Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-02-22
Twenty-FIfth InstaIlment

/, Copyright BY The BosSs-Msrrm CO.

Twenty-FIfth Installment
She happened 10 be standing.
without knowing II. almost owe
the revolver. where she had only
TO stOop TO pick 1t up. Forster
knew Ii. though. He was staring
at the thing in a perfect nightmare
OF terror. Rhoda, pulled up by the
look IN his face. followed the d.
rection OF his stare and glanced
down too to see what he was look
ing az.
That glance was all Il needed 70
demolish him completely. He
Topped out Of his chair and
sprawled down upon his knees on
the carpet. holding out his palsied
hands, imploring mercy. "Waitl"
he pleaded. watt I'll tell you
all about ii. II isn't what you think.
I didn't mean him any real harm.
I thought he'd thank me for a."
Rhoda went a little whittier and
turned her face away. do you
mind picking him up. Martin. and
putting aim back In his chair?" she
asked.
Martin. feeling IN his bewilder-
ment like q man In a dream, tugged
away and finally managed 20 haul
the poor old ruin back into his
chair again. II must have been a
minute before the millionaire could
find breath enough 10 speak with.
but when he did ii was-strangely
enough-in the voice or a man
with a grievance.
Mcfarland was wasted. where
he was. He knew as much about
the chemistry Of petroleum as any
man in the world; more in some
ways. And he was nothing but a
college professor working along a
line I was interested IN, and when
! saw he was going to read a pa
per In Cleveland before the on
Chemists institute ! went down TO
hear him. Luckily he hadn't got
far enough with his discoveries to
give anything really practical away,
but he came rear enough TO IL TO
make me sweat. So I saw him
after the meeting and talked 70
him. I had Stafford with me and
we came back with him as far as
Chicago. spent most OF the night
trying 10 get him to listen TO rea-
son. Here he was on the edge OF
a thing that might be worth mill
lions 10 him Tg-sonally, to say
nothing Of anybody else, and he
was getting ready TO broadcast IL.
/ wanted him to leave the univer-
sity and let me fit him up a lab
oratory. I'd pay all the expenses
or his research and give him q con-
tract that would make his fortune
as soon as he had the thing on a
practical basis.
II never saw anybody a. stub
born as he was. He'd hardly lis
ten. Practically told me to 20 to
HI. He said the university had
financed his researches VI to now
and 1t would be disloynl TO leave
them. II didn't do any good to talk
big figures TO him. He didn't know
what money was about. He was
throwing away n fortune-anyway
that's how It looked at the time
like giving a nickel to a newsboy.
was about ready 70 quit. but Stat
ford had an idea.
II don't say 1t a a very nice
idea. but your father hadn't left Us
anything else we could do. Stat
ford said IL there should happen
"a be some little scandal out at the
university 50 that Mcfarland would
resign, he'd probably come back
to US.
"WelI, that's ali. He went ahead
with It. / didn't know what he
was going 70 do. He went too far :
further than / meant him TO. I
didn't think there'd be q trial. I
thought Mcfarland would realize
there was something on him and
get out quietly. Only, you see. he
was so innocent he didn't realize
there was anything Oh him. And
when the thing really got started
il was too late TO stop"
Rhoda's set face conceded him
nothing. and cringing away from
the sight OF IL he turned 70 Martin.
You can see how 10 was, can't
your I didnAt know he'd take Il 20
hard. I didn't mean him any real
harm I meant 70 make him q rich
man.
You didn't make his fortune,
though" Martin said. why notf
How did you trick him cut of itTs