The daily Alaskan., 1909-01-12
THEIR LAST MEETING.
By cY wARMAN.

outer office and asked to see the gen. eral manager, Every morning the of- flee boy had given him a blank form to Hn out:
 MT. A.
 "Wishes to see-NIr. B.
 "BuslneSs-private."
 As often as the boy went in with the slip of paper he came back with the answer, ''The general manager Is too busy to see you"
 In time the employees learned to look not at the clock for the hour of 10, but to the gate that swung in the low fence. When he had come and gone thlrly-seven times; leaving thirty, seven neatly filled requests behind him, the manager instructed the boy.
 "Mr. A." said the boy and closed the door of the private office, leaving the two men alone. The general manager was embarrassed. Instead of a long haired, hollow eyed crank, with solled linen covering his concaved chest, his caller was a well dressed intelligent looking gentleman.
 "Delighted, delighted, Mir. B." said the stranger, advancing with out stretched hand "So good of you to see me! Yes, did call the other-yes, yes, I know how busy you are! Just so, just sol Ah-hw
 The men shook hands hurrledly, ey- ing each other precisely as pair of prlzeGghters enter the ring.
 The manager noticed for the first time a peculiar look In the mans eyes. "Sit down." said the stranger, and the railway man sank back into his swing Ing chair. "I shan't take much of your tlme-this time, said the visitor, hook ing one leg over the corner of the table and sagging into a comfortable pose. The manager felt Gdgety under the strangers soul searching eyes.
 i've got good thing" said the man. keeping his eyes upon the mana gers conscience.
 q was afraid of that" said the man. agcr half playfully, but the man did not smile.
 You have some heavy grades on your line"
 Yes" assented the manager.
 You have doubtless observed that 1t is almost invariably upon mountain that the air plays out. Just when they are needed most is when the brakes refuse to work. You know that, don't you?"
 Yes"
 "Weu. I've spent sleepless nights working out a system that will always work and save millions of money now lost in wrecked rolling stock and thou. sands of useful Ives
 What is your scheme? My time is limited"
 First of all, you shall build for me mammoth windmill on the banks of the Missouri. The ceOseless winds that come crying across Colorado and Kan sas will push the paddles In the big wheel. which, revolving, will drive q great pump that will force air through a small pipe to be laid along the line under the ties. Beneath each water tank upon the mountain side we shall build an air tank, so that while the fireman takes water the brakeman can take air. filling the air drum with good valley air, and then there will be no trouble. It Is because the mountain air Is too light to hold that the trains get away on the hills. Knowing this, the blood of innocent men, women and children will be upon your head if you fail to protect the lives of your pa trons."
 "I'n see you again about this" said the manager. putting on his hat and leading the way out through q private door. All the way out the man kept close to the manager The elevator dropped them to the ground floor. The manager called a cab. As the door closed the man reached through the open window into the carriage, press. cd the managers hand and said sig nifcantly, looking deep Into the rail road mans soul, You won't lose me"
 The inventor continued to call upon che manager, every day at first, then .twicc a week and later only three or four times a month.
 One evening the general manager sat In box at the theater. Between acts a gentleman who sat almost directly behind the railroad man left the box for moment Presently the general manager became aware that his friend had resumed his seat and, with his gaze still on the audience, remarked: 'I lose half the pleasure of the play because of an Innate dread of fire. l wish somebody would invent some thing that would put out fire without drowning people"
 T can do It." said the man at the managers elbow"
 How
 "How do you put out candleT
 Well, I would blow it out"
 Exactly. First I would lay sys- ! n Al.