Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-04-01


He said it was business, sir. That
was all. Shall 1 show him in?"
Dobell grudgingly gave consent.
The man who entered with quick
step had long black hair, brushed
straight back from his forehead, and
sharp, little eyes that outdid the hair
In blackness. He was dressed in an
unobtrusively brown lounge suit
rather the worse for wear-wore a
soft felt hat, once gray, but now going
green from its exposure to the ele-
ments. He stood directly in front of
Dobell and began with defamation:
II have to ask you a thousand par.
dons for disturbing you on a Saturday
afternoon.
Dobell motioned his visitor to a
chair. He hoped that the sitting pos
ture would tend to subdue this human
tornado.
ooh, that's all right. Now what
can I do for you, SIR"
"Do? You can set me on my feet
again"
Dobell's mouth closed with a snap.
Really, what had the usually astute
Elizabeth been about in not spotting
that the man was a beggar?
Look here, my friend, let me be
quite straight with you! II you want
another five shillings to make up your
railway fare to that place near Storna-
way where you've heard of a job, I'm
simply not your mar"
You misunderstood me. This Is
very painful. l don't want a penny
piece from you. I believe hat you
are a friend-an intimate friend-of
the great Professor Nicholson. am
here to ask you for a letter Of intro
duction to that distinguished man"
Dobelf breathed easier. So he was
not the target-but another. Certain
ly, this tornado might galvanize for
a while the professor into something
resembling life.
Il seer. Well, I might do that,
II you tell me exactly why you want
to be introduced to him."
Willingly! I wish to make him
more famous"
Dobell felt a little sick. OF all the
unhappy suggestions! Make the Pro
lessor more famous when the fame
that was already his was the curse
and blight of Dobel's life. If the fell
low had suggested making the Profess
sor infamous, his proposal might have
been worth listening to.
"Oh, I am really afraid l can't help
you, then"
what! You grudge him the great
honor and renown which I can be-
stow upon him?"
my dear sir, do try and understand
the position! Already the Professor
is the pampered child of fortune. He
has letters after his name that make
every compositor swear. Would he
thank you for seeking to give him
that of which he already has a surfeit?
Let me advise you to put your pro-
posal before some smaller and OBJ
scurer man."
Twill you help me, them"
please be a little more explicit!"
replied Dobell, with ruf1ed dignity.
TN what precise way do you want as
sistance?"
Il require money and influence to
put a superb new invention on the
market. No, that is putting it wrong
ly. I am willing to hand over all per-
sonal interest in the invention in re-
turn for a small but assured income
days"
"And what is the invention?' in
quired Dobel, obviously.
"One that the world-the mechanical
world-has been longing for for years.
It is an Anti-Skid. 1t effectually pre-
vents the wheels of any motor vihicles,
however heavy and cumbrous, from
skidding. Once the thing is in use,
a new era will dawn for the motor
world"
His hearer scratched his chin. He
remembered the greasy state Of Lead.
entail street during that very morn
Ing. He had looked out of his office
window and smiled, although really
for anyone on the level of the street
it was no smiling matter. Giddy mo.
tor omnibuses were %piroueting from
one side Of the road to another, and
the policemen on point duty were pow.
erless to arrest them. One had crashed
into a four-wheel1i cab placidly stand.
ing on the Leadenhall street rank, and
was making on with a wheel as a
souvenir. A statue up West would
certainly await the public %benefactor
who would put an end to the holocaust
OF the streets which the advent OF
imperfect automobilism has brought
about.
But the practical man in Dobell as.
serted himself. He eyed the stranger
~suspiciously. Face to face with shrink
ing dividends and increasing Third
Party claims which the Courts almost