Middletown transcript., 1903-02-21
hands. It's a white elephant.

\ d. -
Lose! ragged Eckert. Not lose
much! To lose anything's the
point! When we bought only te
make all there was q chance Of
making! When we don't want
it! When it ties up the money
And all for your folly-your
idiocy.
Call me all the names you like,
said Northup. I've called my
self the same. But still, could
not do it. I confess that I tried,
but I couldn't. It seemed like
sneaking spoons off the Burn
ham table.
1t isn't business, complained
Eckert.
I don't suppose it is, respond
ed Northup, but it was what
seemed to incident.
Since when have you had such
ideas? sneered the other.
I hope I've always had them,
and that I shall always. See
here, itisn't as if I didn't lose as
much as YOU do.
Oh, you've paid the price of
your nonsense, / admit.
Well, then! Would you have
had me read a letter of Burn
hams if it had fallen into my
hands and I knew that it con-
tanned the information that we
wanted? This is very much the
same thing, to my mind.
He'd be the first to tell you
that you had been an idiot.
Perhaps-yes, said Northup;
but that is irrelevant.
Well, exclaimed the other, gaz-
ing in amazement at his partner,
you beat me!
He stood for a moment in si,
lence, then flung himself impa-
tiently out of the room as if un-
decided what to do-as If unable
even to decide just what to think.
On the following evening Julia
again occupied the big chair in
the library on the other side of
the fireplace from her father.
Generally at this time, as he
drank his coffee, she regaled him
with the doings of the day, but
on this occasion she sat with her
chin in her hand and gazed 81
lently and pensively at the leap
ing blaze.
What is it? Burnham asked,
unaccustomed to such quiescence
in his impetuous daughter.
I've made discovery, she
said.
All, he murmured comfort
ably.
I've found out that I've made
a mistake.
And it's rather given you a
set back, he chuckled. Well, my
dear, we all make mistakes, and
such is our confidence in our
own absolute wisdom that it
rather has that effect on all of
US.
Do you remember, she asked,
that complained the other night |
about business and business
men? l said that it destroyed
the finer feelings if man ever
had any, and that anyway busi-
ness man never had the chance
to show them.
Yes, assented her father.
Very well, she went on, speak
ing with greater swiftness, / find
I'm wrong. Completely wrong.
I've just learnt of something as
high-minded, as delicate minded
as anything in romance.
Who's the man? asked Burn
ham placidly.
It's Mr.. Northup, she an
swered readily.
Northup? Burnham repeated,
looking up more interestedly.
Do you remember what you
told me about being down on the
river bank at five in the morning
and my being afraid that you
would have a cold, which I was
surprised to find that you didn't
have at all the next morning?
Yes, said her father.
Well, she went on, / didn't
know that it meant anything, |
and I told Mr.. Northup.
You did? said Burnham, his
eyes twinkling and the corners
of his mouth twitching. All!
I find that it meant a great
deal. That with a Mr.. Eckert
he had an option, as it is called,
on a great deal of land near a
place called Rocky Point. If the
Steel Company went there they
would make a good deal of
money. |
And youtold him, said Burn
ham, laughing loudly.