Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-18

hair still was black and snaky, his |
teeth were as yellow and jagged as |
they were in the seventies. and his |
eyes were as blue and ugly as ever. |
He had not aged with James Ban |
semer. In truth, he looked bpt little |
older than when we made his ac-
quaintanee. The outside world knew
no more OF DrOOms private transac-
lions than it kneY OF BaBsemers. Up
in the horrid little apartment ia Wells
street. the qaeeF Old man could do as
he willed, unobsefYed aud uDannoyed.
He could. pursue his experiments with
strange chemicals, he could construct
odd devices with his KIT of tools. and
he could let of an endless amount of
inventive energy that no one knew be
possessed.
When he left Graydon Banscmer ON
the sidewalk In front OF the Office
building he swung off with his long
strides toward the Wells street bridge.
His brain had laid aside everything
that had occupied its attention during
| Office hours and had given itself over
| to the project that FASTENED his steps
homeward. His supper that night was
small one and hurriedly eaten in or
| der that he might get to work on his
| new device. broom grinned and
cackled to himself all alone up there
in the lamplight. for he was perfecting
an Invention" by which the honest
citizen could successfully put to rout
the 'holdup" man that has made Chi
| cago famous.
| Elias Droom's inventive genius I'M
| failingly led him toward devices that
could inflict pain and discontinue. His
| plan to get the better of the wretched
hard working holdup man was unique.
If not entirely practical. He was con-
structing the models for two littls
bulbs, made of rubber and lined with
a material that would resist the effects
Of an acid, no matter how powerful.
On one end of each bulb, which was
capable OF holding at least an ounce
of liquid, there was a thin syringe at
tachment. also proof against acids.
These little bulbs We're made SO that
they could be held IN the palm of the
hand. By squeezing them suddenly
a liquid could be shot from the tube
with considerable force.
The bulbs We're to contain vitriol.
When the holdup man gave the COM
mand to "hoid up your hands" the
victim had only to squeeze the bulb as
the hands went up, and if accurately
aimed the miscreant would get the
stream of the deadly vitriolic fluid in
his eyes and-here endeth the first les
son. Experience alone could do the
rest.
Young Bansemer hurried to their
apartments on the north side. he
found his father dressed and ready to
go out to dinner.
well, how was everything today?"
asked James Bansemer from his easy
chair in the library. Graydon threw
his hat and gloves on the table.
Terribly dull market, governor" he
said. Its been that way for q week
How are you feelingY'
Fit to dine with q queen" answered
the older man, with a smile. How
soon can you dress for dinner, GrayF"
THAT depends on who is giving the
dinner"
"Some people you like. 1 found the
| L
). We have an hour in which to get
over there. Can you be ready?'
do you go security for the AFFAIR.""
asked Graydon.
, Certainly. You have been there, my
boy, and I've not heard you complain"
You mean over at
"YeS; that's where l mean," said the
other, breaking in quietly.
Il think l can be ready in ten min
: utes, father"
While he was dressing his father sat
: alone and stared rehectively at the
small blue gas blaze in the gate. A
dark, grim smile unconsciously came
over his face, the inspiration of tri-
: umphant joy. Twice he read the dainty
note that met him on his return from
the Office.
What changes time can make in
woman" he unused, land what changes
: woman can make in time! For near
ly year I've waited for this note. l
knew it would come; 1t was bound to