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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1912)
arEDFonr) matl trtbttntc, MttnifQTO, okmox, satt-rday, January o, 1012, PVGR FTVR tntmt.-,mttmmi THE FORTUNE IUNTER Novcllml hy LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE From (he Play ul the Sunir Nantc by WINCHELL SMITH Cp)rllt, 1910. by WL.tli.tt Smith mP I null Jot,.li Vine ((..hiIiiiimI fr.nn nl I'riiliiy ) ""Wmtr Duncan touched lilnt gen tly on Hi dHMt wild n foreiliigor, ul tlw smbw time catching-nud holding ttiH sheriffs eye. "Are joii." Iio In qultod quietly, "IntHirliig under tho luiiriMMlii tUni Mr. Orabiim U deaf?" "Wlnil''' Duihmii tttctiiMl (0 Bom npologctlcnl lv. "Ilc mill) 'wlmt.' DM you dear It, n'lr?" Hut by tltl tlmo Pole wn recover ing to some degree. "Wlmt've you got to any about Iblsr ho demanded crescendo. "I'll how you." Duucnn tohl liltu In tint wituu quiet voice, "whnt 1'vo got to uny If you'll Just put llio soft pcdnl nil mid toll mo tho ntiiount of Hint Jiotw." "Willi Interest nnd cMtm" ho said Jimw stridently. "It riggers up thro hundred n' eighty dollars V eighty two emits" TIihju'i no uo denying thnt Duncan was staggered. Tor tho moment lilt MtiH dusttrtcd lilin uttrrly. Ho could only repeat, n one who dreams, Tlirfi) hundred nhd elgdty .dollars I" UU momentary consternation afford ed Pelo tlio opening do needed. Tlio room nticmk tvilti Ills regained sense of vrilU?e, "Yea, three, hundred W eighty dot Jnra 'n'- Say, you look n-herot" Again tho onltn forefinger touched Mm nnd llko ft hypnotic's pnas checked tho rtiltlnc t ultimo of noise. "Uaum," httfd liuuniti.- "If you'vo pit anything olso to lull me please ro tiro to tint opposite side of tlio street nml whUHtr It. Mi'iiutlnio txt quiet" Dutwmi turned nml uindo for tho soda counter, beneath which wn tlio till. Ml scanty roll of Mlf was In his rt-ilit Imnd ttnd thuro concealed. Ho Hopptftl tiiihlnd the counter '(old Hum watching him with nn nmnxtiiiioiu no .m holu(' t tut it rti''H), pulled out tliu till, ImmiI over It with nn assured ;iilr nud pushed bock tint coin slldn. Thou quite nnturnlly hit produced with hi right Imnd hi fur luilidn.il and 19 'JiJ5L ii:rn xuttNCD tunc tiik .rrun or ma coa r. odd dnllnrn from tho hill drawer, stood up '"id counted (hum with aront dcllb rrntloii "0m, two, thrvit, four." Ho Hiniini wlntilttRly nt Poto, "Pour liundrtMl dnllnrn. Mr. HhorllT. Now will you Iio (mod ouoiiuh to hntid over thnt unto nml tho chntiRii mid tlieu put yourself it ml thnt plelilo you'ro wei lntr In your fnco on tho othor nldo of tho dnprl" "I nltl't Rdt tho nolo with mo, Mr, btiticnu." Thon porhnpH you won't mind Rolng fo tho Imiilr for it?" Iltilf'miiTocntfd. Polo nnsnnted. "Aw1 ftKlit. I'll ro mid clt It. Kin I Imvotho JH0H0.V?", "Coritil'nljV Duncan oxtondod tho MIIh, thou on rpcoihI thought wlthhuld (I1111U. "I iircRiiino you'ro u roRiilnr Bhprlff;?" ho Iniiulrcxl. Very proudly icto turiiwl hnclc tho fnpol of hU coat and dltitondcd the L'luwt on which hIioiio IiIk nlrlcol platinl milR0 of alllco. Duncan oxnmluod It ,V'Itli Rtavo admiration. "U'h hcutitirul," ho mild, with n liz. "Horn," OliiRorly Poto grasped tho bills, tliutuln'il thotii ovor to iiinlco nuro thoy voio unl and liolted lid for Ida 1 1 Co, fn conttnllx level on tho hreeio, Thoro floated had; to Duncan auil old giup IiIh valedictory, MViiiU, 111 Iio ilod