The Bossier banner., 1907-01-03
1 T II E
I Automatic
| Road Agent
By WILLIAM WALLACE COOK
Copyright, 1906. by William Wallace Cool

way he deceived me in the matter
of that automatic road agent Up
on its completion was led to BE-
lieve the machine was nothing more
harmful than O motor cowboy, and
when the mask fell my faith in my
versatile friend was shaken to its
very foundations.
That Klipton in most salutary way
was hoist Of his own petard did much
to restore the status quo ante of our
cordial relations. That I myself was
involved disastrously 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 it could be alone with its origi-
nator.
In the present instance the lair was
the rear room Of our adobe dwelling
in Matanzas, n. NJ. From that rear
room came all day long and far into
the night a 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 slaved at the printers
trade to keep him in funds for 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 he
was grimy with smoke and dust.
grimy, but complacent
"William," he remarked as we sat
over one of our frugal meals. "the
machine I 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
f1ce."
"Are you ready to tell me what the
thing is?' inquired.
mot yet. In two weeks, however.
it 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 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 skeleton motor car,
small, compact = little more than
wheels and platform, with the neces-
sary box to house the machinery. But
the car itself was only an insignificant
part Of my friends amazing machine.
Welded to it and forming one with
the vehicle was monstrosity in the
form Of steel man; not whole man,
merely the head. trunk and arms, built
on a gigantic model-the half of q
magog.
This latter day centaur was hide
Gus conception. Its vacuous face and
staring eyes sent uncanny shivers
creeping through my nerves. and
| turned away With gasp.
| In each hand the semiigure clasped
a long barreled Colts revolver. The
steel arms were jointed, and Klipton
was lifting them proudly and moving
them this way and that when turned
my back.
$50 that is what l have been putting
my wages into for the last ten weeks y
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
designed to benefit the cattle industry
and incidentally Marcus Klipton and
his friend, William Quinn.
when charged with electricity, this
machine will think, act and do every
thing but talk for period varying
from twenty-four hours to week, de
pending upon the amount of energy
used up by the carr
But the revolversw l cried.
"All cowboys have revolvers," he an
swered, as thought, evasirely.
ut seems poorly designed to meet thu
requirements of cattle range" l ven
tured, mastering up courage to con
tinue my examination of the odd con
traption.
"You don't understand these things
William" said Klipton calmly.
IF you'd explain how n patent COW
boy is going to make money for III
hand over fist, I think / could under
stand that"
you'll have practical demonstra
ton of that Tomorrow" he returned.
Next morning Klipton shook me int,
wakefulness and requested me to aris,
and dress with as much dispatch a!
possible. Whilesgetting into my clothe!
stole glance into the rear room.
i The motor cowboy was gone, its de
parture having been accomplished b,
means Of a seven foot breach in th,
adobe wall. I swept Klipton with {
questioning glance.
Il pushed 1t down to the power
plant" said he, "and filled 1t with cleo
tricity. Itsmow away on trial"
II should like to see how 1t stands
the test" Nobserved.
$50 you shall, William. There arc
two horses at the door, and when W.
have had our breakfast we will ride
out into the country and watch opera
/ tions."
Don't youshave to go with it?''
Queried.
IF any one chad to go.with It." he
Ii Xnn Hnvn q Ct