The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20

invention as against the cash of his
associates. That seemed fair and on that
basis a company was formed with err
ruthers as president and general man
aeer. For $4,000 cash and note for $4,000
he purchased a small factory and In
stalled a little machinery. 1t did not
require much for his device was simple.
Thompson, Chapman and the others be-
came as enthusiastic as Rogers and had
visions of the time when they would
be plutocrats.
Carruthers was in high feather. The
syndicate met regularly at his hotel and
he entertained them lavishly He was a
charming host and was the prince of
good fellows Although he drank more
than any of his companions he never
showed the effect of It. If he had a
liver he had not discovered the fact. Now
and then the members of the syndicate
were employed and the place was not
much to impress a cold-blooded visitor
but they all saw 1t with the eyes of
Carruthers and they could picture the
time when it would be big and impos-
ing and hundreds of men would be en-
ployed In the enlarged plant that Car
ruthers spoke about building. Rogers
could talk bottle shoppers and quote bot
tie statistics almost as readily as could
Carruthers by this time, and so could
some others of the syndicate. All Of
them were young men. All of them were
at that period of life when the world Ia
viewed with rosy spectacles.
1t was a matter of regret to Smiley that
he did not come in for more. He was the
son of a rich man and might have in
vested $4,000 just as we'll as $1,000 jack
son, on the other hand, had some diff
fculty in raising his $4,000. AS Smiley
thought of Jackson and his larger in
terest he felt somewhat aggrieved. He
offered to take over one-half of Jack
sons investment, but Jackson would not
consent. 1t was too good a thing to
part with.
Nothing much could be done In a bust
ness way until the patent matter at
Washington was adjusted, no matter how
eager the syndicate was to start. E7r-
ruthers vas insistent upon this POINT
At each of his delightful dinners to mis-
associates he reported with regret that
there was nothing definite from the cap
ital, and then he would ontline the cam
paign he proposed to inaugurate so soon
as the papers were received from the
patent office. He intended to deal with
the brewers first.
He had several on his list and he was
in, h
he meant to bring them into line He
had most impressive array of figures
regarding their business and he explained
with a wealth of detail how 1t really
would be a decided economy for them to
use the Carruthers stopper. 1t not only
could be furnished to them cheaper than
the shoppers they used; but 1t permitted
none Of the gases to escape from the
bottle and preserved the beer in all its
purity. AS for the pharmaceutical trade
he was certain 1t offered a larger field
even than did the beer industry.
AS he dwelt on the glowing prospects
his companions smoked and drank and
dreamed.
Patience is not one of the Characters
tics of youth or of the American people
However delightful were the dinners of
Carruthers, some of the members of the
syndicate began to get FESTIVE Two
months had passed since they put in their
money and nothing had been done but
the purchase or the factory and hiring
the two men and installing the scant ma
chnery required to make demonstrations
One or two of the gentlemen went to see
Dunleary to learn il he could not do
something to hurry up the people in
Washington. Dunleary, who was trfe
testy, was none too courteous when they
called a second or a third time. He
thought 1t was sufficient to tell them once
that Washington was not to be hurried
and that he would report promptly when
The papers arrived.
i