UiirUhU" With n Rhort, Millet Inugh Duncnti Hindu nn though to ro out to tho hnck finl, whui'o thu now utoclr win bolng dulhciTil. "I'm going," ho mild hurriedly, "to Unit mo it hatchet nnd knock tho stuff ing out of Home of thoito pncklng eiiHi'H. Wiitit to get -nil Hint truck In doom boforo iilghtfnll. you know." Milt old Ham wnnii't to bo put off by nuy Much obvlotlu MUhUrfdR(t iim that Ho put liltnuelf In front of Dtinemi. "Nnt, toy boy," bo nald, trvmulouii, "I enn't lot tlda go through. I cau't nllow you" "Tht'io, now," Duncnti told dim un concernedly, yot kindly, Mon't any anything more. K'a over nnd done with." "Hut you imutii't, I'll turn ovor tho atoro to you If "O l,ordl" Duucnn'a dlmimy wn oh gehulfio fin hl lonlro to i-acapo t3rn hnin'H grntltudo. "No-Mlou't! Plena don't do thnt!" "lint I intuit do aomothlng, my boy I can't hctfipt ao grwU n klndneaa un Icfta," fcntd (irnhnm. with a timid (lush of dbpu, "you'll coimldcr a partner-ehlp"- Thnt'a 111" cried Duncnti, gtnrt of nny way out of tho altuntlon. "Thnt'a thu wny to do It n partuenthtp. No; pleAutt don't nay uny more about It Jwit now. Wo en n woltlo dclnlla Inter. Wo'vo got to gi-t buy, Toll you whnt I wbili you'd do whtlo I'm buratlug open thono hose. It you don't mind going down tothuatutlon to mnkeaura that cvlryllllngV, "Yea, I'll ge: I'll go nt onco." Bnm groKil for Duucnii'a hand, cnuaht mid held It between both IiIm own. "If-lf fnto or aomethlng lindn't drought you hero today I don't know whnt would hnvo happened to Hutty nod mo." "Never mind." Duncnti tried to eoot ht dluu "Juit don't you think nbout IU" (Irnhndi ahook lit head, atllt Ixswlb dertsl. "IVrhnpa." ho stumblwl -on. "to n gentleman of your wonltd $100 1n't miicir "No." rtld Doncnn gntTely Wllhout tlin flicker of nncyckah. "notlilltg." He remembered well tho few dollnra that now reproncuted nil lit worldly gooda. Then ho mulled cdevrfully. rrhenx thnt'a nil rlcht" wl) m It'a niennt everything. I I only dopo I'll bo able to repny yon tomo dny, Uod bWiw you, my boyl Hod bleaa yotil" tin tmningwl to jam lit lint nwry on lila white" old benil rttld Hud Ilia vity out, lilt hdnda fumbling with ono mi other, lila llpa tiiorlng Inaudlhly, per hnjw In n prayer of thnhkaglvlng. It wna pvrhnpa Within the next thlr ty inlnutM thnt Hetty (who tuttt lieun left In clutrgo of the atoro while Dun can, with font nnd collar otT mid alcove rolleit nliovo hU ollwwa, hnck ed ntid potindiHl and prlel it ml bnhgeO nt the pncklng cnae In tho buck yftrd) nought lilin on the aceno of lib labor. "Pretty good work for a York dudo notV ho Inughed, Tliero wna n nhndowy mnllo In her grave eye. "It'a nn Improvement," alio nld evenly. Iio ahot her n curious gtnnco. "Ouclil" ho anld thoughtfully. "I Juat cntno to tell you," aho went on. ngnln Immobile, "you'ro wonted In aide." "Somebody wunta to aeo mcr bo do intituled ot her retreating back. "Yet." "Hut who" ' "Hllnlty Loekwood." lie replied over hor shoulder n alio went Into the houxo. "Loekwooiir Ho Rpecnlated, for nn Inalntit puled. then auddenly "l-n thcrln-lawr' ho crleil "Shivering make, ho muRtn't catch tuo llko thla I, n bualneaa maul" Hnntlly rolling down liU ahlrl ateerea nnd ahrugglng hlmaolf Into hU cent, ho lundo for the store, buttoning til collar nnd kuottlng hut tlo on tho wny. Uo round Dllnky nosing round the room, ipilto alone, llolty had dlRiiv penrwl. mid tho old HCoitndrel