Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-22
CHAPTER v.

The next morning I went out for
a walk. l fingered a moment outside
Sam Graham's old and much neglected
drug store, thinking Of the change that
had come over it since the death OF
Margaret Graham, Betty's mother, for,
despite its out of the way location, the
shop had not always been Improbable.
While Margaret lived (my heart still
ached with the memory Of her name)
Sans business had prospered. She
had been one of those women who can
rise to any emergency in the interest
of her loved ones. The first to realize
Sans improvidence and lack of execu-
tive ability, she had taken hold of the
business with firm hand and made
it pay-while she lived.
During Margaret's regime, as 1 say,
the shop had thrived. Sam had few Ill
wishers in Radville The trade came
his way. Then Betty was born, and
Margaret died.
Most of this l have on hearsay. l
left Radville shortly after their mar
riage and did not return until some
months after Margaret's burial. BY
that time the shop had begun to show
signs Of neglect. It's stock was decf-
mated, it's trade likewise. Sam was
struggling with his inventions more
fiercely than overseeing forgetful-
ness, 1 always thought. The business
was allowed to take care of itself. He
had always a serene faith in his to-
morrows.
Now, the little shop had been far dis
tanced by the competition of Sothern
& Lee. 1t was twenty years behind
the times, as the saying is. Small,
darksome, dreary and dingy, it served
chiefly as living room for Sam, his
daughter and his cronies as well as
for his workshop. He had bench and
a ramshackle lathe in one corner,
where you might be sure to find him
futilely pottering at almost any hour.
He owned the little building-or that
portion of it which it were farce to
term the equity above the mortgage
and Betty kept house for him in three
rooms above the store.
l pushed the door open and entered.
He looked up with his never failing
smile of welcome and wave of his
hand.
"Howdy, Homer! Come in. Well,
we'll, I'm glad to see you. Sit down,
I think that chair there by the stove
will hold together under YOU"
What are you doing, SAM" I ask
ed. {.
"Fixin' up the sody fountain. Meant
to get it workin' last month, Homer,
but somehow kind of forgot"
He rubbed away briskly at the sin
gle faucet which protruded above the
counter, lathering it briskly with a
metal polish that smelled to heaven.
do much sody trade, Sam?'
He paused, passing his worn old fin
gers rehectively across a chin snowy
with a stubble of neglected beard.
NO" he allowed thoughtfully, mot so
much as we used to now that Sothern
& Lee we got this newfangled notion
of putin ice cream in nickel glass
of sody. Most of the young folks go
there now, but still l get a call now
and then, and every little bit helps"
He rubbed on ferociously for mo-
ment. Course I'd do more, likely, if
I carried bigger line Of flavors.'
How many do you carry?"
one" he admitted-with sigh, va
nilly."
While 1 filled my pipe he continued
to rub very industriously.
why don't you get more?"
He flashed me one of his pale, genial
smiles. I'm thinkin' of it, Homer,
soon's l get some money in-neXt
week, mebbe. There's a man in n
| York that mebbe can be interested in
one of my inventions, Roland Bar
nette says Mebbe he'd be willin' to
put a little money in it, Roland says,
and of course if he does I'll be able to
stock up considerable"
l sighed covertly for him. He rub
! bed, humming a tuneless rhythm to
| himself.
"Roland's goin' to write to him about
| it,"
What invention" l asked, incredu-
| lous.
Sam put down his bottle of polish
and came round the counter. beaming
| Nothing peases him better than an OPP
portunity to exhibit some one of his
| innumerable models. I'll show you
Homer" he volunteered cheerfully
shufflng over to his workbench. He
! rasped a match over it's surface and
applied the flame to small gas brack-
ct fixed to the wall. A strong rush OF
gas extinguished the match, and he
| turned the flow half off before trying
again. This time the vapor caught
and settled to a steady brilliant flame
as white as and much softer than
acetylene.
THERE" he said in triumhh. What
! dye think of that, Homer"