For several weeks Fritz worked about the place timing his labor by his ingenious invention. Sometimes he would work after the shadows had passed the quitting hour. "The dial tells us," I said to him one day, "that it is time to stop work." "No," he said, "sun-dials are never exact; sometimes they vary fifteen minutes, at least. For the Earth goes around the Sun not in a circle but in an ellipse. I will work a little longer." * * * * * One Sunday I overheard Fritz talking excitedly out near the spot where the dial was stationed. I thought he had for the moment forgotten he was a Self Master--as all men are likely at times to forget. But when I went out to check the noise, I found that Fritz had ten or fifteen of the men standing in front of him and he was saying: "It is easy to do--to measure the distance to the Sun, or the distance from one planet to another. There are a hundred methods, many of them as simple as it is to measure the length of a building." "You are a student of astronomy?" I asked. "Yes, for many years, I have studied the German books on astronomy. It is my pleasure." From that day our respect for Fritz was established. There is an aristocracy of learning; we doff our hats to even the beggar who knows. The visitors were all interested in Fritz's queer looking sun-dial, made out of a square board and piece of telegraph wire. Automobiles halted by the roadside to look at it. The children insisted on setting their Ingersolls by its falling shadow. A well known physician stood examining the dial one day. He took out his watch to make comparison. "Very clever," he said, "very clever; now let me see Fritz." And Fritz came out. "He isn't much to look at," the Doctor whispered to me, as the old German approached us. Just then the five o'clock whistle blew. The Doctor and I looked at the dial. "The shadow," I said, "falls on the figure five." "Quite true," replied the Doctor. "It must," said Fritz, quietly; "it must, for the wire points to the North Star." The Doctor smiled, as he spoke: "A man intelligent enough to make that dial can, at least, care for my stable and horses.... Fritz, would you like to work for me? I have some splendid horses and I pay well for their care." "I will go gladly," said Fritz; "when do you want me?" "To-morrow," "May I go, Mr. Floyd?" "On one condition," I said. "What is it?" "You must give the Colony your sun-dial." "It is nothing, but you may have it if you like." The next day Fritz was given a good suit of clothes, a collar and tie. "I don't know about the collar and tie," said the old man; "I have not worn one for many months." Three or four of the boys helped him to button on the collar and arrange the ascot effectively. Then the Doctor came with his best span of pet horses. "Jump in with me, Fritz," he said. The old German, smiling, climbed in and then turned, took his hat off to me and the boys. "Thank you.... Good luck," he said.