curious
Of all the guests. He had known
of his employers hours spent at night
in the shop and often on going there in
the morning would look for some prod
uct Of the old mans work. But there
was never even a shaving that Hans
had not noted the evening before.
Klockke was the first guest to arrive
AT one end of the room on a table stood
something that he supposed was a
hand organ. At any rate, it was about
the size of a small organ, and at one
side was a crank. He stepped up to
examine it when other guests entered,
and just then Muller came in, well
coined them and told them that the
box contained an invention which was
a secret and no one was to pry into it.
"a music box" whispered one guest.
Zone of those singing machines that
have recently been invented" said an
other. MAX Muller has doubtless
made an Improvement
eve shall see in time what it is"
remarked a third
After an hour spent in chat Mr.. Null
Ter clapped his hands for silence and
announced that he would now exhibit
his machine.
4 shall ask questions of this ma
chine" he said, land you shall see that
it will answer me and answer me cor
rectly." Then he asked his first ques-
ton and turned the crank.
What is the penalty for stealingP"
imprisonment" said the machine,
but in so imperfect voice that one
half the guests repeated the word to
the other half.
Wonderfully they all cried
What should be !. the penalty for
stealing the savings of many years."
asked Muller.
DEATH" answered the machine, this
time more distinctly, but in frightful
hollow voice.
A hush fell on the company.
'Can you tell me who stole my saw
ingsw asked the exhibitor.
Il can describe him."
please do SOL
HE is five feet seven inches high.
weighs about $50 pounds, has light
hair and gray eyes and a small wart
on one ear"
What is his business?'
Mathematical instrument maker"
A hum of establishment went around
the circle. 1t occurred to several of the
guests that Muller was calling down
upon himself an accusation of stealing
his own money.
What is his Names?
The question was never answered. A
thud was heard in the rear Of the cir
Gle; some one had fallen in a faint