The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-08-23


when the mask fell my faith in my
versatile friend was shaken to its
very foundations.
That Klipton in a most salutary way
was hoist Of his own petard did much
to restore the status quo ante of our
cordial relations. That | myself was
involved disastrousIy in his rescue
from scheme of comprehensive law
lessneSs was of small moment, consid-
ering the benefcent results of the
aforesaid rescue
Great SeniuseS, l suppose, spin their
glittering webs in the dark. At any
rate, KliptOn's ingenuity when at high
est pressure withdrew into some lair
where it could lie alone with its orig
nator.
in the present instance the lair was
the rear room of our adobe dwelling
in Matanzas, y. NJ. From that rear
room came all day long and far into
the night mellow "clink" Of hammer
on anvil. and against its closely cur
tanned windows struck sporadic CLEANS
OF portable forge.
The while he worked on in myster-
Gus secrecy | Shaved at the printers
trade t. keep him in funds f0r mate
rial So great was my trust in his
ability that l handed over MY wages
every Saturday. night without question.
Whenever Klipton showed himself lie
was grlmy with smoke and dust.
grimy, but compiacent
William" he remarked as we sat
over one Of our frugal meals, 1.-THE
machine l am building is going to
prove a ten strike. Money? Ny dear
boy, we shall take in the coin hand
over fist. Today you are to give them
two weeks notice at the printing Of
fee"
Are Won ready to tell me what tie
thing isl" inquired
Not yet. III two weeks. however.
it will give me great pleasure to in
form YOU fully"
During tie next fortnight klipton
surprised ne ly allowing ne to retain
my wages. On the night l severed my
connection with the Matauzas Mercury
lie took me by the hand and led he in
to the room where lie had been labor
ing FOR the last three months.
Before me was n skeleton motor car.
small, compact - little more than
wheels ana platform. with the neccs-
s2rJ box 70 house the machinery. But
the ear itself was only an insignificant
part Of my friends amazing machine
Welded to it and forming one with
the vehicle was a moustroslty in the
form Of a steel man; not a whole man,
merely tie head, trunk and arms, built
on a gigantic model-the half of a
nagog
This latter day centaur was u hide
Gus conception. Its yacu0us face and
staring eyes sent uncanny shivers
creeping through my nerves, and |
turned away with gasp.
In each hand the semifigure clasped
long barreIed Colts revolver. The
steel arms were jointed, and Klipton
was lifting them proudly and moving
them this way and that when l turned
my back.
~ '4"Nt - ~ A4'tI ia NC bCGL I4ll-lA9
my wages into for the last ten weeks"
l exclaimed, perhaps a trifle bitterly.
had cajoled myself into the belief that
Klipton had been solving the problem
of aerial navigation, and my disap-
pointment was keen.
"Klipton's Motor Cowboy" my friend
explained triumphantly, primarily
InsiC ,aJ 70 lAraE+ I,C tn,
and incidentally Marcus Klipton ana
his friend, William Quinn.
when charged with electricity, this
machine will think, act and do every
thing but talk for a period varying
from twenty-four hours to a week, de
pending upon the amount Of energy
used up by the car"
But the revolversr l cried.
All cowboys have revolvors," he an
swered, as I thought, evasively.
1T seems poorly designed to meet the
requirements of a cattle range" | ven
tured, mastering up courage to con
tinue my examination Of the odd con
traption.
You don't understand these things,
" Iiildul, Sdlu hIplON calmly.
Of you'd explain l*w patent COW
boy is going to make money for US
hand over fist, think I could under
stand that"
You'll have "A practical Gemonstra-
ton of that tomorrow" he returned.
Next morning Klipton shook me into
wakefulness and requested ne to arise
and dress with as much dispatch as
possible While getting into my clothes
l stole a glance into the rear room.
l The motor cowboy was gone its de-
parture having been accomplished by
means Of a seven foot breach in the
adobe wall. l swept Klipton with a
questioning glance.
Il pushed it down to the power
plant" said he, land filled it with cleo
tricity. It's now away on trial"
81 should like to see how it stands
The test" ] observed.
so you shall. William. There are
two horses at the door, and when we
have had our breakfast we will ride
out into the country and watch opera
tons"
Don't you have to so with itf"
quered