San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-08

81 tell you 1t is impossible, sir. / built
II myself, and ought TO know"
sob! Beg pardon. You can take the
glass and see for yourself"
81 need no glass. / took the stage
down only yesterday, and 1 ought to
know"
"Allow me to take your glass,
Cousin Franklin" said Mr.. Denny. He
took the glass, but quickly laid 1t down
with a sigh.
"My eyes are old and weak, and the
glass does not suit them. | am very
sorry to hear what you say. would not
have one Of my chimneys out of line for
the world"
81 am sorry l said anything about 1t,
sir. did not know the chimney belonged
to you"
Alma was apparently distressed at the
turn the conversation had taken, and
tried to lead it to other matters, but the
old gentleman's mind was disturbed, and
he returned to the chimney.
81 designed it to be the tallest and
finest chimney ever erected, and hope
it is all correct"
at is, SIR" said Mr.. Bedford. Every
thing is correct, to the very capstones.
SIT is my tallest chimney, Mr.. Frank
lin-eighty-one feet and six inches; and
that is two feet taller than any chimney
In the whole Salmon Falls valley"
Mr.. Franklin, in an innocent spirit Of
scientific inquiry, put his glass to his eyes
and examined the chimney again. Alma
began to feel i'll at ease, and Lawrence
Belford INDUCED in a muttered curse
under his black mustache.
"Eighty-one feet and six inches-the
tallest chimney in the valley"
No one seemed to heed the old gentle
mans remark, and presently Mr.. Franklin
laid his field glass on the table, and taking
out his brass sounder, he idly moved it as
IL absently thinking Of something.
Alma suddenly looked up with little
blush and smile. Her eyes seemed to
say to him:
81 heard you CALI What is its''
He nodded pleasantly, and said, would
you like to see some of my trapsi"
"Oh, yes. Do open one Of your
trunks"
Mr.. Franklin took out a bunch of keys
and went to one of the trunks. As he did
SO he said to himself:
"Deuced bright grill She learned
my call in flash. l must teach her the
whole alphabet, and then will have some
tall fun and circumvent that fool of q
clerk"
This remark was applied to Mr.. Bel
ford, and was eminent for its touching
truth.
While the young people were opening
the trunk, Mr.. Denny and Mr.. Bedford
were engaged in examining the business
papers spread on the table, and for sew
20
things done and said almost under their
eyes.
Such very strange trunk. Instead Of
clothing it contained the most singular
assortment Of scientific instruments. Each
was carefully secured SO that no rude
handling would harm 1t, and all shining
and glistening brilliantly as if kept with
the most exquisite care. Mr.. Franklin
unfastened a small brass telescope
mounted upon a stand, with a compass,
levels, plumb line and weight attached.
CHATS my theodolite. There's a tri-
pod in one of my boxes. I'll get it and
mount it, and Wen have . shot at the
chimney.
"What do you mean"
"Oh, nothing! Pm going to measure
it. Wouldn't you like to help me'"
"With all my heart. Tell me what to
do"
Presently. Wait till I've screwed
things together; then I'll tell you what to
do. Obi by the way, must tell you an
amusing episode that happened at the rail
road station while l was waiting for my
luggage. There was a young man send
ing of message at the little telegraph
station, and overheard the message and
the comments of the operator.
Alma didn't appear to enjoy this Incl
dent.
'Not listening Intentionally, you know.
1t was the telegraph heard, not the peo-
ple."
Alma felt better.
at was all by mere sounds, and it ran
this way: The old fool is here
again That's what she said-the op-
orator, mean. TO Isaac Abrams, l ,607
Barclay street, New York. have secured
the will. Foreclose the mortgage and re-
alize at once. Get two staterooms for the
25th.-L. b. That was the message, and
it was so very strange l wrote it out in
my Obi beg pardon, Miss Denny.
Are you illi'
Alma's face had assumed sudden pal
lor, and she seemed frightened and i'll at
ease.
otis nothing-really nothing. I shall
be better presently"
Then, as IL anxious to change the con-
versation, she began to ask rapid ques-
lions about the theodolite and its uses.
Mr.. Franklin was too well bred to
notice anything, but he confessed to him
self that he had said something awkward,
and for the life of him he could not imagine
what it might be. He replied briefly, and
then went on with his preparations for
some time in silence, Alma meanwhile
looking ON with the greatest interest The
theodolite having been put together, Mr..
Franklin opened another box and took
out a wooden tripod, such as is used
to support such instruments. He also
took out fine steel ribbon or measuring
tape, neatly wound up on reel
'You shall carry that, Miss Denny, and
I'll shoulder the theodolite"
wait till I get my hat and the sun
umbrella"
"To be sure; it will be warm in the
fields"
Alma was soon arrayed in dainty chip.
At least she called it chip, and the his
torian can do naught but repeat her Ian
guage. Besides this, it was not bigger
than chip, and 1t looked very pretty tied
under her chin. Over her head she car
ried its real protection, an immense Japan
ese paper umbrella, Light, airy and gen.
erous.
"Where are You going, Almar' said
Mr.. Denny.
sob, only to the fields for little walk.
Well be back presently"
The confidential clerk thought 1t
strange that the daughter of the house
should be 30 free with the stranger. But
the young people were distant cousins,
and 1t wouldn't have been polite in him
to have objected to the little walk