The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-11-24

vented anything, isn't it, Hawkins?.'
/ had said the night before.
'Um-um," Hawkins had murmured.
Mus be two months?''
'.Ah9" Hawkins had smiled.
sfWhat is it? Life insurance COM
panies on to your"
.tUm-ah," Hawkins had replied
aOr Rave yeu really given it up for
good? It can't be, can it,"
Ohio, Hawkins had yaWned, and
there [ stopped questioning him.
Satan himself must have eoneocted
the business which sent me-or started
me-toward Philadelphia next morn
ing. Perhaps, though, the railroad COM
pany was as much to blame; they
should have known better
The man In the moon was no fur
fher from my thoughts than Hawkins
as stepped ashore on the Jersey side
OF the ferry to take the train. Yet
there stood Hawkins in the station.
Surely something was working him
up. wondered what it was.
As watched. an poplectic-Iooking
youth appeared in the door of the of
nee and handed Hawkins an official
appearing slip OF paper.
The inventor snatehed It impolitely
and turned his back, while the youth
gazed after him for a moment and
then returned to the office.
Set Of COMPOUNDED idiots.s Hawk
ms remarked, Wrathfully
Then ere I could disappear he spied
me.
Aha, Griggs, you here2'
No, I'm not, I said, fatty IF
there's any trouble brewing, Hawkins,
consider me back in New York. What
has excited your"
Excited me? Those fool railroad
officials are enough to drive man to.
the asylum. Did you see how they
kept me standing outside that door,"
Well, did you want to stand inside
the door, Hawkins ?"
II didn't want to stand anywhere in
the neighborhood of their Internal door!
The idea Of making me get permit to
ride on an enginei Mel"
81 don't know how else you'd man
age It, Hawkins, unless you applied for
a JOB as fireman. Why on earth do
you want TO ride on a locomotive o.
+Oh, it's not a locomotive, Griggs.
You don't understand. Where are you
bound for?''
Philadelphia
Then, by George, you'll be with
us! You'll see the whole showl''
Hawkins caught my coat sleeve and
dragged me toward the train-g ates
See here I said, OBTAINING him,
what whole shown
But why don't you come and see
for yourself?" the inventor cried, i'm
patiently. tIt's-its-''
He paused for moment.
Why, it's the Hawkins Alcomo-
tfve!'' he added.
And what under heavens is the
Hawkins
Well, you don't suppose I'm carry
ing scale ORA wings Of the thing On me,
do you? You don't suppose that I'm
prepared to give demonstration with
magic lantern pictures on the spot?
If you want to see it, come and see it.
II not, you'd better go into your train.
It's 1908 now"
knew no way of better utilizing the
remaining seven minute. I walked or
rather trotte1-after Hawkins, through
the gates, down the platform, and
along by the train until we reached
the loeomotiye-or the place where a
decen-, God-fearing locomotive should
have been standing.
The customary huge iron horse was
not In sight.
In It's place stood what resembIed a
small ftat-car. On the car / observed
an affair which resembled something
an enthusiastic automobilist might
have conceived in a lobster salad
nightmare.
It was. presume, merely an abnor-
malIy large automobile engine; and
along each side Of it ran a big cylin-
drical tank.
There, Griggs!'' said Hawkins.
saThat doesn't look much like the old
fashioned, clumsy locomotive, does it,"
Il should say it didn't"
..Of course it's little rough in finish
Just trial Aleomotive, you know
but it's going to do one thing to-day"
And that is %
..It's going to sound the solemn
death-knen of the old steam oeomo-
tive, said Hawkins, evidently feel
ing some compassion for the time-hon-
ored engine.
But will that thing pull . train? Is
that tho notion?"
sNotion! It's no notion-it's a sim
pie, mathematical certainty, my dear
Griggs. In that Aleomotive-it's run
by yarors of alcohol. you know-we
have sufficient power to pull Is parlor
cars, u loaded day coaches, 20 ordinary
nat cars, Is box cars, or Ct
Board for Newark, Elizabeth,
Trenton, Philadelphia, and all points
south. sang out the man at the
gates.
He was lying. but he didn't know 1t.
wei. / guess It's-it's time to start,
Hawkins concluded, rather nerVously.
We'll, may the Lord have mercy On
your soul. Hawkins said, feelingly.
sGood-hy. I'll be along On the next
erain-wheneve that is.
What You're coming on the Alco-
motiva with met"
mot On your life, Hawkins!p cried,
energetioally. II this railroad wishes
60 trust its passengers and rolling
= 80 Sr, rrYrF-