Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-12-22
An Offer For the Plans.
Y YHAT should he ask for the
Ma things? Somehow f2O,Oo0
WV struck him as about the sum
Indicated

" W
indicated.
Memories of pretty Edna clustered
round that impression. They led
Bert's mind step by step TO an
agreeable state that found express
sion in, "I'u marry 'er if she don't
look out" And then in fash 1t fol-
lowed In his mind that If he sold the
Butteridge secret he could! Suppose,
after all, he did get 100000. Such
sums have been paid! OF course risks
were involved. "Ill ave old But
teridge on my track, I eXpect!
He meditated upon that. He de-
clined again to dependency. AS yet
ne was only in the beginning of the
adventure. He had still to deliver the
goods and draw the cash. And be-
fore that Just now he was by no
means on his way home. He was fly
ing off to America to fight there. Not
much fighting" he considered; "all our
own way" Still, If a shell did happen
to hit the vaterland on the underside!
He got up presently and wrapped
himself about with Mr.. Butteridge's
air was very keen. Then he peeped
out Of the window to see gray dawn
breaking over clouds, then turned up
his light and bolted his door, sat down
to the table and produced his chest
protector.
He smoothed the crumpled plans
with his hand and contemplated them.
ha 70 tha 9TH RI
Tugs in the portfolio. Twenty thou
sand pounds If he worked it right! 1t
was worth trying anyhow.
Presently he opened the drawer in
which Kurt had put paper and writ
ing materials.
Bert Smallways was by no means a
stupid person, and up to a certain linn
it he had not been badly educated
His board school had taught him to
draw up to certain limits, taught him
to calculate and understand a specif1-
cation. He was not incapable of grasp
ing the idea of the Butteridge flying
machine. But he found it stiff and
perplex1ng. He copied sketches, he
made notes, he made a quite toler-
able and intelligent copy of the essen
tial drawings and sketches Of the 9TH
ers. Then he fell into a meditation
upon them.
At last he rose, with sigh. folded
up the originals that had formerly
been in his chest protector and put
them into the breast pocket Of his
Jacket and then very carefully depos-
tied the copies he had made in the
place Of the originals. He had no
very clear plan in his mind in doing
this, except that he hated the idea Of
altogether parting with the secret.
For long time he medltated profound
Iy-nodding. Then he turned out his
light and went to bed again and
schemei himself to sleep.
The hochgeboren Graf Won Winter
field was also a light sleeper that
night, but then he was one Of those
people who sleep little and play chess
problems in their heads to while away
the time, and that night he had par
ticularly difficult problem to solve.
He came in upon Bert while he was
still in bed in the glow of the sunlight
TeueClel llolh luc 4>ol III SCut btio w,
consuming the rolls and coffee a sol
tiier had brought him. He had port
folio under his arm, and in the clear
early morning light his dingy gray
hair and heavy silver trimmed spec
tacles made him look almost benevo-
lent He spoke English fuently. but
with a strong German flavor. "You
came to us, Herr Pooterage, against
your WILL" he said
Sow d'you make that out?' asked
Bert after a pause Of establishment.
~ chuge by re maps in your car.
They were all English And your pro-
visions-they were all picnic. Also
your cords were entangled. You hat
been tugging, but no good. Also
where is re latyf"