The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-02-20

The operation completed, the chin
ney smoked as before. But the great
architect took care of his bill.
Hang it, what billv' M. Lamar
tin could not help signing as he paid it,
Disguised with architects, the house
holder turned to bricklayers. The first
one called in ordered the addition tc
the fiue of piece of sheet iron in the
form of a serpent.
The chimney continued to send out
its smoke into the parlor.
A second bricklayer arrived; with
disgust he had his colleagues serpent
removed and substituted for it sort OF
helmet of the same material.
The chimney did not pay any atten-
ton to the helmet, but smoked worse
than ever.
But here the concierge interposed
with these consoling words: Sir, you
are wrong to despair. | was just this
moment talking of this matter with
one of the tenants-oh, | must say it,
such nice tenant! He told me that
he would undertake to disenchant your
chimney in five minutes.
Let him come to me instantly, or
give him notice to leave"
AS quick as lightning Passeraud put
himself at the orders of NJ Lamantin.
He found his landlord trampingup and
down his parlor. which was as cold as
ice.
All, it is you, young man, who fiat
ter yourself you can cure in five min
utes chimneys incurably Ill Try;
am curious to see you do it. =
Five minutes is little too short a
time, sir. | want an hour.
Very well-an hour. Here is a
chimney given up by all the doctors.
If You make it agree to send its smoke
up into the skies instead of down into
my apartments, | will give you what
you wish. | am quite out of patience.
do not wish to bargain. Name your
price. y
Sir, ;" answered Passeraud, with dig
nifty, you will give me-the hand OF
Mile. Valentine. That is my price
to be paid only after have succeeded. y
For a chimney You wander in
your talk, my dear sir. "
This chimney, sir? Send for NJ.
GARNER, the architect Of the opera; add
to him a picked jury of engineers,
chemists, members of the institute, pro
fessors from the Ecole des Hautes
Etudes, and if these gentlemen can dc
in three months what undertake to dc
in an hour-that is to say, prevent it
from smoking also to prevent from
smoking all chimneys with the same
trouble, / agree that you should treat
me as though l were indeed raving."
The hand of my daughter! That is
a high price. However, if really you
do possess such a secret, you will be
able to make money, great deal of
money, and"-
~ have a secret in reality, and as !
have high opinion of it you will give
me authority to shut myself alone in
this parlor for an hour, and you will
Give me your word not to look through
the keyhole. only go to work on that
condition.
"As you please. But why have you
not simply taken out patent? You
would avoid these childish precau-
tions.
Il am not rich enough to pay the
first premium on patent.
Borrow the money. This is case
for borrowing, if ever there was one. "
"Sir, hate borrowing.
well, / am going. Perform your
mysterious operations in peace and
tranquility.
lyon will not look through the key
hole?"
II give you my most solemn prom
ise."
"And-I have your word-if l sue
ceed?"
1--WE will see. do not want to yield
on compulsion, but am a just man. "
Once alone, Passeraud wasted no
time in foolish proceedings rather out
of place, the gravity Of the circum-
stances considered. An attentive spec
tator-but Passeraud had banished
spectato1s-would have heard him hum
the air: ,,
The same surprised spectator would
have seen him go from one piece of fur
niture to another with delighted air,
walking as in dream among the beau
tiful furniture, extend himself at full
length upon the sofa-here Valentine
must have satl-then install himself in
a small chair-this low seat is with
out doubt the one she prefersl-then
gaze for long while at young girl 8
portralt-that is her dear pictured and
throw kisses TO ito you, even to you'll
These frivolous proceedings having con-
sumed the appointed so minutes, Pas
seraud opened the doors and called ev-
cry one.
"Have a fire made, sir. I"
Passeraud was obeyed The chimney
had now a clear, strong draft. A gentle
warmth breathed through the chilled
and frosty room. There was not the
least smoke. Passeraud's genius shone
out like the sun; he who could not see
it was blind.
ut is too delightfull' exclaimed M.
Lamantin radiantly. Valentine, this
dear young man is great engineer.
He shall DO my son-in-law, with your
consent.
A year after these miraculous events
Mime. Passeraud-nee Lamantin-had
a son as beautiful as the morning. Up
on this occasion M. Lamantin made the
following speech;
my dear son, explain one thing to
me. Three months ago the railroad
companies adopted your automatic
brake; gold showers upon you from all
sides; the right to use your patent is
purchased in England, America, Italy,
Australia, the Indies and Spain. You
are now rich, not from your wife's
dowry, but of yourself Does not that
make You think seriously2 But to come
to what is troubling me; you have on
hand another invention, and You do
nothing with it, F"
ITO what invention do you allude,
sir?"
why, what else could it be but your
secret for preventing chimneys from
smoking. Ali you are not going to
tell me now that you are too poor to
pay the Premium
"Pshawl that would not bring much.
1T would be spoke in the wheel;
why neglect profit ready to your
hand?n
Father, do not let us talk about it. -
Yes, yes; l wish to. y
Father, you will oblige me to tell
you things ! would rather keep to my
self. F"