Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1920-10-12

Not burglar, surely, was The we'll
dressed man inside. Coatess, collar
less, he was striding excitedly up and
down the room. After a moment he
seated himself before a table filed
with innumerable small wheels and
gears and shafts some of which were
combined in machine formation. evil
IDENTIFY a small part of large machine
close by. Handling the small parts
lovingly he fitted several into place,
leaning close with eyes half closed in
the intensity of his interest. Then
them down before him, jumped up and
resumed his walk.
Crazy /" whispered Adele in Wards
ear
It's q machine" returned Ward,
but the last part of the word was
drawn out in an unexpected and ex-
plOSive sneeze, kissing loudly out in
the silence.
In an instant the shade was raised.
The lower sash went up before they
could turn away and the glazing eyes
of the man inside met theirs. Then
he went out through the open window.
March on through the back door
or I'll call the police" he said
gruffly.
Like two guilty children they
stepped through the doorway and into
the lighted room. Then surprise and
embarrassment on Wards part turned
to establishment.
"Mr. Wentworth! !" he exclaimed.
young Preston! Head of our draft
ing room, upon my world" The old
er man sat down helplessly.
Then followed hasty explanations on
both sides. Adele, listening to the two
men, had hard work to grasp the stu
alton. Mr.. Wentworth must be the
Mr.. Wentworth where Ward worked.
And this machine was one he was per-
fecting and would put the firm ahead
of its competitors. These competitors.
Mr.. Wentworth was explaining, were
hard after the Internationally spying
to get hold of it. Taking a house Sc
cretly seemed to be the only way to
keep clear of them-in the shop even
some of the regular men might not be
loyal-here he stopped and looked
sharply at Ward.
But Ward was not paying attention.
He was lingering parts Of the machine.
In the office he had seen to drawing
up all the small pieces, but knew moth
ing of the assembled machine. In a
moment the two men had their heads
together and were bending intently
forward.
Adele slipped quietly away to Px-
plOre the house that was hers and yet
not hers. When she came back, the
scene had changed. A motor was
busily working and the connected ma
chine was whirring smoothly. Mr..
Wentworth was putting on his coat,
his face beaming with satisfaction.
"Well, Mrs. Preston" he said this
burglar business is a lucky thing for
me. That husband of yours has man
aged to dig up the very idea that is
the Keynote 10 the Wnole combination.
We will have put it over the other
fellow this time all right"
Adele, breathless with excitement,
proud of her husband, could think of
no word to say.
"Now,' as l understand It," Mr.,
Wentworth went on, you were. just
ready to buy this house when 1 got it.
Well, l don't see but 1t has done its
work as far as am concerned. Now,
if you still want it, l think I can af-
ford to discount a bit on the price,
and the terms will be easy"
"Oh," Adele found her voice at last
"Oh do we want it? This burglar
business surely has been lucky
thing all around" .,... d..
"The only question in my mind
Mr.. WentwOrth's eyes twinkled, ais
which of us is the burglar"