The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-11-15
T Fl E
'AutOmat
Road Agent
BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Copyright. 1908, by william Wallace Cool

| way he deceived me in the matter
of that automatic road agent. Up
| on its completion 1 was led to be-
neve the machine was nothing more
harmful than motor cowboy, and
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 dlsastrously in his rescue
from a scheme of comprehensive law
lessness was Of small moment, consid-
| ering the beneficent results OF the
aforesaid rescue.
Great geniuses, suppose, spin their
| glittering webs in the dark. At any
rate, Klipton's ingenuity when at high
est pressure Withdrew into some lair
| where 1t could be alone with its origi-
nator.
In the present instance the lair was
| the rear room of our adobe dwelling
| in Matan2as, N. 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 mysteri-
Gus secrecy | shaved at the printers
trade to keep him In funds for mate
rial. So great was my trust In his
ability that handed over my wages
every Saturday night without question.
Whenever Klipton showed himself he
grimy, but complacent
William" he remarked as we sat
over one Of our frugal meals, 1.-The
machine l am building Is going to
prove ten strike. Money? My 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 you ready to tell me what the
thing Is? 2" / inquired.
mot yet. In two weeks, however,
1t will give me great pleasure to in
form you fully"
During the next fortnight Klipton
surprised me by allowing me to retain
my wages. On the night l severed my
connection with the Matanzas Mercury
he took me by the hand and led me In
to the room where he had been labor
ing for the last three months.
Before me was q skeleton motor car
small, compact = little more than
wheels and platform. with the neces-
Sary boz to house the machinery. But
the car itself was only an insignificant
part of my friends amazing machine.
Welded to 1t and forming one with
the vehicle was monstrosity In the
form OF a steel man; not whole man,
merely the head, trunk and arms, built
on gigantic model-the halr of
magog.
This latter day centaur WAS hide.
Gus conception. Its vacuous face and
staring eyes sent uncanny shivers
creeping through my nerves. and l
turned away with gasp.
In each hand the semifgure clasped
q long barreled Colts revolver. The
steel arms were jolnted. and Klipton
was lifting them proudly and moving
them this way and that when turned
my back.
80 that IL what have been putting
my wages iato for the last ten weeks!'
exclaimed, perhaps tribe bitterly.
I 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 trluInphantly primarily
designed TO benefit the cattle industry
and incidentally Marcus Klipton and
his friend, William Quinn.
when charged with electricity, this
machine wi think, act and do every
thing but ak for u period varying
from twenty-four hours to week, de-
pending upon the amount OF energy
usel up by the car"
nut the ayolvers" cried,
"All cowboys have reyolyers." he an.
swered, as thought, eyaslyely.
1T seems poorly Designed TO meet the
requirements OF cattle range" ven
tured, mastering up courage to con
ttnue my examination OF the odd CON
traption-
'You don't understand these things,
William" said Klipton calmly.
''If you'd explain how patent cow
boy IL going TO make money for us
hand over nat. think / could under.
stand that"
You'll have u practical demonstra.
tion or that tomorrow" he returned.
Next morning Rlipton shook me into
wakefulness and requested me to arise
and dress with as much dispatch as
possible. While getting into my clothes
! stole glance Into the rear room.
The motor cowboy was gone. its de-
parture having been accomplished by
means OF seven foot breach In the
adobe wall. swept Kiipton with q
questioning glance,
Il pushed 1t down to the power
plant" said he, "and oiled It with cleo
tricity. It's now away on trial"
II should like TO see how 1t stands
the test" l observed.
$50 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
tions"
"DOn't you have 70 go with itr
Qusried.
s4s -. -. - - - LA AN l..