Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-03


lawyer would have told you that. 1t
is legally correct, but not morally right.
Now. l want to reetify that ] am go
| ing to try to get you something on this
| gun. Therefore have patented it IN
der the name of Rhinestrom. Mr.. Du-
rant would never consent to pay you
any royalty. But he would be willing
to pay royalty to a man who does not
work for him. Now, If you will trust
me Will see if cannot get royalty
for Rhinestrom and pay it over to
you"
A great hope had dawned on Marsh's
| face
You mean you win do that square7'
he asked.
"Of course" answered Pinckney, 'if
we can arrange 1t. l will draw the
royalty for Rhinestrom and pay it over
to you. The business must, of course,
all be done through me or nothing will
come Of it. You must trust me-"
"How much viii the royalty beP'
asked Marsh.
The manager hesitated.
well" he said firmly. 81 think / can
get you 5000 for every six inch gun
and under and 500 an inch for every
gun over six inches turned out at the
factory. 1t will be a competence for
you, man, and you can quit your
drudgery and work for the rest OF your
life as you please on your inventions.
Now, have proved myself fairP'
Marsh nodded apologettcally.
"I wronged you, Mr.. Pinckney," he
said ut last. II see you intend to do
the fair thing. All right. 1 won't say
anything more"
But, remember" said Pinckney
warningly, 1.-THE least word and the
contract would be off. You must trust
nue.. And another thing'-he hesitated
a moment, then spoke meaningly-
1.-THE contract will be no good on earth
should the Sommers gun turn out to be
better than the Rhinestrom gum"
Marsh nodded with the confidence OF
the inventor in his own work.
'SThat IL a chance we have to take,
but think we will come out all right,
The Rhinestrom gun is a winner"
After the head draughtsman was
gone Pinckney pondered long time
Finally he called In his stenographer
and dictated to her q contract between
the Durant Steel company and VII
helm Rhinestrom by which the Durant
Steel company agreed to take over the
Rhinestrom patents and pay the in
ventor sc, 5000 royalty on every gun six
inches or under and $1,000 an inch for
every additional inch above six. The
contract he signed as manager Of the
steel company. Then he sent a long
cable explaining what he had done to
Durant, although he knew Durant was
on the ocean and would not receive It.
That night in his own room the man.
ager figured just what he would make
on every gun six inches and under
S5,400 and 5000 for every additional
inch above six.
And at that" be said to himself
with a sneer, Everybody will be hap
DIV. That fool Marsh viii make his
5000 and his 500. That is enough
for him, and Durant can stand the
price. 1t means wealth and that girl,
too"-he paused, and a sinister light
came into his eyes-"if only that Som
mers gun is a failure. 1 wonder
George. 1 was ashamed of you-posi-
lively ashamed of you. Your first night
home and you sit up at the table
and talk nothing but steel and ar
cenary and croop guns and that sort
of thing, and when we have guest
here too! / don't know what Lieuten-
ant Sommers thought of you"
Mrs. Durant spoke irritably. but her
husband, who knew her ideas on bust
ness matters from long experience,
merely smiled with liberation.
It was the first night after his return
from a trip abroad on business, and
Sommers and Pinckney had both been
to dinner with the family.
''Now. now, my DEAR" the steel man
protested, 'T'm sure this naval chap
is interested in what have to say. If
he invents guns himself he ought to
be interested, and he certainly paid
attention"
Mrs. Durant's lip curled.
"Paid attention. she shifted. 81
guess he paid attention because you
are Frances father, not for any other
-eason."
Durant pricked up his ears at once.
Frances father?' he asked How
should that interest this fellow"
The father was plainly put out. He
had too long held the idea that the
name Of Durant IN the steel world
would be perpetuated by the marriage
of Frances and his protege. Edward
Pinckney, for him to hear with equa-
nimity that a penniless naval officer
was paying her any attention
NOW, look here. George Durant,"
exclaimed his wife Indignantly, don't
you dare to pretend yourself that
Frances Is not attractiveP
IL never pretended any such thing"
he protested
You did" she declared mistakenly.
But, my DEAR
Didn't you say you were surprised
that this naval man was paying her
attention? That's the same thing as
saying she's not attractive, and want
to tell you that Frances is the pref
tiest girl in Pittsburg, even If she is
your daughter"