wna htiv lug qulto nn enjoynblo time poking In to matters Hint did tiot concern htm mid disproving or them on general prlnclplea. So fnr na tho Improve ments concerned old Hntn arahnm'a fortunea, Hllnky would concede no health In them. Hut with rcgnrd to Duncan thoro wna another hlory to toll. Duhcnn apparently controlled money to tmmo vngiib extent. "You're Mr. Duncan, nln't your" do naked, wild his loor, moving down to moot Nat. "Yea, air. Mr. fcockwood, I dollovor That'a tuo." Hllnky clutched Ills hand In a genial claw. "Pin glud to meet you." "Tluuilc you." said Duncan. "Sonic tiling I can do for you, air)" "Waal, Pete Wlllln' wna toll In' no you'd Juat took up tdla note of Gra dnm'a?" "Not oxnctly. Tho Urm took It up." Hllnky winked Bnvagely nt this. "Thu tlrin-whnt flrnij" "Onthain & Duncan, sir. I've been taken Into partnership.'' "Have, elilf" Hllnky grunted myste rlouRly and (laded Hi lila pocket 'for aoiiib dills rind allvor, "Waal, dero'a Rome cliaugo cotulli' to tlio tlrni, thou. And hero," he nddetl, producing tho documeut In qucatloh, "la Saiu'a note.'' "Thank you." Duncan ceremonious- Ay depoalteil doth la tho till, going be hind the Hodti fountain to uo ao, ntul thon waited, bxpectnnt. Hlluky wna grinning dually In the key or one about to tnako nn lmpottnutv com munication, ' "I'm glad you'ro n-comln' In doro with Sntn," hiBrtld at length, with hn ncld grlmuco that waa meant to bo a amllo. - "Oh. tt tnny bo ouly tempornry." Nht entlcn voted to nHHumo a nornpltlc expreaalou uml pnrtlnlly succeeded. "I'm dovpting much of my tlmo to my attullea," ho pursued primly, "but hover! holcM feci I Hhoiild bo earning aomothltig too." "Xhat'H tiglit-thnt'a the kind of Bl'lilt JL Jl'to tojjoojn u young man. You iiIwiijm go o clintt'lii don't iiV "No, Rlr-Htindiijn only" "Tlitifa whnt I menu I)' you drink?" "Oh. no, lr," Duncan pni rated gllh ly, "don't amoke, drink, awwir, nnd on Hunilajrt I ro to church." Tim bland Hiulli! vlth uhleh ho faced r.op;vood'H keen acrutluy dlatirmod maplrloii. "I'm glud to hear that." Hllnky told lilin, "I'm nt Hie ffcud of tho temp' rttnee moicmeiit here, and 1 hopo ;ou'll Join it mid set mi example to our fast young men " "I feel Rtiro I could do Hint," anld Duncan meekly. Lock wood remorrd hta hat. exposing the cranium of n bnldheadcd engle, and fanned himself. "Warm today," "rou'ho tilt ounoAK?" nn Aasrn. he obicrriiil In nn endonvor to be genlnl thnt all but (.prattled hi temperament Indeed, ao great waa tho strain that do u Miked violently. Dttkcnti observwl thla pheiioinpnoti with natural astonUdment not unmix ed with awe. "Yeii, air; very," lie agreed, wondering wlmt It mlgdt po temL "I dellovo I'll dnve a glhas of Body." "Certainly Dunenii. by now linblt untcd to the formula of aoda dlspcua lug, promptly produced a bright and Uilnlng gtmoi. "t see you'Vo been Oxln' this place up Rome." -Od, yea." anld Nnt loftily. "Wo ex peet to dnve tho dent drug atoro In Hit itnte. What Rlrup would you prefer?' "Just Rwty." Mtlpuhitcd Ixwkwood. ills spnsinodlo wink ngnln amote Duucnn'a uudurstntidlug n mighty dlow. Hnnble to believe lit eye, lie hedged and stammered. Could It tie? This from tho lender of tho temper nuco movement In Itadvlllo? "I tog pnnlonr' Mia denseness Irritated Hllnky alight ly. with the result thnt tho right aide of his face acntn underwent an alarm lug convulsion. "I any," do explained