The Virginia enterprise., 1906-10-26

not to assist Hawkins with any more
of his diabolical inventions. *
For a similar reason, his own good
lady drew me aside a few evenings
since, and insisted upon my promising
to use every means, physical force in
cluded, which might prevent her
Herbert from experimenting further
with his motor.
Hawkins hadn' t. favored me with any
condolences about the motor, and At
the first opportunity indicated with
sired. :--''-
Hawkins inquired with frigid asper!-
ty as to my meaning: but the very ici-
ness of his manner satisfied me that he
understood perfectly, and, believing
that he was sufficiently offended to
keep entirely to himself all details of
his machine-whatever it might bel
breathed more easily.
Some Of these days one of Hawkins
1nventions is going to take him on a
personally conducted tour to a quiet
little grave: and have no wish to
learn the itinerary beforehand.
Now, bitter experience has taught
me that eternal vigilance is the price
of freedom from completely with the
mechanical contrivances of Hawkins,
and should have been suspicious.
Yet when Hawkins appeared Sunday
morning and asked me to go for lit
tie jaunt up the Hudson in his launch,
accepted with guileless good faith.
His launch was-perhaps it is still
the neatest Of neat little pleasure boats,
and when we left the house I antici-
pated several hours of keen enjoy
ment.
Crossing Riverside Drive, it struck
me that Hawkins was hurrying, but
the balmy air, the sunshine, and the
beautiful sweep Of river filled my mind
with infinite peace, and it was not un-
til we had descended to the little dock
that I smelled anything suggestive Of
rat.
Hawkins climbed into the launch,
and 1 smiled benignly on him as
handed down the lunch and our over
coats. had just finished passing
them over when / stopped smiling so
suddenly that it Jared my facial mus
cles.
Where has the engine gone?'' l de-
manded.
THAT engine, Griggs," responded
Hawkins, pleasantly, has gone where
all other steam engines will go within
the next two years-into the scrap
: cheap
. Which very cheerful prophecy
means"
1T means, my dear boy, that before
you stands the first full-sized working
model of The Hawkins A. P. motor,
patent applied for!"
The inventor flicked off a waterproof
cover and exposed to view In the stern
of the launch what looked like an in
verted wash-boiler At first glance it
appeared to be merely dome of heavy
steel, bolted to massive bed-plate,
but didn't spend much time examin-
ing the thing.
There, Griggs,' began Hawkins, tri-
umphantly, "in that small
get out of that boat! Get out of it, l
say! Come home with me at once. I'm
not going to be mixed up in any more
of your wretched trial-trips. Come on,
or I'll drag you out!"
Hawkins eyed me coldly for a min
ute, admonished me not to be an ass,
and went on untying the launch.
He is stronger and heavier than 1.
Frankly, had I meditated such a course
seriously, couldn't have hoisted him
out Of his boat
If had ever studied medicine, sup
pose I should have known how to
stun Hawkins from above without
killing him, but have never even
seen the inside of a hospital -.
Again, could have conjured up any
plausible charge, might have called~a
policeman and requested him to incar-
cerate Hawkins; at the moment, how
ever, l was bit too 1ustered for such
refined strategy. :..: ..,-.>.;
Obviously, l couldn't prevent HaW-
kins testing his motor, but my heart
quaked at the idea of ACCOMMODATING
him.
On the other hand, it quaked quite
as much before the prospect Of return
ing to his wife and admitting that I
had allowed Hawkins to sail away
alone with his accursed motor.
If went with him, a relatively easy
death by drowning was about the best
I could expect. 1t 1 didn't, his wife
I stepped down into the launch.
Coming, are you?" observed Haw-
kins. Quite the sensible thing to do,
:: Gr1ggs: You'll never regret it,. j: .
God knows, l hope not" sighed. +
Nov, in the first place, l may as
well call your attention again to the
motor. The A. P. stands for almost
perpetual-good name, isn't it? z5You.
don't know much : about chemistry,
Griggs, or could make the whole
proposition clear to you, The great
point about my motor, however, is
that she's run by a fluid somewhat
similar to gasoline another Of the
-