The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-01-11

titles of the balmy air and reveling in
the cXhilaration of the exercise.
But passing the picture store, I ex-
perienced a queer sensation-perhaps
"that feeling of impending evil'' we
refreshments.
1t may have been because | recalled
that IN that very shop Hawkins had
demonstrated the virtues of his infalli-
BILE Lightning Canvas-Stretcher, and
thereby ruined somebody's priceless
and uDpurchasable Corot
At any rate my eyes were drawn to
the place as l passed; and like q
cuckoo-bird emerging from the clock,
out popped Hawkins.
"Ah, Griggs," he exclaimed "Out
for a Walk?''
What were you doing in there?"
Going to walk home?"
SETTLING for that painting, eh?"
Because il you are, I'll go with
you,'' pursued Hawkins, falling into
step beside me and ignoring my re.
marks.
l told Hawkins that 1 should be
tickled to death to have his company,
which was 4 lie and intended for bit
ing sarcasm; but Hawkins took it in
good faith and was pleased.
Il tell you. Grlggs," he informed me,
there's nothing like this early sum-
mer air to fill mans lungs"
Unless it's cash to fill his pckets.'
"Eh? Cash." said the inventor
THAT reminds me. l must spend some
this afternoon
indeed! Going to settle another
damage suit?"
II 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 a few blocks of
home.
Then Hawkins paused at one of the
cross streets.
1.-THE coal yard is down this way,
Grlggs, he said. Come along. 1t
won't take more than five or ten min
utes.''
Now, the idea OF walking down to
the coal yard certainly seemed COM
monplsce and harmless. To me it sug-
gested nothing more sinister than
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-
pectiag.
Except that it belonged to a particu-
larly 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 loitered without.
Hawkins seemd to be upon good
terms with the coal people. He and
the men in the office were laughing
genially.
Through the open window l heard
Hawkins file his order for four tons
of coal. Later some one said: "Splen-
did, Mr. Hawkins, splendid"
Then somebody else said: mo
there seems to be no flaw in any par-
ticular"
And still later the first voice an
nounced that they would make the
first payment ono 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
well-developed man, he emerged ap-
parently deformed.
His chest seemed to have expanded
something over foot, and his nose
had attained an elevation that point
ed his gaze straight to the skies.
Good gracious, Hawkins, what is
1t?' l asked. Have they been inflat-
ing you with gas in there?"
II beg pardon?"
What has happened to swell your
bosom? Is it the first rayment?"
oh, you heard that, did you?" said
the inventor, with condescending
smile. Yes, Griggs, I may confess
to some slight satisfaction in that
payment 1t is matter of $1,000
from the coal people, you know"
But what for? Have you threatened
to invent something for them, an(
now are exacting blackmail to desist ?''
'Tush, Griggs. tush!" responded
Hawkins. DO make some attempt to
subdue that insane wit. fancy you'll
\ feel rather cheap hearing that that
$1,000 is the first payment on some
thing l have invented!"
What"
Certainly. am selling the patent
10 these people. 1t Is the Hawkins
Crano-Scale!"
"Crano-Scale?' reflected what is
e? a hair rOnic?"
r.. Now, that is about the deduction
your mental apparatus would make!'
a1eered the inventor
But can it be possible that you
have constructed something that act
laAlly WOrks?" I cried. "And v0n've