cnrofully, "Just-plnln-sody." "On tho level?" "Whutr grunted Hllnky, nnd blinked ngnln. A Rinllo of cotnpredonslon Irradiated Nnt'a fenturea. "Pardon." do aald "Pin n llttlo now to tho buslnesa." Hllnky, fmiiilng himself Industrious ly, glnred round the store while Dun can, turning tit dnck. discreetly fouud nnd uncorked the whisky Imttlc. lit poured out a liberal doso of raw red liquor. Then, with his lingers clumped tightly nbout tho bottom of the glass, tho better to concent Its contents from nny cnminl but inquisitive passerby ho quickly filled tt with sodu and placed It before Hllnky, accompanying the action with tho sweetest or child like smiles Loci. wood, nodding his ncknowlcdg moots, lifted the glass to his lip Dun can nwnlted developments with some npprehousloii. To Ids relief, doweyer, Hlluky, after nu uxperlnloutnl awnl low, emptied tde mixture expeditious ly Into tils system nnd smacked tils thin lips resoundingly. "How," do demnuded, "can any one want Intoxlcntln' llkkers when they can get such a draelu' drink us Hint?" "I pnss," Nnt breathed, limp with admiration of such astounding hypoc risy. Hllnky reluctantly prlod a nickel Iooho from his (Innuccs und placed It on tho counter. Duncan regarded it with disdain. "Ten cents moro, please," ho sug Bested tactfully. "What f6r?" "Plain Hody." Tlio explanation wns accompanied by n very passablo Imi tation or HUnky's blink. OirAPTKIt XIII. x HAPPILY for Duncan. DlluUy had iio senso of humor. If ho had do would cxplodo tho , very tlrst tlmo do indulged In Introspection. "''Not muclt," eald he, wltddls sour amllo. "I guess you'ro Jokln about the prlco of that drink. Well, good luck to you, Mr. Duncan, I'd llko to hnvo you como round nnd boo us bowo ovenlnV "ThauU yoiv Tory much, BlrV' Dun Can accompanied nitnky to tho door. "I've1 already had tho plensuro of moot ing your daughter, sir. Sho's a charm ing filll." "I'm real glad you think so," snd Ullnky, 'intqnsoly grntllled. "Sho seems to 'vo mkod n great Bhlno to you too, Como louud mid got 'qunUitcil with tho hull family. You'ro tho sort of youqg feller I'd llko her to know." Ho pttUHod nnd looked Nnt up and down eaptlousl as ono might 'np pralso the points of u horso of quality put up for sale, "Hood day," sulci do, wjtd, tho ma -t nlmlflcnut of vJilUSl - 'Oil, Hint's dll right ; linntntird to renastira him. "1 won't uny a word about It." Hlluky, on tho point of leaving, start ed to question this (to him) cryptic ut terance, but luckily had the current of his thoiiglitn diverted by the witrancu of Itolnnd Hnrnette In company with tils friend Mr. Hurnhnin. Itolnnd'a consternation nt this unex pected encounter wn, la the mildest term, extreme. At Right of Ills em ployer he pulled up If slapped, "Oh," ho faltered, "I dldn t know you wns here, air," "Uo," anld Hllnky, wild kcon relish! 1 guess you didn't." "I ahcomo over to rpo Sm nbout Hint note." stnimnoml Jtnlsnd. "Waal, don't you bother your bend boht what nln't your business, Holy. Como on back to the bank." "All right, air." Itoland grasped frantically nt the opportunity to em phasize lila linportnnre, "Kxcuio me, Mr. Lockwood. but I'd like to !ntr doos you to a friend of mine, Mr. Hurnhnin, from Noo boric" Amused, IJumbnm slipped Into tho brencli, "How are you?" ho snld with the proper nuance of cordiality, offer ing his hand. Dockwood shook It unemotionally. "How do do? ho said