Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-31
"A
Modern Wizard
By oTTuIA FRANCES PFEIFFER


and one success In that line. although
a small one. had made him a dreamer
and q Spectator. At a time when the
water of the town he lived In. sup
piled by a river. became muddy and
unsanitary, Morris devised a otter
from which he derived quite a hand.
some amount.
After that for two years he failed
to strike anything tangible. and one
fair summer morning. looking for
something to turn up. left a little vii.
iage, tramped a good ten miles. came
within sight of the spires and steepIes
OF a small city. and turned into the
yard Of a rickety house. where a well
invited. Just beyond the rude habita-
ton were the ruins of a large factory
building. A great mound Of refuse
arose hlll-hIgh near by.
Morris quenched his thirst and sat
down on the doorstep Of the kitchen
of the house to rest. He had no idea
that the house was inhabited.
"Hellow he exclaimed. as sounds
from within reached his hearing.
"Some one Is crying. and it's a wom-
an"
Low, but intense sobbing echoed
from beyond the door. Morris was
very human and sympathetic. He
pushed open the door. which stood
slightly aiar. He looked into the
kitchen. Seated on q rickety chair he
made out a swaying figure. II was
that of a girl not more than eighteen,
who seemed immersed In poignant, I'M
contrOllable grief. Morris impulsive-
ly started toward her. She looked up
as she heard his footsteps, shrank a
trlfe and arose TO her feet.
Don't be frightened" spoke Nor
ris abruptly. 81 don't belong here,
and didn't know that anybody did. I
heard you crying. Are you In trou-
BILE. little woman7"
She scanned hrs face in a certain
beseeching way.
BY bits she told Of her troubles. en-
couraged by an attentive listener. The
friendly mods and earnest face of Nor
ris seemed to give her courage. She
was Alice Wayne md had lived with
her father In the old house until a
year previous. having no mother. Mr..
Wayne owned the bleak, untillable
land around the wreck of a house,
and had leased II for 16 years as a
building site for a factory putting out
q long list Of commodities requiring
zinc in their manufacture. The amount
paid was small and not sufficient TO
support them. Alice had gone to the
city 20 learn the millinery trade to
help support her father. Her father
had died, the factory had been de-
etroyed by fire. without a friend
In the world. she had returned TO find
the future facing her without cheer
or promise.
az don't know what to do" she told
Morris. "The land here and the lit
tie house is mine. but somebody has
made free to take most of Its furni-
ture away. The lawyer says the land
Il absolutely worthless. All the same
this seems like home to me. II some
pne could advise me what TO dor
Mcsris regarded the ssd-faced. con-
fdiEh girl with infinite pity and inter
est. Their mutual loneliness appealed
90 him powerfully. He was a quick
thinker. His eyes bore a glowing
token of Interest as ne asked her this
and that about the town and Its pos
abilities for work. He pricked up his
ears as she casually referred to the
great mound. II represented an ac-
emulation Of zinc scraps from the
factory OF more than three years.
81 want to look oyer that big heap"
ne told her. and went out, did so. re-
turned, and regarding Alice Wayne
with speculative eye. and too with a
certain ,atent excitement OF manner.
"I suppose everything on the land
here goes with it-that rubbish heap
incIuded?" he asked.
syyhy. yes,' she replied. "the law
yer told me so. But what a strange
question:"
rs itf' smiled Morris with a
cbuci ie. Little woman. we are two
lonely souls. Suppose you make me
your business agent? I have made
a great discovery. II you will pince
full confidence In me. and follow my
directions. ! may work n great thing
out OF this barren OUTFIT. Have you any
money!
VERY little. indeed" sighed Alice.
every well. ] hare fifty dollars. l
sn going TO divide II with you. Then
Won 20 TO the town and stay I'm some
respectable boarding house. while I
work out my plan. oh. don't hesi'ntei
You shall pay back the advance aud a
rood percentage for my services"
Morris Drake had. indeed. made q
discovery. or rather he had formu-
lated a plan for turning zinc into goldi
The war had increased the consump-
don OF zinc 10 q point where Tin had
20 be used as a substitute. Scrap zinc
had risen TO 81 cents q pound. being
employed for eyelets and minor utili-
dies, and. with so much soft coal be-
fng used. ground zinc scraps were used
20 burn out sooty chimneys.
There were nj and tons Of the old
refuse, and Morris found a Spectator
% nnanee fits sale. He came 10 Alice
rsdisnt one day TO announce that there
was money enough already paid down
"a make her comfortable for life.
aLittle woman. you are O real heir
asa and I en- a mar Of business once
srs,n." he said. "v.hat say you to q
iise partnership" And What could
Alice say buf "Yes." for she had loved