The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-11-29

the peer of Edison had been set up
beside the newer miracle of mechanics,
and 1T was working with steady, laborl
Gus patience, under the guidance of q
skilled hand Meanwhile the Jennings
automatic. tended only by Il girl, was
casting forth straw hats as modern
printing press disgorges newspapers.
Nr. Ely had never seen II run so fast,
and lie viewed 1t with considerable I'm.
easines9, for he knew that something
sensational would happen If 1t should
clog while going at such gait. But
the eye of Jennings was sharper than
an eagles, and. though he seemed to
be wholly Mt his ease, he was always
on the watch for the danger signal.
Now, gentlemen" he was saying,
eve will give you ali q chance to eX-
anime this mechanism TO better ad-
vantage than is possible while it is
being operated at high speed. Miss
Williams, will you oblige me-
Miss Williams "obliged" Despite
her innocent and girllsh mien. she was
an expert with the automatic, trained
under the inventors eye for many
IHDullS, GOllt KNEW us We'll Dt uiu
that the moment had come when the
machine must be stopped or it would
cut such capers as would set the
crowd bowling. She smiled sweetly
at Mr.. Jennings and turned off the
power. The automatic came to rest.
Gentle as lamb" said the invent
or, patting the iron child of his brain,
as IL moved by affection for it, but
really to see how hot it was in vari-
Gus places. "Now, gentlemen, l will
remove certain parts so that you may
understand how we get these remarlla
bic results"
Mr.. Ely meanwhile had passed be-
hind the machine and stopped beside
the pile of plated straw with which
| the automatic was fed. 1t happened,
| then, that he noted the unlighted cigar,
and, kneeling there. he took out the
box of matches which the little peddler
had sold to him. He was about to
light one of them when his attention
was stricken by voice, and he listen
ed motionless.
1t was a squat dark, oily skinned
man who was speaking. Ely had a
glimpse of his face through wheel of
the machine and recognized him for
curb broker named Stendhall, in re-
gard TO whom he had received warn
ing that the fellow might try to work
an unfrendly game with the stock.
MIR jennings" said Stendhall, some
of us are not satisfied with this ex-
hibtion. We would like to see test
of four hours continuous operation
four hours at least. We" -
But Ely heard no more. There was
a ringing in his ears, with dizziness
that made him put hand upon the
floor to steady himself. The bare floor
was cold to the touch, being made or
slabs of stone. An idea seemed to leap
from the tips of Ely's fingers to his
brain. He cast Il hasty glance over
the pile of straw. No one was observ-
ing him. Ten seconds later he arose
with lighted cigar between his lips.
The ineXtinguishable match was brisk
ly sizzling in the straw.
Ely stepped behind Miss Williams.
who had got down from her place at
the machine. He had no special inter-
est in her, but she was the only wom-
IN present, and he felt responsible for
her safety.
"l'ire!' yelled somebody and on the
instant beautiful squirt OF flame leap
ed straight for the vitals of the auto
matte. There was wild rush for the
doors. and Ely observed Stendhall, with
his head down, butting his way TO
safety and roaring with panic.
Beyond a few scratches and the rend-
ing OF garments no harm was done.
The fire burned itself out on the stone
floor, and there was nothing for the
iiremen to do when they arrived. After
it was all over the inventor, pale with
excitement. laid hand on Ely's shOul-
der and stared into his eyes.
by George, slr!' said he. YOU'RE
the quickest man 10 think that ever
saw. You saved our bacon that time,
sure"
"Eiow do you know did it?"
"Well." said the inventor. shivering
ana grinnlng. II hope I've got as much
faith in Providence ms any Christian
needs. but there's a limit sir; there's
| II Illllt, MS WNS nO lulIuVie -uO, oii.
"Speaklng of miracles" rejoined Ely,
you've got forty eight hours to ac-
complish one. We can claim two days
delay on the ground of damage to our
machine At the end of that time the
automatic has got to run four hours at
high speed or there's an end of us"
I'm do itW cried the inventor by
George, I'll do it!I
'l'ye heard that before" responded
ely. NOW, | want to see it"
1t was after 4 o'clock when Ely en-
tered his private office and sank heayi
ly into his chair. His desk was closed.
There were some letters upon the leaf
and on top of them Il sheet of paper
bearing memorandum in pencil
This was the usual summary of the
situation prepared by Ely's right hand
man, James Mcknight The total,
$90Sl. showed the amount which must
be raised TO meet these obligations.
The statement was usually worse.
Tomorrow, as Mcknight had remark
ed, was an "easy day" Ely knew
whore he could raise $9,0S5. but what
he did not know and never had known
and never expected TO know was how
long he could keep on doing It, The
catastrophe must come some time-it
had never seemed SO near