irfunctorlly. "I brought Mr. Durulmm In to seo Bnm" "Yes," Hurnhnin Interrupted Itolnnd quickly; "Ilnrnctto's been kind enough jo show mo round town n bit" "Hero on business?" Inquired Lock wood pointedly. "No, not exactly," returned Hurnham with practical case; "Just looking round." "Only lookln, cbr HUnky's coun tenance underwent otic of its erratic quakes ns he examined Hurnham vrltti his habitual Intentuen. Thu New Yorker caught the wink and lost hrontli. "Ah-ji-s-that's nil." ho ntHM-nted uneasily And ns he spoke another wink dumrouuded him "Why?- In- asked. Sflth n distinct loss of assurance. "Don't joii Ih-IIcvc It?" "Don't see no nnison Mhv 1 should not." grunted Hllnk 'ilopo jou'll llko what ou ttee. ;oxl day" "So long. Mr. Ickud." returned Humhnm uncerinlnly IxcI.uomI paused outside tho door "Como 'long. Holnnd." "Yes, i-lr. right away: Just n rain ute." Itolnnd wns lingering unwilling ly, detained by Hurblism's Imperative daild. "Wlint d' you aut? I got to hurry." "What was he winking nt me for?" demnnded Hurnbnm heatedly. "Have you" "Ohr Itolnnd laughed. "Ho wasn't winking. Ho can't help doing thnt It's a twltcliln' he's got In his eyo. That's why they cnll dim Hllnky." "Oh, that wns III" Hurnbnm accept ed the explanation with distinct relief, whtlo Duncan, who had dcen an tin rcRnrded spectator, suddenly Tound cnuso to retire behind one of the show cases on important business. So that wns the cxiitetmtlcnt After his paroxysm had subsided and he felt able to control his facial muscles Duncan enmrped suavp nnd -" 'I BAT, JUST rtAj7-nODT." " solemn. Ttolanil lind disappeared wild Hlluky, nnd Hurnham was alone. "Anything you wish. Birr' asked Nat "Only to seo Mr. Graham." "He's out Just nt present, but I think he'll be back in a moment or so. Will you wait? You'll find that chair comfortable, I think." "Holluvo I will," said Durndam, with an air. Uo seated hlmsolf. "I can't wait tong, though," ho mucuded. "Yes, sir. And if you'll exisa me" Huruham's hand dismissed dim with n tolemut wnve. "Go right on nbout your business," he. snld, with supremo condescension. AUd Duucnn returned to his work in tdo dnck yard. It wasn't long beforo do found occa sion to go daclc ta tho store, nud by Hint tlmo old Sam wns thoro in con versation wild Hurnhniu, "Thnt's" part of roy business," ho heard llnrnhnm say In his sleok. ole aginous accents. "Somotlmos I pick up nn oild, no 'count contraption that makes me a bit of monpy, and moro times I'm Rtutig nnd lose on It Thoro might bo something to this gns burner of yours, nud ngnln there mightn't Pvo boon thinking I might do willing to risk n fow dollars on It if wo could como to terms." "Do you moan It really?" snld old Snm ongorly. "Nut 'to -invest in It, bo to spenk: I don't think Its chances nro btrong onough for that Hut if you'd enro to sell tho patent outright and aren't too ninbltlous wo might innko n dicker. What d' you snyV" "Why- yes," said Graham, qulvorlng with anticipation. "Yes.'indoed if' "Well?" "If you really think It's world nny tiling, Blr," Hutntuiui laughed doudtlnfely nnd snld; "Well, ns I say. there's no telling, but I was thinking about it at lluner, nud t eort ot concluded I'd like to own iir I WAR THfHKIXO ASOCX IT AT DIKNrn.'' that burner, to 1 made out a little bill of sale, nnd I snjs to myself, snys I, If Graham will take ffiOO for that (intent I'll give him spot cash, right