The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-09-29

1aLelg sIe eXaeted my SOilne0 pledge
not to assist Hawkins with any more
o. his diabolicaI Inventions.
For a similar reason, his own coed
lady drew me aside few evenings
since, and Insisted upon my promising
TO use every means, physical force in,
cluded, which might prevent her
Herbert" from experimenting further
with his motor
Hawkins hadn't favored me with any
condolences about the motor, and at
che first opportunity I indicated with
brutal directness that none was de-
sired.
Hawkins inquired with frigid asperl-
ey as to my meaning; but the very ici-
ness of his manner satisfied me that he
understood perfectly, and, believing
that he was sufficiently offended to
Keep entirely to himself all details OF
his maehine-Whatever it might be-
breathed more easily.
Some of these days one of Hawkins,
Inventions is going to take him On
personally conducted tour to quiet
little grave, and / have no wish to
learn the itinerary beforehand.
Now, bitter experience has taught
me that eternal vigilance is the price
of freedom from completely with the
mechanical contrivances OF Hawkins.
and | should have been suspicious.
Yet when Hawkins appeared Sunday
morning and asked me to go for a lit
tie jaunt up the Hudson in his launch,
] accepted with guileless good faith.
His launch was-perhaps it is still
the neatest of neat little pleasure boats,
and when we left the house | antiei-
pated several hours Of keen enjoy
ment.
Crossing Riverside Drive, it struck
me that Hawkins was hurrying, but
the baImy air, the sunshine, and the
beautiful sweep Of river filled my mind
with infinite peace, and it was not I'M
I'll we had descended to the little dock
that I smelled anything suggestive OF
rat.
Hawkins climbed into the launch,
and | smiled benignly on him as
handed down the lunch and our over
coats | had just finished passing
SnCm ofEl HnG14 5GCpPSA Stunning ~
suddenly that 1t Jared my facial mus
cIes
Where has the engine gomez" 1 de-
manded.
THAT engine, Griggs,' responded
Hawkins, pleasantly. has gone where
all other steam engines will go within
the next two years-into the scrap
heap.
Which very cheerful prophecy
means
1T mems, my dear boy, that before
you STANDS the first full-sized working
model OF The Hawkins A. 2. motor,
patent applied fort"
The inventor fiicked off waterproof
cover and exposed to view in the stern
OF the launch what looked like an in
verified wash-boiler. At first glance il
appeared to be merely a dome Of heavy
steel, bolted to massive bed-plate
but I didn't spend much time examin-
ing the thing.
There, Griggs,'' began Hawkins, trI-
umphantly, I'm that small"
Hawkins I cried desperately, you
get out OF that boat Get out of it,
say. Come home with me at once. In
not going to be mixed up in any more
of your wretehed trial-trips. Come on
or I'll drag yoH Quit
Hawkins eyed me coldly for a min
ute. admonished me not to be an ass
and went on untying the launch.
He IS stronger and heavier than
Frankly, had I meditated such course
seriously, | couldn't have hoisted hin
out Of his boat.
If had ever studied medicine, sup
pose | should have known how te
stun Hawkins from above without
killing him, but | have never ever
seen the inside of hospital.
Again, could have conjured up any
plausible charge, might have called {
policeman and requested him to inear
cerate Hawkins; at the moment, how
ever, I was bit too hustered for sucl
refined strategy.
Obviously, couldn't prevent HaW
kins testing his motor, but my hear
uuaked at the idea of accompanying
him.
On the other hand, it quaISed quit.
as much before the prospect Of return
ing to his wife and admitting that
had allowed Hawkins to sail ava.
alone with his aceursed motor.
If I went with him. a relatively cas-.
death by drowning was about the bes
Il could expect. Ii didn't, his wife
I stepped down into the launch.
Coming, are you?" observed Haw
kins. quite the sensible thing to do
Grfggs. You'll never regret it. =
God knows, 1 hope not. | sighed.
Now, in the first place. I may a
well call your attention again to tn
motor. The A. P. stands for -almos
peruetual'-good name. isn't it? Eo1
don't know much about chemistry
Grisgs, or I could make the who'll
proposition clear to you. The grea
point about my motor, however. j
that she's run by a fluid someWha
similar to gasoline-another of III
dfstiIlation products of petroleum, j
faet-Which, having been exploded
passes into my new and absolutei,
unique catalytic condensers. where
is returned TO its original molecuia
structure and run back into the reser
voir.
Hence" finished Hawkins, dramat
Seallv. ..tne fuel retains its ehem1ea