The Irish standard., 1911-02-18

fasped match over its 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 fame
as white as and much softer than
acetylene.
'There!" he said in triumph. what
dye think of that, Homer?"
"Why," said. "I didn't know you
had an acetylene plant"
mo more have I. Homer"
"But what is that, then?' demand
ed.
"1t's my invention" he returned
proudly. "I've been workin' on it two
years, Homer. and only got it goin'
yestiddy. It's goin' to be great thing,
tell you.'
But what is it, Sam?'
"1t's gas from crude petroleum,
Homer. Seer he continued, indicat-
ing tank beneath the bench which
seemed to be connected with the
bracket by very simple system of
piping, broken by a smaller, cylindrical
tank. Eye put the oil in there-just
crude as it comes out Of the wells,
Homer. It don't need refnin', and it
runs through this and down here to
this. where it's vaporized-much the
same's they vaporize gasoline for au-
tymobile engines, ye know-and then
It just naturally flows up to the brack-
ct, and there ye are"
cts wonderful, SAM" said I, won
dering if it really We're.
"And the best part Of it is the econ
omy, Homer. A gallon will run one
Jet six weeks, day in and out. And
simple to install. l tell ye''-
"Have you got it patented yet?"
Eyes, stree! Took out patents just as
soon as it struck me how simple 1t 'ud
be-more than two years ago. Only,
of course. it took time to work it out
just right, specially when had to
stop now and then cause I needed
money for materials. But it's all right
now, Homer; it's all right now"
"And you say Roland Barnette's writ
ing to some one in New York about
it,"
eyes; he promised he would ex-
planned it to Roland, and he seemed
real interested. He's kind, very kind"
l was inclined to doubt this and
would probably have said something
to that effect had not shadow cross
ing the window brought me to my feet
in CONSERVATION. But before could
do more than rise Colonel Bohun had
flung open the door and stamped in.
He stopped short at sight of me, mis-
guided by his nearsighted eyes, and
singled me out with a threatening
wave of his heavy stick.
"Well, SIR" he snarled, 1--WE como
for my answer. Have you sense
enough in your added pate to under
stand that, man? I've come for my
answer"
"And may have it, whatever it may
be, for all of me-" told him.
His face flushed deeper red. ooh,
it's only you, is it, Littlejohn? took
you for that fool Graham in this dirty
dark hole. Where is hep
I looked to Graham, and he followed
the direction Of my gaze to the work
bench, where Sam stood with his back
to it, his worn hands folded quietly
before him. He seemed little whittier
than usual. l thought. and perhaps it
was only my fancy that made him ap-
pear to tremble ever so slightly. for he
was quite calm and self possessed-so
much so that I realized for the first
time there was another man in Rad
vile besides myself who did not fear
old Colonel Bohun.
"I'm here, colonel" he said quietly.
'sWhat is it you wishy
The colonel swung on him. shaking
with passion. But he held hiss tongue