In his Imnd.' soys I." With this HUrnhnm tipped back Id lilt chair and brought fortli a wallet from which he drew a sheet of patter and several bills. "I'lro hundred dollars!" repeated Graham, thunderstruck by this muhJfl cence. "Yes, sir, five hundred, cash. To tell you ilia truth guess you don't know It I heard at the bnuk thnt they didn't Intend to extrud Hie time on that note of yoHra. arid 1 thought this five hundred would tome In twudy nnd kind of wanted to help you out Now whnt do jou fay?" He nourished the bills under Gra jam's nwe anil waited, entirely at arc as to til atwnr "Well." said the old limn. "It is kind uf ou. sir very kind Itverj body's been good to. me recently, or else I'm drcjimln'." "Then It's a bargain? "Why. I hope It won't lose nnj money for you. Mr. Hurahatn." Sam the om mah r,tanrxu a uvnr,H, hesltnted, with his Ineradicable sense of fairness nnd square dealing "Mak lug gns from crude oil ought t" Duncan never hoard the end of thnt speech. Tor tome uiuuients he dad boon llstonlng Intently, trying to rol lect something. Tho name of Hum ham plucked a Mrlng ou the lustra went of his memory. He knew lie had heard It some place, some tltne In the past, but how or when or iu re sicct to whnt he could not make up his mind. It imd required Sam's ref ereuco to pis and crude oil to clode tho circuit Then he remembered. Kel logg had mentioned a man dy the nanio of Hurnham who wim "on the track or nn Important Invention fot making gas from crude oil. ThU must be the uun Hurnham. the-tracker, and poor old Graham must be the trucked Without wanting Duucnn nlu round and innde hi inset f tin uninvited third to tho conference. "Mr. Graham, otie moment'" lie beg god, excited. "Is tdU patent .of yours on a process of making gus from crude oil?" Hurnbnm looked up Impatiently, frowning at the Interruption, but CIru ham was all good humor. "Why, yes." ho started to explain; "it's that burnor over there Unit' "Hut I wouldn't soil it Just jet If wcio you," snld Nat "It may be worth a good deal" "Now,. look bore'" , nurnimm got to his feet In auger. "What buxliiei.;. havo you got butilug Into tills?", ha domanded. putting hlnibclf between Duncan und tho luventor. "Mo?" Duncan queried simply. "Only Just because I'm n business man. If you don't'dellove It ask 'ilr. Graham.'.' - "Ho'a got n perfect right to advUe me, Mr. Hurnham," interposed Gra ham, rising,. "Woll. buj:-tut vl,a objection 'Ve you got to his iiiiiklngvn -llttlo-nioney out of this patent?" Htiruhum blus tered. "flemk cqly I wantTto look into, the sSfSaK!Su'ia'SS0Br hBwhHbsHmbSBi matter lirst, 1 think it might do oh ndrltnbla," - - , "What makos you think ad?" do mauded Hurnham, his tone withering. "Well," said Nnt, with ah crTOrt sum tnonlng his faculties to copo with a matter of strict business, "It's this wny. I'vo got nn Idea," ho said, pok ing at Huruharn with the forefinger which had proved ro effective with Peto Willing, "that you wouldn't offer r-00 Iron men for this burner unless you expected to make something big out of It nnd It ought to be worth Just as tnucti to Mr, Graham as tc you." "Ah, you don't know what you're talking nbout" "I know that" Nat admtlted simply, "but I do happen to know yoh'ro pro moting a schemo for making gns from irudo oil, nnd if Mr. Graham will lis ten to me you rron't get bis patent un til Pvo consulted my friend Henry Kellogg." "Kelloggr "Yci. You know-of I J. Bartlett A Co." Nat's forctlnger continued to do deadly work. Hurnham backed away from It as from n (lory brand. "Oh. -well." do said, dashed. "If you're representing Kellogg' ntul Nat took earn not to refute the Implication "I I don't want to Interfere. Only," he pursued at random in his discomfiture. "I inn't see why he sent you here." "I'd be naharnod to tell you," Nnt re turned with an open smile. "Better ask him." Hurnham gathered his wits together for a final threat "That's what I wlil dor ho threatened. "And I'll cTg It tho minute I can seo him. You can bet Ort that, Mr. Whsi's-your-namel" "No, I can't" said Nat naively. "I'm not allowed to gamble." Ills Ingenuous expression exaspernt ed Hurnham. The tnau lose control of his temper at the same moment that he acknowledged to himself bis de feat In disgust he turned away. "Oh, there's no tiso talking to you"- That'8 right" Nat agreed fairly. "Hut I'll seo you again. Mr. Gra ham" "Not alone. If I can help it Mr Hurnham." Duncan amended sweetly "Hut" Burnham cootlnued. severely Ignoring Nat and addressing himself squarely to Graham, "you take my tip and don't do nny business with this fellow unlit you And oat who be Is." Ho dung himself out of tho shop with barked "Good dayl" "Well, Mr. Graham?" Duncan turned n little apprehensively Id the Inventor "Manmret used to talk that way sometimes." he remarked. "Sho was the best woman In the world and the wisest She used to take care of rce and protect me from my foolish im pulses. Just as you do, my boy." For n space Duncan kept silent, re spectlng tho old man's memories and a great deal humbled In spirit by the parallel Sam Iiud drawn. Then. "I was afraid what I said would sound queei to you. sir." he ventured "that you mightn't understand that I'm not here to do you out of your invention." "There's nothing on earth, my boy" -Graham's hand fell on Nat's arm "tbat could raa'ko me think that But $500, you sec. would have repaid yon (or taking up that note, and I could hare bought Betty n new dress for the tmrty. Hut I'm sure you've done what's best You're a business man" "Don't" Nat pleaded wildly. "I've been called that so much of late that It'a beginning to hurt!" The old man turned away sadly, lighted a candlo and went down Into the cobwebby cellar to patch a bro ken window. CnAPTHIt XIV. T HE way he's worked!" Sam Graham said to me .that night about Duncan. "You'd hardly believe It. Homer. He said he wanted to get home early so's to write, a letter to a friend of hi In NeW York, a Mr. Kellogg, junior member of L. J. Bartlett & Co.. about my invention. But be Insisted on leaving everything to rights for busl ncss tomorrow. And just lookf "Hut I thought itoland Uarnette" l suggested with guile. Of course I'd heard a rumor of -what had happeued almost every one in town had aud how itoland and bla friend Mr. Burn ham bad sort of fallen out on the way from the Hlgelow House to the train, dut no one knew anything defi nite, nnd 1 wanted to get "Uia rights. ot It," as Itadvlllo says. So I hod dropped in at Graham's on ray wny borne from tdo oOlce. as 1 often do, for an evening smoke and u bit ot gossip. Then 1 started dome. After a time I became aware that some one was orcrtaklug me. "Good evening, Mr. Duncan," I sa luted. Ho stopped Bkort, peering through tho gloom. "Good evening, but Mr Ltttlejobn? Glad to sec you. Aren't