Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-08-06
limits" the inventor warned him,

tered and stopped with more than hui
man intelligence.
Solomon looked inquiringly at Mr.
Wimbley, but the inventor seemed
considerably surprised. A crowd col
lected quickly The machine again
began to tremble like a medium. A
vile-smelling vapor arose behind Solo
mons back Sparks multiplied and
seemed to come from every part at
once. A report like a cannon startled
the spectators, and Solomon leaped
into the air with wild yell. He was
not hurt, but he thought the tank had
exploded
Say! What is it," he cried, as
he picked himself up and began brush
ing the dirt from his clothes.
BILL" said the inventor in a low
tone, get under and see what's
wrong" Bill took the lantern and lay
on his back under the exterminator to
make diagnosis of the case.
Her valves have slipped a foot
Gimme the monkey wrench" an
nounced Bill in a stifled voice. He
tinkcred with the machine, breathing
hard the while and muttering to him
self. AS the moments flew, Solomon
thought of May Belle, who had prom
ised to wait until he sped. back to her
in triumph.
'Ah, now we're ready" cried the in
ventor exultingly at last. Solomon
| climbed back to his saddle with a sigh
| of relief
They reached the end of the asphalt
and began to bump over a dirt road
that bordered deep marsh They
were beyond houses now, and no cleo
| trio lights cleaned on them. Sudden
| ly one corner of the machine slumped
Then it grumbled and stopped.
I Tighten the friction, Hawkins, u
muttered the inventor, the circuits
short"
THE tires punctured," said Hawkins
after a brief inspection.
"Gawd!" exclaimed Bill, anything
else?'
1.-The tank leaked pint on my
head" commented Hawkins as he
crawled out after Tightening the fric-
tfon
"Oh, well, cut her loose Well soon
be home" commanded Mr.. Wimbley
But instead of going forward the ex
Termination travelled backward and
sideway, like fiddler crab. Mr. Vim
bley was visibly disturbed
BLAST mel" he cried, "she never did
that before. Stop her, Hawkins"
Can't" yelled Hawkins, "the levers
jammed"
Everybody get out and pull" called
the inventor, frantically. IF she gets
down the hill, she'll fall into the
swamp"
The machine was still backing stub
bornly when they all jumped from
their saddles, laid violent hands or
the exterminator and braced back.
I've busted a lung!" painted Bill
who was hollow chested at the best
Solomon was gritting his teeth and
digging in his heels. The inven
tor and Hawkins were tugging with
all their might, but without avail. The
exterminator was shaking, as if with
laughter, and was slowly backing to
wards place where the embankment
dropped abruptly into the marsh.
Its no use!" walled Bill. I've
pulled till my arms are seven inches
longer than they really ought to be-
He sank in the road, exhausted, ant
all the rest let go but Mr.. Wimbley
who chung till Wimbleys Automatic
Exterminator had reached the very
edge of the bank. Then he, too, fel
back The exterminator went ovel
with a great splash and sank slowly
in the marsh, its wheels churning the
mud
1t was hours after midnight wheI
Solomon, pale and dirty, his hands
blfstered, his heart breaking, crept vi
the stairs to the room where May
Belle, trembling with anxiety, awaited
him.
TITS no good! It's no good" sale
Solomon, and his voice broke in spite
of himself.
And the woman who knew nothing
Of finances kissed him tenderly ant
whispered to him that she would jus
as soon live in boarding house al