Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-19
Septinnt1s
BY VII LIAM J.LOCKE
Copyright, 1908. BY the PHILIPPE Publish
i'g Company
Copyright, 1907. by John Lane Company
CHAPTER VII.


Are YOU going to have your bath first.
or your breakfast?' asked Wiggleswicls.
putting his unt!dy gray head inside the
sitting room door.
Septimus ran his ivory rule nervously
through his hair.
II don't know. Which would you ad-
! vise?''
WHAT" bawled Wiggleswick.
Septimus repeated his remark in a
louder voice.
IF I had to wash myself in cold wa
ter said Wiggleswick, contemptuously,
''Id do it on an empty stomach"
But If the water were warm?'
We'll. the water amt warm, so it's no
good specializing
Dear me- said Septimus. Now that's
just what 1 enjoy doing
Wiggleswick grunted. I'll turn on the
tap and leave it."
The door having closed behind his body
servant, Septinus laid his ivory rule on
the portion Of the complicated diagram of
machinery which he had been measuring
Off and soon became absorbed in his
task. 1t was O'Clock in the afternoon.
He had but lately risen. and sat in py-
jamaS and dressing gown over his draw
ing. \ bundle OF proofs and a jam pot
containing dissipated- looking rosebud
lay on that space of the table not occu-
pied by the double-elephant sheet Of pa
per. BY his side was 4 manuscript COW
cred with calculations, to which he re-
ferred or added from time to time. a
bleak November light came in through
the window. and Septimus' chair was on
the rght-hand side of the table. 1t was
characteristic OF him to sit unnecessarily
in his own light.
Presently q more than normal darken-
ing of the room caused him to look at the
| window. Glenn Sypher stood outside, gag
ing at him with amused curiosity. Hos
p.tably, Septimus rose and flung the case
ment window open.
do come in.
| AS the aperture was two feet square, all
| of Glen Sypher that could respond to the
invitatio was his head and shoulders.
| lis it good morning. good afternoon. or
good night?" he asked, surveying Septi-
! mus attire.
Morning. said Septimus. I've just
got up. Have some breakfast"
| He moved to a beil-pull by the fireplace,
| and the tug was Immediately followed by
a loud report
What the devils that?' asked Sypher.
startled.
THAT" said Septimus. mildly "is an
invention. 1 pull the rope and a pistol is
| fired off in the kitchen. Wiggleswick says
| he cant hear bells. What's for break
fast?' he asked, as Wiggleswick entered
"Haddock. And the baths running
over
| Septimus waved him away. LET 1t
run He turned to Sypier. Have a
haddock?"
AT o'clock in the afternoon? Do you
| want me to be sick?"
GOOD heavens, no." cried Septimus
| "Do come in and I'll give you anything
| you like
He put his hand again on the bell-pull.
A hasty exclamation from Sypher check
] ed his impulse.
Il say, don't do that again. II you'll
open the front door for me- he added. Il
may be able to get inside.
4 moment or two later Sypher was ad-
nitted by the orthodox avenues into the
! room He looked around him. his hands
on his hips.
Il wonder what on earth this would
have been like IL our dear lady hadn't
| had hand in It,"
| AS Septimus' imagination was entirely
scientific he could furnish no solution to
the problem. He drew a chair to the fire
and bade his guest sit down. and handed
| him a box of cigars, which also housed
pair Of compasses. some stamps and a
collar stud Sypher selected and lit a ci-
gar. but declined the chair for the mo-
ment.
"You don't mind my looking you up?
l told you yesterday l would do 1t. but
you're such a curious creature there's no
knowing, at what hour you can receive
visitors Mrs. Middlemist told me you
were generally In to lunch at half-past
in the morning. Hello. an invention?
Yes" said Septimus.
Sypher poured over the diagram. What
| on earth is 1t all about?"
| Its to prevent people getting killed In
railway collisions replied Septimus.
"You see. the idea is that every compart-
ment should consist Of an outer shell and
an inner case, in which passengers sit.
The roof is like Il lid. When there's q
coll sion this series of levers Is set In mo-
| ton and at once the inner case is lifted
| through the roof and the people are out
| of the direct concuss.on. haven't quite
worked it out yet" headed. passing his
hand through his hair. You see. the
same thing might happen when they're
just coupling some more carriages on to
!, a train at rest which would be irritating
| to the passengers"
Very" said Sypher, dryly. ut would
also come rather expensive. wouldn't it?'
How could expense be an object when
there are human lives to be saved?
| II think, my friend Dix, said Sypher,
.you took the wrong turning In the milky
way before you were born. You were des-
tined for more enlightened planet. II
they won't pay thirteen pence halfpenny