The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1906-12-01

fnry walk &p town after business on
that beautiful Saturday afternoon; and
had III fact accomplished the better
part OF It. | was 1nhallng huge guam
titles Of the balmy air ana reYeling in
the exhllaration of the exercise
But passing the picture store, ex-
that feeling Of Impending eyil' we
read about in the patent medicine ad-
Yertisenients
It RAY have been because recalled
that III that very shop Hawkins had
demonstrated the virtues of his infalli-
Bile Lightning -stretcher, and
thereby ruined somebody's priceless
and uDpurchasable Corot.
At any rate my eyes were drawn to
the place as I passed; and Ike a
cuckoo-bird emerging from the clock,
out popped Hawkins.
"Ah, Griggs," he exclaimed. .Out
for walk?"
vS'Aat were you doing in there?"
Going to walk homer"
Setting for that painting, eh?"
Because if you are, I'll go with
you, pursued Hawkins, falling into
step beside me and ignoring my re-
marks.
| told Hawkins that I should be
fickied to death to have his company,
which was lie and intended for bit
ing sarcasm: but Hawkins took it in
good faith and was pleased.
7 tell you. Griggs, he informed me,
there's nothing like this early sum
mer air to fill mans lungs"
Unless it's cash to fill his pckets s
*tEh? Cash?" said the inventor
sThat reminds me. must spend some
this afternoon"
indeed! Going to settle another
damage suit?''
7 Intend to order coal,' replied
Hawkins, frigidly.
He seemed disinclined to address me
further, and had no particular yearn-
Ing to hear his voice. We walked on
IN silence until within few blocks of
home
Thea Hawkins paused at one Of the
cross streets.
The coal yard is down this way,
GrIggs," he said. Come along. It
won't take more than five or ten min
utes."
Now, the idea Of walking down to
the coal yard certainly seemed COM
monplace and harmless. To me it sug-
gested nothing more sinister than a
super-heated Irish lady perspiring over
Hawkins range in the dog days.
At least, it suggested nothing more
at the time, and I turned the corner
with Hawkins, and walked on unsus-
pectiug.
Except that 1t belonged to a particu-
1arly large concern, the coal yard
which Hawkins honored by his patron
age was much like other coal yards.
The high walls OF the storage bins
rose from the sidewalk, and there was
the conventional arch for the wagons,
and the little, dingy office beside it.
Into the latter Hawkins made his
way, while Ioitered without
Hawkins seemd to be upon good
terms with the coal people. He and
the mea in the office were laughing
genialIy.
Through the open window I heard
Hawkins file his order for four tons
Of coal. Later some one said: ttsplen-
did, Mr. Hawkins, splendid"
Then somebody else said: mo.
there seems to be no flaw in any par
ticuIar''
And still later the first voice an
nounced that they would make the
first payment one week from to-day. at
which Hawkins voice rose with a sort
OF pompous JOY.
I paid very little heed to the scraps
OF conversation; but presently / paid
considerable attention to Hawkins. for
while he had entered the coal Office
q well-developed man, he emerged APP
parently deformed
His chest seemed to have expanded
something over q foot, and his nose
had attained an elevation that point
ed his gaze straight to the skies.
Good gracious, Hawkins, what Is
it," asked. Have they been inflat-
ing you with gas in there?''
Il beg pardon?''
What has happened to swell your
bosom? Is it the first payment"
"0h, you beard that, did your said
the inventor, with a condescending
smile. Yes, Griggs, ! may confess
70 some slight satisfaction in that
payment It is a matter OF $1,000
from the coal people, you know"
But what for? Have you threatened
to invent something for them, an
now are exaeting blackmail to desist?"
flush. Griggs. tush!" responded
Hawkins. do make some attempt to
subdue that insane wit. I fancy your.
feel rather cheap hearing that that
$1,000 is the first payment on some
thing have inTente6t"
WHAT"
Certainly. am selling the patent
TO these people. It is tbe Hawkins
Crano- Scalet'
.crano-seale?" reflected. What is
1t? A hair Ionie?''
Now. that is about the deduction
your mental apparatus would make."
sneered the inventor.
But can It be possible that you
have constructed something that act
uaIly works Z" I cried. And you've
sold is-actually sold it?
II have sold It, and there's no act
ualIy' about iti,'
And Hawkins stalked maiestically