Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-20

condescension.
And Duncan returned to his work in
the back yard.
1t wasn't long before he found occa-
sion to go back to the store, and by
that time old Sam was there in con-
versation with Burnham.
That's part of my business" he
heard Burnham say in his sleek, OLE
aginous accents. Sometimes I pick
up an odd. no count contraption that
makes me a bit Of money, and more
times I'm stung and lose on it. There
might be something to this gas burner
of yours, and again there mightnt.
I've been thinking I might be willing
to risk a few dollars on it if we could
come to terms"
DO you mean it really?" said old
Sam eagerly.
Not to invest in it, so to speak;
don't think it's chances are strong
enough for that. But If you'd care to
sell the patent outright and aren't too
ambitious we might make dicker
What d you say?"
why, yes, said Graham, quivering
with anticipation. yes, indeed, if
"well?"
IF you really think it's worth any
thing, sir"
Burnham laughed doubtingly and
said:
well, as I say, there's no telling,
but I was thinking about 1t at dinner,
and sort of concluded I'd like to own
that burner, so I made out little bill
of sale, and I says to myself, says J.,
If Graham will take $500 for that pa
tent I'll will give him spot cash, right
in his hand says l."
With this Burnham tipped back in
his chair and brought forth a wallet
from which he drew sheet Of paper
and several bills.
Five hundred dollars!" repeated
Graham, thunderstruck by this munifi-
cence.
Yes, sir, five hundred, cash. To tell
you the truth-guess you don't know
it-I heard at the bank that they
didn't intend to extend the time on
that note Of yours, and I thought this
five hundred would come in handy and
1 kind of wanted to help you out. Now,
what do you say?"
He flourished the bills under Gra-
hams nose and waited. entirely at
ease as to his answer.
We'll" said the old man, "it is kind
of you, sir-very kind. Everybody's
been good to me recently, or else I'm
dreamin'"
Then it's a bargain?"
why, 1 hope it won't lose any
money for you, Mr.. Burnham," Sam
hesitated, with his ineradicable sense
of fairness and square dealing. MAX
ing gas from crude oil ought to-
Duncan never heard the end of that
speech. For some moments he had
been listening intently, trying to recol-
| lect something. The name of Burn
ham plucked a string on the instru-
ment Of his memory. He knew he
had heard it some place, some time in
the past, but how or when or in re-
spect to what he could not make up
his mind. 1t had required Sans ref
erence to gas and crude oil to close
the circuit. Then he remembered. Kel-
logg had mentioned a man by the
name of Burnham who was ION the
| nj
making gas from crude oil. This must
be the man Burnham, the tracker, and
poor old Graham must be the tracked.
Without warning Duncan ran round
and made himself an unlimited third
to the conference.
Mr.. Graham, one moment" he beg
| ged, excited. rs this patent of yours
on a process of making gas from crude
oil?"
| Burnham looked up impatiently,
frowning at the interruption, but Gra-
ham was all good humor.
why. yes" he started to explain;
its that burner over there that
But l wouldn't sell it just yet if
were YOU" said Nat. 1t may be
worth a good dear'-
Now, look here!" Burnhan got to
his feet in anger What business
have you got butting into this?" he
demanded. putting himself between
Duncan and the inventor.
Me-" Duncan queried simply. on
ly just because I'm a business man,
If you don't believe it ask Mr.. Gra-
ham,"
He's got a perfect right to advise
me. Mr.. Burnham," interposed Gra-
ham, rising.
We'll, but-but what objection we
you got to his making a little money
out of this PATENT" Burnham blus-
tered.
None, only l want to look into the
matter first. think it might be-ah-
advisable"
What makes you think SOP" de-
manded Burnham, his tone whitening.
We'll" said Nat with an effort sum-
moning his faculties to cope with 6
matter OF Strlct business, IL lHls
way. I've got an idea," he said, pok-
ing at Burnham with the forefingel
which had proved so effective with
| Pete Willing, that you wouldn't offei
500 iron men for this burner unless
you expected to make something big
out of it, and it ought to be wortf
just as much to Mr.. Graham as tc
YOU"
"Ah. you don't know what you're
i talking about"
Il know that" Nat admitted simply
but l do happen to know you're pro-
| noting a scheme for making gas from
crude oil, and if Mr.. Graham will lis
| ten to me you won't get his patent un.
til I've consulted my friend Henry
Kellogg"
Kellogg"
Yes You know-nf l.. J. Bartlett &
Co" Mats fOrefinger continued to dc
4 deadly work Burnham backed away
|