When Katz's mother, Rosa Hlawatsch, married Emanuel Katz she had a prosperous brother-in-law, Schweers Hjort, who lent the bridal pair enough money to start for America. Two years after Isidore's birth his parents died. Then Mr. and Mrs. Zoob Pschenitza adopted the orphan and cared for him until his nineteenth year, when he found employment with Mr. Hitzrot Fuss, an electrician. Mr. Hitzrot Fuss was a cousin of the Zoob Pschenitzas. This July morning when Luther entered his shop I. Katz had been in business for himself about a year. The opening of the door rang a bell that gave warning to the proprietor, at work in a little shop at the rear. Luther walked directly to this little shop. I. Katz laid down his work. "Ah! Good morning, Dean." "Same to you, Kittens." "Haven't seen you for a long time. How are you? What's the news from Longdeado?" "News enough--this time." As the two men stood by the work bench, and Katz took a second look at his visitor's face, he said: "What's the matter? Something on your mind?" Luther removed his hat and coat and lit a cigarette before answering. "Well, I should say there was. Have you any objections to being a millionaire?" "Not especially. Got the cash with you?" "Not this morning. But I've got the next thing to it." If Katz felt any excitement at this announcement he concealed it. Perhaps he knew Luther too well. With a smile, and a slight movement of the shoulders, he said: "Of course it's a dead sure thing." "It is." "Well, that's something." "You know, Katzy, the only sure things in this world are death and taxes." "Yes. So I've heard." "Well, compared with this thing of mine, taxes are dreams and death never happens. Listen. I can place in your hands a contrivance hardly bigger than a dinner plate that generates electricity without machinery; that has infinite power; that can drag railway trains of any size at any speed and can drive an ocean steamer. It weighs about five pounds and costs nothing to run." Katz slowly moved his head, and frowned. "It's a bad habit, Luther." "What's a bad habit?" "Cocktails in the morning. You are seeing miracles." Luther protested. Then he explained The Thing in detail. Katz pronounced it impossible. "Of course it's impossible!" said Luther. "That's why it's so devilish good. It does the impossible all day long and all night, too. Why, Katz, it can do anything you ask it--and with no expense. God Almighty supplies the electricity--all you want and for nothing. Can you beat it?" The electrician began to show interest. "But are you pop sure it can do these things? Have you seen it work yourself?"