Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-04-13
lCopyrlght, by IA. 9. Chapman.l

Il
culine perfection. Perhaps the ting
of oddness and romanticism in tn
meeting had cast certain glamor owe
the circumstance. At all events, Nanc
was impressed and a pleasant smil'
would come across her face wheneveI
She thought of Mervin Burritt.
HE is the incest man / ever met
Nance told a friend, Norma Dyson. e
was out in the garden and rugged up /
long pole with a big picking fork OIL
its end. The old pear tree was tot
high to climb and up in its tor
branches there was a lot of fruit.
was picking off the pears with tht
fork when I happened to look TOWARD
the road. There, leaning on a fence
and watching me with a half-smllinl
and half-thoughtful look on his face
was this gentleman"
"What was he like, Nance?" Morns
asked.
"a vacationer on jaunt, which he
said was just what he was. He lifted
his tourist cap politely and asked my
pardon for staring at me, but / had
given him an idea, he said"
IAN idea?"
"Yes, about an invention. He said
that the fork on the end Of the pole
had suggested quite an important point
in a tree-trimming invention he was
working over"
II declared
"Then he got telling me how to care
for the flowers and the bushes and the
trees. 1t was pleasant to hear him talk
He seemed to know everything. Old
Sorrel broke down the fence and went
a-strayipg while we were talking, and
he went after him and got him back.
offered him some Of the ripest pears
and when he went away l felt as if II
were some good friend who had left
me-"
Sand haven't you seen him SINGER
questioned Norma.
"Well yes," admitted Nance, with a
slight flush. "This morning he came
by as l was waiting at the gate for the
postman. Mr.. Burritt is stopping In
the village for few days. Father
came out. You know he doesn't get
around much and he likes to talk with
people. Father sold the Midvale farm,
you know, last week, and is thinking
Of investing the money he got for 1t In
some bonds. Well, Mr.. Burritt knew all
about good securities, for he is city
man. That interested father and he
made Mr.. Burritt stay for dinner"
"Why, Nance, you're getting regu-
lar beau Y laughed Norma.
The idea !" secuted Nance, but the
flush on bier face grew deeper. Then
she coveted her pretty confusion by
declaringtha she must hurry into the
house and. get supper, as Mr.. Burritt
was coming to see her father in the
eveniag ano bring him the names Of
some refia brokers In the city.
Inclds 81 this young stranger had
narrated 2Eaethlng of his business
life. Re tbeen superintendent Of a
manufacturing concern, where his in
genuity had added materially to its
progress and profits.
"They accepted my original ideas
fast enough" said Burritt, "but / re-
ceived no reward for my extra efforts
in their behalf. The result is that |
am starting out on my own hook. /
have got up several novelties In the
hardware line and have made quite a
snug little sum turning them over to
factories. When / get enough capital,
/ am going to keep the patents and
manufacture direct"
"That's pretty interesting" said
Nance's father. swish / was a younger
man, for I'd like to 60 into partnership
with a likely young fellow such as you
are"
Il am going to insist on making Miss
Drlscoll at least an honorary partner
in one of my inventions" half laughed
Burritt. GAS / told you, Miss Driscoll,
seeing you with that pronged pole
gathering pears supplied me with just
the suggestion / needed to perfect q
tree-trimming device / was working
on. 1t gave me exactly the lacking idea.
/ have quite some hopes Of making a
great success Of it."
Burritt spoke half laughingly, but
Nance felt immensely pleased to think
that she had been of help to man
she admired and respected and whose
advice had brought a new phase Of
interest into their lives. She took I'M
usual pains with her dress that eve
ming, wishing to appear at her best be-
fore the honored guest. Just at dusk
she ran over to have brief chat with
her friend, Norma, and hurried back
home across lots.
AS Nance neared the house she
heard gruff, unfamiliar voices beyond
the open doorway Of the lighted wing
where her father sat evenings. She
neared the threshold to discover a new
situation which fairly appalled, her.
Tied to his chair was her father.
Over him stood two men, villainous-
looking fellows. One had long, slim
bladed knife. This he was poking men
acingly at their victim. Once even he
allowed it to penetrate the hand Of the
bo1olnec y,,ou