The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
THREE

sixteenth that l got out Record No. 30 and
tried it."
"Of course you couldn't understand it,
interrupted Mr.. Chalmers with his fat head
turned sideways and one-sided, sickly
smile made an ugly slit in his heavy jaw:
Then Immediately he broke out in loud
much French about that he chuckled, as
he shook with the hoarse, hollow laughter.
"You thought we had cheated you-that
we were not giving you the lessons as we
had promised" added Mr.. Lawrence, max
ing an effort to laugh also; and, catching
the contagion, Amelie laughted too, although
she couldn't have told to save her life what
she was laughing at.
81 suppose you compared it with the les
son in the MANUAL continued Mr.. Law
renee, land of course you found that they
were different"
ooh, yes" she said 81 Sound that they
were very different indeed"
"Now, Miss Trent" said Mr. Chalmers,
rising and pacing. up and down the little
room as if in serious thought, ''let us get
valuable time, and ours, too. Would you be
willing to let have the record"
''No, SIR said Amelie, emphatically. II
would not be willing to let anybody have
that record--not for all the money in New
York." she said II wish to keep that rec
ord. l bought it and paid for it and l con-
slider it is mine"
She did not tell them that the precious
record was repOSlng, at that very moment,
in the handbag on her arm.
Mr.. Chalmers stood still in his tracks.
Mr.. Lawrence got up suddenly as if he were
startled and the two men stared at each
othef. Miss Warren looked amazed and she
was regarding Amelie so intenty that for
moment she forgot to write.
"Mr. Lawrence" began Mr.. Chalmers
and his voice sounded weak and strained
now, "let US step into the other office mo-
ment. l wish to speak with you privately
The two men went out.
I'm having the time of my life, said
Miss Warren throwing up her hands and
giggling like schoolgirl. You've certainly
got those two old jays going, believe me.
Don't give in-you can get it all right
they'll double the price and you keep right
on along the same tactics you have started
they'll come across all right. l do wish
Carter could hear this-he's the young man
in the outer officer, you know - Carter
Raines Oh, but he hates Mr.. Chalmers!
We wouldn't care if you'd pinch him for
twenty thousand'-Then there were foot
steps outside the door.
The girl got up quickly. and when the
door opened and the two men entered, she
appeared to be looking out upon the city in
the most perfectly uninterested and indiffer-
ent way. Anelie had not moved from where
she had been sitting when she first entered
the room. The two men drew up their
chairs, each side of her, and assumed
an air of gravity and great concern. 1t was
"Of course, you couldn't understand the
Record No. 33," he urged.
ooh, yes | could" Amelie answered
lightly. At first she had felt like the villain
in the play, but now she had a vague sort
of feeling that she was the star of the cast.
"Ill admit l couldn't understand it at first;
but now it's quite different, and l under
stand it perfectly In fact it is so clear and
perfect that it seems really human and in
listening to it you forget that there is a
machine that is really doing the work"
Silence, deadly silence for full minute.
Then Mr. Chalmers spoke.
"If you are not willing to take five thou
sand dollars for it" he said in what he
meant to be an offhand way, "say SO, and
perhaps we viii then be able to agree upon
some other terms that are satisfactory to all
concerned"
Amelie looked at Mr. Chalmers in I'M
feigned surprise-a surprise which however
was evidently misunderstood.
"Oh, of course, | didn't expect that you
would take that for it" he said in soothing
tones, "but we had to have a starting point
somewhere. Will you name your price?
Perhaps we can get at it better that way"
This was getting really too mysterious and
Amele felt that she could stand the strain
no longer.
"Wll you gentlemen kindly tell me why
you are anxious to get this particular
L.. i t..v,N t1o