United States or Sint Maarten ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"The Hawkins Horse-brake!", he finished, triumphantly. "Hawkins," I said, solemnly, "far be it from me to disparage your work; but I recall most distinctly the Hawkins Aero-motor, which moted you to the top of that maple tree and dropped you on my devoted head.
But after a time I drew nearer to Hawkins, and at last came within thirty feet of the galloping Maud. Hawkins' face was white and set, he bounced painfully up and down, risking his neck at every bounce, but one hand kept a death-like grip on the lever of the horse-brake. "Jump!" I screamed. "Throw yourself off!"
Maud, however, as she approached the cans, kept fairly in the middle of the road and stopped! Heavens! She stopped so short that I gasped for breath. All in a twinkling the steel rods dropped into position beside her legs, the cuffs snapped, and the Hawkins Horse-brake had worked at last! Poor old Maud!
Ten minutes later, Patrick having appeared to take charge of Maud S., Hawkins and I were making our homeward way in the runabout, which had mercifully been spared. Something in my face must have forbidden conversation, for Hawkins wrapped the soiled fragments of his raiment about him in offended dignity, and was silent on the subject of horse-brake. Nor have I ever heard of the thing since.
At any rate, a friend of mine in the patent office, whom I asked about the matter some time ago, tells, me that the Hawkins Horse-brake has never been patented, so that I presume the invention is in its grave. As a public spirited citizen, I venture to add that this is a blessing. My wife is averse to widowhood.
Possibly Mrs. Hawkins succeeded in demonstrating the fallacy of the whole horse-brake theory; in fact, from the expression on her face when we reached the house, I am inclined to think that she did. Mrs. Hawkins can be strong-minded on occasion, and her tongue is in no way inadequate to the needs of her mind.
Word Of The Day