Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-17
JULY II, 1910.
n the French by Pauline Shackleford Coylar

leford Coylar
The engineer replied with frank candor; then he
added: q not actually rich, but if you give me
Nile Valentine, believe me, my work, my small
knowedge-"
''There, that will do. jokes joke Will you
be good enough to take yourself off 'Pon my word,
it is enough to make die of laughter to think of
you asking for my daughters hand. Good evening. -
:" But, sir, if before asking your consent | wait
until my automatic brake has made me millionaire,
| the risk of finding Mile Valentine married to
another. You will understand that do not care to
take such chance -
"That IS of mine. What do you sup
pose l care? Good evening, young man.
Passerand went away miserable that he forgot
to be embarrassed, while Mons. Lamantin slammed
the door after him. crying:
''Not a soul No position! He asks for my
daughter S hand. Ha! hal a joke indeed. -
THIS visit which resulted so unfavorably to the
interests of friend, left but fugitive traces
in the mind of Mons. Lamantin. What really troubled
him and cast gloom his countenance was the
fact that the chimney of his drawing room smoked
ntoleraby.
This happened in the month of December, just
when he was preparing to give large reception in
honor of his daughter s nineteenth birthday Mons
Lamantn sent for his architect, who hastened to him.
scenting another order.
is it only that9'' said he vexed, when he found
what wanted.
81 find it quite enough 1t is not amusing to own
chimney that makes us weep all day, like family
in mourning
''Your chimney constructed after my plans
that is to say, it does not smoke. -
g In spite of that, it does smoke
1T is because you burn coal. Do not use coal and
you will have clear fire.
perhaps you right. -
The substitution of wood for coal caused no dim
mutton of the smoking of the chimney Mons.
Lamantin, who was man of decision, procured the
address of the finest architect in Paris and begged of
him to deign to come himself and study the question.
every point did not repress his opinion, despite the
cruel reflection it cast upon his confrere.
'What constructed that AFFAIR.""
''Ledente-my architect
81 should say so-an ass. Have the stack run up
fifteen centimeters higher in order to increase the
draught. That is what it needs
But how simple it is -
cit WILL however, SUFFICE .
The alteration completed, and the chimney
smoked before. But the bill of the noted architect
immense
''The deuce! What bir!'' Mons Lamantin could
not help excaiming when he settled it.
Once through with the architects, the proprietor
next addressed himself to the chimney doctors The
first called had just arrived from Piedmont
''no chimney had resisted him. He ordered
that mechanism of castiron, shaped like serpent,
should be added to the top of the pipe.
The chimney continued to smoke in the salon.
second chimney doctor presented himself. He
had come from Piedmont later than the first.
He at once removed, with expressions of disgust his
colleague serpent, and substituted helmet of cast
iron.
The chimney paid attention whatever to the
helmet and smoked until Mons. Lamantin wished it
and himself both to the devil.
But here the concierge interposed with words of
consolation
"Monseur is wrong to despair. 1 have just been
talking of the affair with lodger-oh, lodger
must say of the highest standing This little lodger'
declares that he can unbewtch the chimney in five
minutes. -
''Bid him come here instantly, or else leave the
house,
With the rapidity of lightning Passeraud, lodger