The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-04-15
CHAPTER vL.-ooNTrNUED.


Russell shook his head.
''There is young man who may soon
bs able to join me-" said he. SAT pres
ent he has not the funds, but he has ex-
pectations and q world Of energy. Young
blood"
"Bother young blood. Do you think
because man is fifty or over that he
isn't good for any thing2 Why, look
here, I'm ffty-eight, and three inches
shorter than you are, but I'll bet l can
split cord Of wood while you're split
ting foot"
Russell smiled incredulously and
squared his broad shoulders. Ray got
red in the face. He was vigorous man,
and he hated to be called old. Russell
knew 1t, and banked on it.
"You don't ask me TO get into this
scheme OF yours" said Ray, after walk
ing up and down the floor with the step
Of o pedestrian.
Russell pretended TO be embarrassed.
"You would not feel like giving much
time TO it," said he, land besides the
young man OF whom have spoken will
soon"
"I'm as young as he is, by jingo,"
cried the man OF dollars, slapping his
chest ~ could outrun him, outjump
him and throw him three times out Of
five, breeches hold, or you either"
Russell smiled again, and Ray reached
Cor his cane. The situation was begin
ming TO look serious. 1t was not the
old mans intention to use the cane as a
weapon, however.
"See hero, young Mr.. William Rus
SELL" said he, "there was game we
used to play where was born that was
called pulling sticks Two fellows sat
down on the floor, braced their feet to-
gether and pulled on an axe handle
until somebody had to come up. Now,
I'll bet you fifty dollars can pull you
up inside OF one minute"
81 don't think you can, sir" said Rus
sell, respectfully; "but, at any rate, l
haven't the fifty dollars to wager on it."
an take your /. o. o." Ray,
dropping on the floor with thump that
threatened tho tenants below. "Sit
down here, and I'll give you few les
sons in the value Of well-sperrt youth"
Russell sat down and seized the cane,
and the strange tug-of-war began. 1t
was painful thought to Russell that
good many thousand dollars were lost
by holding these athletic sports In pri-
yate. Doubtless FIVE hundred men in
the street would have given fifty dol
lars for admission TO the performance.
There was a big clock with second
hand on the wall, and the contestants
timed themselves. Neither gained o
hairs breadth in the first quarter, nor
in the second, nor the third, nor the
fourth, but exactly sixty-fve seconds
after the tug began Russell rose into
the air, scared over his opponents head
and struck the wall behind him.
"GreayScottp exclaimed Ray, as soon
as he could get his breath, ~ never did
the trick as we'll as that before. Old, am
Ip Are any Of your bones broken?"
al believe not" said Russell, pretend
ing 10 examine his skull in search Of o
fracture; "but It was the greatest sur
prise ever had. Ihave lost my bet"
"No, you haven't" replied tho man
who had not grown old. "I'll be honest
with you. was fve seconds over time.
The fifty dollars are yours You see l
was little out Of practice, but ! got
there after awhile"
80 perceive;" and Russell rubbed
his head with one hand, and took fifty
dollar bill with the other.
'Now," said Ray, "if you think I'm
youngenough to take q hand In your
scheme, let me know. I'm willing TO
put in one hundred thousand dollars, or
twice that II necessary; and as for at
tention, young man, just watch me.
Bring down your papers and your model
tomorrow, and I'm with you"
This was little sudden for Russell.
II was needless TO say that he had no
invention TO offer. IL had been his In
tenHon TO discover what kind OF an in
vention Ray would be willing to back,
and then find long-haired crank who
thought he had 1t.
~ must have little more time, SIR"
he said. "There are matters 10 be ar
ranged. Let US say next Friday"
"All right, and don't stop for amatter
OF money. I've always got enough 10
put into good thing"
"But my dear sir," said Russell, "you
don't know what this is, yet"
II don't care o continental what II
is," replied the millionaire promptly
'Tf It's good thing well get our money
out Of the machine. II II isn't, wei
have 10 get It out Of the stock. It's I'M
material 10 me which we do. Bring II
alongl"