you late?" "You'ro out late yourself, Mr. DUn can. for, one- of such regular, not to say abnormal, habits ono who never mWses going to church aud Sunday school, no mutter what the weather." He Inughed lightly. "Had n letter 1 wnuud to catcd tdo drat morning train." "Then you'ro lutcrasted in Sum's burner?" "No, I'm uot, but I hope to Interest others. Oh. yes. Mr. Graham told you about it, ot course It Just struck mo that It n man of nurnham"a stamp was willing to risk $500 on the propo billon ho Very likely foresaw a protlt In It that might as well be Mr. Gra ham's. So Pvo soul a detailed de scription of the thing to a friend In New -York who'll look Into It forme." He was s(lent for a llttlo. "Who's Colonel Bohuu?" ho asked suddenly. "Why do you nsk?" "I biiw him this ovcnlng. Ho was passing tio store nnd stopped to glare In as if ho dated It stopped so long that I got nervous aud asked Miss Lockwood (she'd just happened ln for 1 J&aasflEr fMjMM&r S8H. lflBBn bbbbbbbbbbbbWbp&33JjJ!sTObbbmFr- BbJEKF lsSSSSSBHi'lfflHBBBBBBBBIBBSSSSSSSSSSSBU BBBtesSB3C 1HbH -r .asVHWlBBK-S iXBxBatsV M BBBBBlBBBHrV SBB1BSBBbV 3Irbb3bibbbbbbbw tHbbbbbbbV '"" ilt. B9E ssilV & tc!SMSM,SMS3 y&Rk&wt I tsS "rflK Hi9- Siiyl&& -'pPBBfi BH f7LSi2 i f -sL-Sr w "csx. irno sctoi titKstn cnonon ca BtntDAT BOHOOU" a parting gfass Iif sou70""whothef do was an anarchist or n retired burglar. She told me his name, but was other wise inhumanly reticent" "For Josle?" I chuckled, but he didn't respond. So I took up tho talo of the ilrst family ot Ilndvllle. "The story runs," said I, "that tho Hohuns wero one of the F. 1'. V'h: that they sickened of slavery, freed their slaves and moved north to settle In Itadvllle. I believe thoy came from somewhere around Lytlchliurg. but thai was a couple of generations ago. When tho civil war broke out tho old colonel up there" I gestured vaguely In the general direction of tho Hohun man sion "couldn't keep out of it, and naturally he couldn't tight wild the TnACM TANNKn nptQAMK Aft, rJi'Lorci- OP 1UK NKWitSTOUBi north. Ho won his spurs under Lee. After tho war had blowu over ho camo home, to Qud that his only sou had enlisted with the Radvlllo company and disappeared at Gettysburg. It pret ty ucariy killed tho old man, though ho wasn't iio old then, but there's tiro In tho Bohuu blood, and his boy's ac tion seemed to liln nothing less thau treason." "And that's what soured him on tho world?" "Not altogether, no had a daughter Margaret Sho waa the most beauti ful woman in tho world." I suspect my olco broke n llttlo Just there, for thero wns n'shado of respectful sym pathy In tlio monosyllablo with w(i)ch ho tilled tho pause. "He swore sho should uever marry n northerner, but aho did. I guess, being a Hohun, hho hud to niter hearing hIio mum not Thero woro two of us that loved her, but she choso Sam Grahani."' "Why," ho said awkwardly, "I'm sorry." "I'm not Sho was right If I couldn't seo It that way. They rau away, and so did I. 1 went east, but they camo back to Itadvlllo. Colonel Hohun nov er forgave them, but they were very happy till sho died. Betty's their daughter, of courso. Sum's not t'it kind that marries moro than otico,"" Wo reached our gato, went In very quietly, lit our caudles nnd with elabo rate euro avoided tho homoraado bur glac alarm- (To, bo Continued,). ,viXlltl H MMbI BpfKr, a&T'jw jraTBEjiifsyrp-' lliiliii bMbssbV pvr