Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-10-27
Copyright, by w. G. Chapman.)

culine perfection. Perhaps the ting
of oddness and romantlcism in tn
meeting had cast certain glamor owe
the circumstance. At all events, Name
was impressed and pleasant smil
would come across her face wheneve
she thought of Mervin Burritt.
''He is the incest man I ever met,
Nance told friend, Norma Dyson.
was out in the garden and rugged up
long pole with big picking fork Oh
Its end. The old pear tree was to-
high to climb and up in it's tol
branches there was lot of fruit.
was picking off the pears with thu
fork when | happened to look TOWARD
the road. There, leaning on fence
and watching me with a half-smillnl
and half-thoughtful look on his face
was this gentleman"
''What was he like, NanceT Norma
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"
"An idea?"
Eyes, about an invention. He said
that the fork on the end of the pole
had suggested quite an important point
in tree-trimming invention he was
working over"
II declare |"
''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-straying while we were talking, and
he went after him and got him back. i
offered him some of the ripest pears
and when he went away / felt as if it
were some good friend who had left
me-"
"And haven't you seen him SINGER
questioned Norma.
well yes" admitted Nance, with
slight flush. "This morning he came
by as was waiting at the gate for the
postman. Mr.. Burritt is stopping in
the village for a few days. Father
came out. You know he doesn't get
around much and he likes to talk with
people. Father sold the Midyale 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 a city
man. That interested father and he
made Mr.. Burritt stay for dinner"
"Why, Nance, you're getting regu-
lar beau p laughed Norma.
the idea !" secuted Nance, but the
flush on her face grew deeper Then
she covered her pretty confusion by
declaring that she must hurry into the
house and get supper, as Mr.. Burritt
was coming to see her father in the
evening and bring him the names of
some reliable brokers in the city.
Incidentally, this young stranger had
narrated something of his business
life. He had been 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 l |
am starting out on my own hook. l
have got up several novelties in the
hardware line and have made quite
snug little sum turning them over to
factories. When I get enough capital,
l am going to keep the patents and
manufacture direct"
THAT'S pretty interesting" said
Nance's father. swish ] was younger
man, for I'd like to go into partnership
with likely young fellow such as you
are"
Il am going to insist on making Miss
Driscoll at least an honorary partner
in one Of my inventions" half laughed
Burritt. "As told you, Miss Driscoll,
seeing you with that pronged pole
gathering pears supplied me with just
the suggestion 1 needed to perfect
tree-trimming device l was working
on. 1t gave me exactly the lacking idea.
1 have quite some hopes of making
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 new phase of
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
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 1t to penetrate the hand of the
helpless man.
1.-THE key to that strong box OF
yours growled his mate, cor Wen tor
ture you to the limit ~
L "a 90 !