The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-05-05
HIS
PARTNER
*
BY
VICTOR REDCLIFFE

nearest TO ner cnerlSHeu lueui VI iho'
| culine perfection. Perhaps the tinge
of oddness and romanticism in the
meeting had cast certain glamor over
| the circumstance. At all events, Nance
| was impressed and pleasant smile
would come across her face whenever
she thought of Mervin Burritt.
"He is the incest man l ever met,
Nance told friend, Norma Dyson. Il
was out in the garden and rugged up a
long pole with big picking fork on
its end. The old pear tree was too
high to climb and up TN its top
branches there was a lot Of fruit.
was picking off the pears with the
fork when happened to look toward
the road. There, leaning on fence
and watching me with a half-smiling
and Electromagnetic look on his face,
was this gentleman"
"What was he like, Nance? 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"
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"
81 declarev'
"Then he got telling me how to care
for the flowers and the bushes and the
trees. It 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 1t
were some good friend who had left
me-"
"And haven't you seen him SINGER
questioned Norma.
"Well yes" admitted Nance, with q
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 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 ne
!, made Mr.. Burritt stay for dinner"
"Why, Nance, you're getting regu
lar beau!" laughed Norma.
The idea!' secuted Nance, but the
flush on her face grew deeper. Ther
: she covered her pretty confusion b!
= declaring that she must hurry into thu
!. house and get supper, as Mr.. Burrit
was coming to see her father In TIT
evening and bring him the names O
some reliable brokers In the city.
Incidentally, this young stranger hat
narrated something Of his business
life. He had been superintendent OF
manufacturing concern, where his IN
genuity had added materially to it
progress and profits.
s'They accepted my original idea
fast enough" said Burritt, "but 1 re
ceived nc reward for my extra effort
In their behalf. The result is that
am starting out on my own hook.
have got UP several novelties In tn
hardware line and have made quite
snug little sum turning them over t
factories. When I get enough capita
am going to keep the patents an
manufacture direct"
"That's pretty interesting" sal
Nance's father. 'Wish I was younge
man, for I'd like to go into partnershi
with a likely young fellow such as 20
are"
81 am going to insist on making Mis-
Driscol at least an honorary partne
In one Of my inventions" half laughe
Burritt. "As I told you, Miss Driscoi
seeing you with that pronged POI
gathering pears supplied me with Ju:
the suggestion I needed to perfect
tree-trimming device was workin
on. It gave me exactly the lacking ide
1 have quite some hopes or making
great success of 1t"
Burritt spoke half laughingiy, OF
Nance felt immensely pleased to tnir
that she had been Of help to ms
CO she admired and respected and who's
We advice had brought a new phase
r. interest into their lives. She took III
usual pains with her dress that ev
go ming, wishing to appear at her best 0
n fore the honored guest. Just at du:
ls- she ran over to have brief chat WI
x her friend. Norma, and hurried Da'
ey home across lots.
As Nance neared the house 81
heard gruff, unfamiliar voices beyoI
the open doorway of the lighted VII
where her father sat evenings. u
neared the threshold to discover ne
situation which fairly appalled, her.
Tied to his chair was her fath'
lrs Over him stood two men, villainot
ey looking fellows. One had long, Sill
,ry bladed knife. This he was poking me
1t acingly at their victim. Once even
1t. allowed it to penetrate the hand OF I
re- helpless man.
lys ssThe key to that strong box
of yours" growled his mate. "or wen q
y