Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-04-22
The Impossible
Inventor
BY R. RAY BAKER.

soulu OF hammerlng which issued
from barn-like structure set some
distance from the woodland path they
were travelling.
Ruth, the younger, laughed aloud.
There's poor old Rhoderic invent
ing something" she said, with a strong
suspicion of derision in her tone.
Wonder what it can be nova lamp
that will burn the same electricity
twice or wheelbarrow without han
/ dleS?"
Hilda, two years older, smiled for
a moment but quickly q look of visit
fitness flashed to her dark face.
"Rhoderick Smith is a genius" she
said gently, and seemed to sigh.
Some day he'll invent something
worth while"
! Ruth continued to laugh.
He'd better hurry, then. Nothing
he has invented SO far has been a
financial success or has done anybody
III the world any good. He's impos-
sible."
Hilda was silent as they walked
along toward home. She was disap-
pointed because Rhoderic was not
making good at something but she
would not admit it. She had been in
love with him couple OF years ago
and they had practically become en-
gagged. Then he became possessed with
mania for invention and gave UP
his job as mechanic in garage in the
city of Dayton.
Now he was working on brand
new idea. shutting himself off from
the world like Edison.
It'll make me rich-maybe," he
said enthusiastically three weeks ago
when IIilda saw him the last time.
Then you and | can do what we
planned-unless you change your
mind"
In truth, Hilda was changing her
mind. She had lost confidence in
Rhoderic, had come to the conclusion
he was doomed TO dream his life away,
burning up his energy in useless ex-
periments, and another man had come
across her horizon.
Where the path converged with a
sidewalk and lost itself in cement
Hilda and Ruth met this man. He
was walking rapidly along, head erect,
arms swinging. His attire was a bus
mess suit with a check that verged
on '1oudness." His eyes always
snapped and he had an effulgent smile
ready at his command. This smile
spread across his countenance when
! he met the girls, bringing himself e
a sudden stop.
Afternoon, ladies. Whittier going?
Home" said Ruth. Were taking
some oranges TO Clifford"
Clifford was their invalid brother,
who had never walked and always had
made his way about in wheel chair,
either Hilda or Ruth usually being tile
motive power.
"Oh. Clifford,p said the business-like
young man. Too bad about him Wish
/ could do something for him. Wait
till this new deal of mine turns out.
Maybe I'll be rich: and then Won
derful day, isn't it? May ] call this
EVENING" The question was directed
at Hilda, and she smiled and nodded.
"Good," he said. "This old towns
pretty dead, isn't it? Notllng to keep
it awake except Rhoderick Smiths
noise | heard a terrific hammering
from his machine shop this morning.
Bright chap, that; but his intellg, ace
is misdrected. III give him a job if
he'd work at it, but he prefers to in
vent. guess he'll never do anything
worth while for the human race. on
the other hand, look at me. Every
resort lot / sell here in Cloverdale is
doing somebody good. 1t provides a
way TO fresh air for the sm0ke-inhal-
ing city dwellers, and it brings dollars
to the local merchants. I'll he the
making of this town yet. Well good
by; I've got TO run up 10 the city for
an hour"
"Good-by, Mr.. Howard" the girls
returned, and watched him hustle W
the street.
Before long the girls arrived at a
neat UNCOVERED cottage, which was
their abode. Their father was county
clerk and that was the reason of their
residence in Cloverdale, which was
the county seat. His alary was by
no means princely, but the Childs fam
lily enjoyed a good living.
Mrs. Childs was busy in the kitchen
when the girls entered, while Clifford
sat in a big armchair by window,
reading a book. He was emaciated
end pale, but his rather attractive
cOuntenance lighted up when he saw
his sisters. Clifford had tried at
times to work in an Office, bur his
frail constitution would not permit It;
so now he busted himself writing
poetry. some of which he had been
able to dispose Of for small sums. He
dearly loved oranges.
Tomorrow afternoon. be said.
SCITUATE