Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-20

love you. too. And need L give any more
explanation"
1t was an honorable amends. royalty
made. Fora hid a magnificent style in
doing such thiEgS-an indiscreet, venture
some. NEEDLES bme princess she might be,
if you will; somewhat unreserved. some
what too conscious of her own Zoraesque
suffciency to possess the true womanly
Intuition and sympathy; but still a prin-
cess who had the grand manner in her
scorn Of trivialities. Septimus' hand
shook a little as he fitted the tail to the
hollow bit Of china dog-end. 1t was sweet
to be loved, although it was bitter to be
loved in a sort of way. Even man like
Septimus Dix has his feelings. He had
TO hide them.
You make me very happy" he said.
Your caring so much Tor me as to wish
me to marry your sister. l shall never
forget it. You see. I've never thought of
her i'm that way. l suppose 1 don't think
of women at all In that way" he went
on, with a certain splendid mendacity.
Its q case of cogwheels instead of cor
puscIes I'm just heather bit of ma
chinery, with my head full of diagrams"
You're a tender-iearted baby, said
Fora. Give me those bits of dog"
She took them from his hand and threw
the mutilated body into the fire.
"See" she said. ''let us keep tokens.
I'll keep the head and you the tail. Ii
ever you want me badly send me the tail.
and I'll come to you from any distance
ana IL l. want you ii SEM you the nedu
''I'll come to you from the ends of the
earth, said Septimus.
So he went home a happy man, with his
tail in his pocket.
Theanext morning. about 8 O'Clock, just
as he sinking into his first sleep, he
was awakened through a sudden dream
of battle by series of revolver shots.
Wondering whether Wiggleswick had
gone mad or was attempting an elaborate
and nainfIl mode of S1liPida he loaned
out of bed and rushed to the landing.
whats the natter?
Hello, You're up at last!' cried Glen
Sypher. appearing at the bottom of the
wearing a flower in the buttonhole OF his
overcoat. I've had to break open the
front door in order to get in at all, and
then tried shooting the bell for your
valet. Can 1 come up?''
DO said Septimus. shivering. do
you mind if 1 go back to bed?"
do anything except go to Sleep" said
Sypher. Look here. I'm sorry If 1 dis
turbed you. but I couldn't wait. I'm off
to the Office and heaven knows when
shall be back. / want to talk to you
about this"
He sat on the foot of the bed and threw
the proofs Of the gun book on to Septi-
mus body, vaguely outlined beneath the
clothes. In the gray November light
Zora's carefully chosen curtains and
blinds had not been drawn-Sypher. pink
and shiny, his silk hat (Which he wore)
respondent miracle of vaIetry. looked an
urban yet roseate personification of dawn.
He seemed as eager as Septimus was SUI
pine.
i've sat up half the night over this
thing said he, land 1 really believe
you've got it,
Got what?" asked Septimus.
1T. The biggest thing on earth, bar
Sypher's Cure"
"Wait till I've worked out my railway
carriages" said Septimus.
your railway carriages! Good grac-
ious! Haven't you any sense of what
you're doing? Here you've worked out
scheme that may revolutionize naval gun
merry. and you talk rot about railway car
riages."
timus.
Are you going to publish it?'
"Of course"
ASK your publisher how much he'll
take to let you off your bargain
I'm publishing it at my own expense,
said Septimus. in the middle of q yawn.
"And presenting 1t gratis to the govern
ments OF the world?' sseSS'sss7s
Yes. Imight send them copies" said
Septimus. Its good idea"
Glenn Sypher thrust his hat to the back
of his head. and paced the room from the
washstand past the dressing table to the
wardrobe and back again.
"Well, I'm hanged said he.
Septimus> asked why.
Il thought / was philanthropist," said
Sypher, but by the side OF you I'm
vulture. Has it not struck you that, If
the big gun is what l think, any govern
ment on earth would give you what you
like to ask for the specifications?
Really? Do you think they would give
me a couple of hundred pounds?" asked
Septinrus, thinking vaguely of Mordaunt
Prince in Naples and his overdrawn bank
ing account. The anxiety of his express
sion was not lost on Sypher.
Are you in need of a couple of hun
dred pounds?" he asked.
Until my dividends are due. I've been
specializing. and Pm afraid 1 haven't
head for business.
I'm afraid you haven't" grinned Sy-
pher. leaning over the footrail of the bed.
Next time you speculate come to me
first for advice. Let me be your agent
for these guns. will you?"
Il should be delighted said Septimus.
land for the railway carriages. too.
There's also a motor car I've invented
which goes by clockwork You've got to
wind it by means Of a donkey engine. It's
quite simple"
II should think it would be-" said Sy-
pher. dryly. "But I'll only take on the
guns just for the present.
He drew check book from one pocket
and a fountain pen from another.
"I'H advance you two hundred pounds
for the sole right to deal with the thing
on your behalf My solicitors will send
you a document full of verbiage, which
you had better. send off to your solicitor
to look through before you sign it. 1t
will be all right. I'm going to take the
proofs. OF course this stops publishing"
he remarked, looking round from the
dressing table, where he was writing the
check.
Septimus assented and took the check
wonderingly, remarking that he didn't in
the least know what it was for
ssESOr the privilege of making VOur for
up
Good night said Septimus, and the
door having closed behind Glenn Sypher,
lie thrust the check beneath the bed
clothes curled himself up and went to
sleep like dormouse.
(To be continued tomorrow