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