Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-01-05

much neglected drug store.
thinking Of the change that had come
over 1t since the death Of Margaret
Graham, Betty's mother for, despite
its out of the way location, the shop
had not always been unprof1ta BILE
While Margaret lived (my heart still
ached with the memory, of her nnme)
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
SaH's improvidence and lack Of execu-
tive ability, she had taken hold Of the
business with a firm hand and made 1t
psy--whfle she lived.
During Margaret's regime. as l say.
the shop had thrived Sam had few i'll
wishers IN Radville. The trade came
his way. Then Betty was born. and
Margaret died.
Most of this 1 have on hearsay. l
left RadviIle 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. Its stock was deci-
struggling with his inventions more
hercely than overseeing forgetful-
hess, l 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 dic-
tanced by the competition of Sothern
p bah {y,l
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 we'll as
FOR his workshop. He had bench and
q 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 1t which it were a farce to
term the equity above the mortgage
and Betty kept house for him in three
rooms above the store.
pushed the door open and entered.
He looked up with his never failing
smile of welcome and a wave of his
hand
'Howdy, Homer, Come in. Well
well, I'm glad to see you. sit down.
think that chair there by the stove
will hold together under you"
What are you doing. Sam?" I
asked.
"Fixin' up the sody fountain.
Meant to get it workin' last month,
Homer, but somehow 1 kind of for
got"
He rubbed away briskly at the sim
gle faucet which protruded above the
counter, lather1ng It briskly with a
metal polish that smelled 20 heaven.
do much sody trade, SAM
File paused, passing his worn old
fingers refect1vely across chin
snowy with a stubble Of neglected
beard. NO he allowed thoughtfully,
mot 80 much as we used to now thaa
Bothern e. Lee We got this newfan-
gled notion Of putt, ice cream in u
nickel glass of sooy Most Of the
young folks 60 there now, but still l
get a call now and then, and every
little bit helps" He rubbed on fe-
roclousiy for a moment Course I'd
DO more, likely, If l carried bigger
line OF havors."
How many do you carry"
One" he admitted~-with a sigh, wa.
nilly"
While I filed 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 man in NJ
York that nebbe can be interested in
one Of my inventions, Roland Bar
pette says, Mebbe he'd be willin' to
put little money in 1t, Roland says,
Ind of course If he does I'll be able
TO stock up considerable"
I sighed covertly for him. He
rubbed, hummin~ tuneless rhythm
to himself
"Roland's goin to write to him
about IT,"
What inventionT' I asked, incredu-
lous.
Sam put down his bottle of polish
and came round the counter, beaming
Nothing pleases him better than an op-
portunity to exhibit some one Of his
innumerable models. "Ill show you,
Homer" he volunteered cheerfully,
shuffiNg over &c his workbench. He
rasped match over its surface and
applied the fame to n small gas brack-
ct fixed to the wall. strong rush Of
gas extinguished the match, and no
turned the fow half off before trying
again, This time the vapor. caught
and settled to steady brilliant fame
AS white as and much softer than
acetylene.
'There" he said in triumph What
Aye think Of that, Homer"
Why" I said. 81 didn't know you
had an ncetylene plant"
mo more have l, Homer"
"But what is that, thcnT' demand
ed.
ats my invention" he returned
proudly. eve been workin' on 1t two
years, Homer, and only got 1t goin
yest.ddy. It's goin' to he great thing
tell you"
But what is It, Som?'
ITS gas from crude petroleum
Homer See" he continued, indicat