Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-03
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE AUToMAToN AccUSER.

| deem maue rlcn by the ulScONtiy La"
| he recognized its value under its un
| polished exterior. Many an inventio:
| has been made wherein the inventor
supposed he had contrived use
less bit Of mechanism. Half Ger
fury ago Peter Muller lived ''over III
Rhine" as they call the German dis
trict across the canal in Cincinnati
| He was mathematical instrument
| maker and lived over his shop. By
economy and hard work he got together
5000, the savings of twenty years.
| He had selected site on which 10
build a home wherein to pass his last
| days in comfort. He had drawn all
| his money from the bank IN order 10
! pay for the lot and the house he in
| tended to build on il. He had placed
/ the funds in 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. I'm order to put the thief on
his guard?''
ITO discover the thief
MY many years savings are gone.
The home / hoped to enjoy will never
be built | must be satisfied to live
and Ia Dor as L have always lived and
labored.'
With this the stolid German went to
work. s usual.
But Muller was not SO content TO let
the matter rest as he would make ii
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 eve 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 i'll 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
ing at work so late at night? He must
have an order for some secret machine
with which TO assassnate the ear of
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
III 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 Il shaving that Hans
had not noted the evening before
klockke was the first guest TO arrive |
At one end of the room on table stood
something that he supposed was a
hand organ. AT any rate. il was about |
the size of 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 All invention which was |
a secret and no one was 10 pry into 1t.
A music box" whispered one guest |
"One of those singing machines that |
have recently been invented" said an
other. Max Muller has doubtless
made an Improvement
I'VE shall see in time what It is"
third.
After an hour spent in chat Mr.. Null
Ter clapped his hands for silence and
announced that he would now exhibit
his machine.
Il shall ask questions of this ma
'hine," he said, land you shall see that
t will answer me and answer me cor
'ectly." Then he asked his first Qnes-
ion and turned the crank.
What is the penalty for stealing~
imprisonment said the machine.
'ut in so imperfect a voice that one
lalf the guests repeated the word to
he other half
"Wonderfulv' they all cried
What should be the penalty for
tealing the savings of many years 2"
sked Muller
Death" answered the machine, this
ime more distinctly, but in frightful,
ollow voice.
A hush fell on the company.
Can you tell me who stole my saw
1852? asked the exhibitor.
Il can describe him.
please do So"
HE is five feet seven inches high,
Teighs about 80 pounds, has light
air and gray eyes and smaINwart
n one ear" =
What is his business ?"
Mathematical instrument maker" 4.
A hum of establishment went around 8
he circle. 1t occurred to several of the )
nests that Muller was calling down s
pom himself an accusation of stealing 2
s own money. IL
What is his nameT LIZ
The question was never answered. A d
nd was heard in the rear of the cir z
e; some one had fallen in a faint .
nrning, the audience saw Hans &
locke lying on the floor unconscious. D
Now 1t is time for the,police," said x