The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-30

| After this explanation, Booge was
asked about patent rights and schemes
/ for financing the enterprise. And right
! here Booge hung his right foot on his
/ left knee and declined to discuss the
| subject. So the visitor tried something
| else. Col. Booge was asked who was
going on the initial trip and forthwith
Booge began to count his intimate
| friends on his fingers.
He'H Take Judge Dana.
'fWell now, sir, I have written to
Judge Dana, of the district court The
Judge is an old friend of mine and we
one, sir, that I would rather have along
on that trip than Judge Dana
But what about the 80 others?" was
asked.
Now, let's see," said Booge as he
rubbed at a rather barren spot on a
Charley Curtis. He's United States
senator and home man. Guess [
ought to take him. and the visitor jot-
ted down the names of Curtis among
the guests. Then there's Judge Pol
lock. I'd sort of like to take him
along; and Dave Leahy and Governor
Stubbs, if he will go. Guess I ought to
invite Mayor Billiard, too. There's a lot
of fellows like that whom I would like
to take on the trip, and show them
that this idea isn't as crazy as it
seems.
Say" said Booge in low conf
Dental tone, as he grasped his visitor
by the arm don't get the idea that
this is such a foolish scheme as it
seems. Why, / have been thinking
about this for fifty years, and know
what I'm doing. It's just as reason
able as the wireless telegraph was
twenty years ago-you remember then
and this will surprise 'em just as
much as that did. When I get this
thing going, it will make those fellows
who stay close to ground when the
weather is wet or the wind is high look
like a bunch of kids. You can just
climb in this car and sail off to Chi
cago or Washington or San Francisco
or London and get there before you
know it"
Place of Manufacture a Secret.
After receiving this information
Booge was asked if he would ask for
the mail contracts with the govern
ment, if he would compete with the
fast trains and monopolize the air ser
vice 10000 feet above the ground But
Booge was silent as to his intentions |
Neither would Booge say where his
machine was being built or give details
concerning it's construction. So if the
Booge Aerial Transportation company
ever becomes a reality, Col. Booge is !
crafty enough to keep the plan of or
ganization and operation stored away |
for private use.
Booge is IS years old He has lived
in Topeka 81 years and most of that |
prises that no other person in town |
had thought about. When Booge began
selling foreign celebrities town lots in |
an addition which he advertised was /
I 5 miles from the pOstOfHce, the per
fectly ethical real estate sharps mar I
veled. Then when Booge closed up |
the deal with enough money to the +
good to put the average man on easy |
street, no one understood just how he
did it. Nor did the enterprising Booge (
go to the trouble to explain.
The Topeka character controlled a |
checking account at the banks of a
half million dollars, but he wasn't sat
shed, and began tinkering with the
Mexican lottery plan. There were a
few little things that Booge should /
have done to make the transaction fire
proof. Booge knew all about them,
but in those days he was careless and
money was coming over the boards
faster than he could count it. So one
lay the Mexican federal authorities be-
gan to scrutinize Booge. Thirty days
ater the Topeka promoter was bank
-uPt community.
Then for a time Booge was out of
he linn eight. 1t wasn't in Booge's
makeup to fret and worry over the
ost fortune and in few years Booge
lad other schemes on the market that
Kept the constitutional lawyers busy
Ind levied on the Topekan's checking
account
Only in recent years did BOoge es-
ablish The Home Comfort, a perfectly
veil regulated and literally patronized
agency that furnished
oul mates while you wait. 1t netted
more revenue than you might expect,
ind Booge has always been a busy
nan. He established a nice cooling
,arlor for his patrons and exchanged
and family records in a
iberal fashion.
Then the supremacy of the air again
fascinated Booge. For years he had
'een revolving in his mind schemes to
ide in the clouds and now he says he
S almost ready to start
''Just think of it," said Booge who
,uffed heavily to revive the dying
park in his old pipe. ''just think of
t. Why, man, you get all of the air
ou want for nothing. Air is the only !
hing needed to run this machine; and |
f someane don't get a monopoly on
he atmosphere I will have the fuel
ituation solved before anyone knows
bout it,
And then Booge rose lightly to his |
eet, brushed the ashes from his trous-
rs and allowed that it was time to go
o bed.
-@