The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-03
BUSINESS OF LIVING
By MAS. EVA LEONARD

Douglas Turns Inventor and Dreams
of Wonderful Future for His
Family.
What is it, dear?" asked Eleanor.
Douglas had an. air of suppressed ex-
element about him that had not
escaped the quick eyes of his wife.
who said there was anything?"
answered Douglas, taking his wife's
face between his hands and turning
it up to be kissed.
You look different someway.
Something has happened" she in
sisted.
mo, dear. nothing has happened.
When it does l will tell you" Doug
las was still looking into his wife's
eyes.
rs this a guessing game? 1 have
not found the right word, 1 see,' she
continued
Il had not meant to say anything
till there was something definite to
tell" laughed Douglas. but you are
such little sleuth l can't keep a
thing from you. Come in here and
way to the living room and dropped
into his big chair, and Eleanor
perched expectantly on the broad arm
and settled herself to listen.
You have heard of the trouble
CAS AldNlllS WIFI ONeS.
he began. Eleanor nodded, wonder
ing. About all our aniline dyes came
from Germany, and when the war
shut everything up as tight as a drum
we could not get any German dyes.
and of course it was up to us to try to
make them. Our results have not
been entirely satisfactory, especially
in black dyes, as you know"
Il should say they were not. my
stockings bought since the war be-
gan have given me a great deal of
trouble. What is the matter? Can't
Americans make fast dyes?"
The process used by the Germans
was OF course a secret and as ex-
perimenting is very expensive our
manufacturers felt that it was more
economical to buy a safe dye than to
run the risk of losing trade by using
an unsafe product. and as long as
they could get the German dyes aC.h-
ing was done to try to make our
own. These dyes are made from coal
tar, and the coal tar is a by-product of
gas, but there are many intermediate
| steps which we do not understand
and 1t is the method used in develop
ing these steps that decides. whether
the dye is success or not. 1 have
been working on this for weeks and
today 1 had a talk with Mr.. Barney
and he
Working on what, dear? 1 do not
understand" Eleanor had a startled
air.
Why you know such experiments
are right in my line. and 1 have been
thinking great deal about the sub
Ject AS I was telling you, L half be-
lieve have clue to the secret and 1
mad talk with Mr.. Barney about the
matter today. He is so interested that
he is willing to give me full pay and
let me have all my time to experiment.
He said This thing is not in our
line, but If you can succeed, it will
make all of us rich"
,'Oh, Douglas" breathed Eleanor,
Ringing her arms around her hus-
bands neck. How happy 1t would
make me to have you do some great
| thing like that. You are so retiring,
| and l want everybody to know your
value"
Il can't tell you what dreams have
filled my head these weeks. Dreams
of making life easy for the dearest lit
tie wife in tie world" continued Doug
las, drawing her down in his arms
But / did not want to say anything
about it for fear OF Disappointing
| you
81 am glad I discovered your secret,
or at least discovered that there was
| secret, for now we can hope together
| and whether you succeed or not am
| proud of you" She laid her head on
his shoulder.
ITO he continued