Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1911 — THE FORTUNE HUNTER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FORTUNE HUNTER

Novelized by LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

From the Play of the Same Name by WINCHELL SMITH Copyright. 1910. by Winchell Smith and Loui» Joseph Vance

CHAPTER XIII. HAPPILY for Duncan, Blinky had no sense of humor. If he had he would explode the very first time he indulged in introspection. “Not much,” said he, with his sour smile. “I guess you’re jokin’ about the price of that drink. Well, good luck to you. Mr. Duncan. I'd like to have you come round and see us some evenin’.” “Thank you very much, sir.” Duncan accompanied Blinky to the door. “I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting your daughter, sir. She’s a charming girl.” “I’m real glad you think so.” said Blinky, intensely gratified. “She seems to 're taken a great shine to you too. Come round and get 'qualnted With the hull family. You’re the sort of young feller I’d like her to know.” He paused and looked Nat up and down captiously, as one might appraise the points of a horse of quality put up for sale. “Good day,” said he, with the most significant of winks. “Oh, that’s all right,” Nat hastened to reassure him. “I won’t say a word about it” Blinky, on the point of leaving, started to question this (to him) cryptic utterance, but luckily had the current of his thoughts diverted by the entrance of Roland Barnette in company with his friend Mr. Burnham. Roland’s consternation, at this unexpected encounter was, in the mildest term, extreme. At sight of his employer he pulled up as if slapped. “Oh,” he faltered. “I didn’t know you was here, sir.” “No,” said Blinky. with keen relish; *1 guess.you didn’t." “I —ah—come over to see Sam about that note}* stammered Roland. “Waal, don’t you bother your bead *bout what ain't your business. Roly. Come on back to the bank.” “All right, sir.” Roland grasped fcantically at the opportunity to emphasize his importance. “Excuse me, Mr. Lockwood, but I’d like to interdoos you to a friend of mine, Mr. Bunham, from Noo York." Amused, Burnham stepped into the breach. “How are you?” he said with the proper nuance of cordiality, offerfug his hand. Lockwood shook it unemotionally. “How de do?” he said perfunctorily. “I brought Mr. Burnham in to see Earn”— “Yes." Burnham interrupted Roland quickly; “Barnette’s been kind enough to show me round town a bit” “Here on business?” inquired Lockwood pointedly. “No, not exactly,” returned Burnham with practical ease; “just looking round.” “Only lookin', eh?” Blinky’s countenance underwent one of its erratic quakes as he examined Burnham with his habitual intentness. The New Yorker caught the wink and lost breath. “Ah—yes—that's all,” he assented uneasily. And as he spoke another wink dumfounded him. “Why?” he asked, with a distinct loss of assurance. “Don’t you believe it?” “Don’t see no reason why I should not,” grunted Blinky. “Hope you'll . like what you see Good day.” ' “So long. Mr. Lock wood.” returned Burnham uncertainly Lockwood paused outside the door. “Come ’long. Roland.” “Yes. sir; night away; just a minute.” Roland was lingering unwillingly, detained by Burnham's imperative hand. “What d' you want? I got to hurry.” “What was he winking at me for?” demanded Burnham heatedly. “Have you”— “Oh!” Roland laughed. “He wasn’t winking. He can't help doing that It’s a twitchin' he’s got in his eye. That’s why they call him Blinky.” “Oh. that was it!” Burnham accepted the explanation with distinct relief, while Duncan, who had been an unregarded spectator, suddenly found cause to retire behind one of the showcases on imi>ortant business. So that was the explanation! After his paroxysm had subsided and he felt able to control his facial muscles Duncan emerged suave and solemn. Roland had disappeared with Blinky. and Burnham was alone. “Anything you wish, sir?’ asked “Only to see Mr. Graham.” “He's out just at present, but I ’ think he'll be back in a moment or so. Will you wait? You’ll find that chair I tbink.” “Believe I Will." said Bumham, with an air. He seated himself. “I can't wait long? though.” he amended. • “Yes. sir. And if you’ll excuse me”— Horn ham's band dismissed him with « tolerant wave. “Go right on about

yotir business," he said, with supreme condescension And Duncan returned to his work in the back yard. It wasn't long before he found occasion to go back to the store, and by that time old Sam was there in conversation with Burnham. “That's part of my business," he heard Burnham say in his sleek, oleaginous accents “Sometimes 1 pick up an odd. no ’count contraption* that makes me a bit of money, and more times I’m stung and lose on it. There might be something to this gas burner of yours, and again there mightn't I’ve been thinking I might be willing to risk a few dollars on it if we could come to terms." “Do yon mean it really?” said old Sam eagerly “Not to invest in it. so to speak; I don't think its chances are strong enough for that But if you'd care to sell the patent outright and aren't too ambitious we might make a dicker What d' you say?" “Why, yes." said Graham, quivering with anticipation “Yes. indeed, if”— “Well?” “If you really think It's worth anything. sir." Burnham laughed doubtingiy and said: “Well, as 1 say. there's no telling, but I was thinking about it at dinner, and I sort of concluded I'd like to own

that burner, so I made but a little bill of sale, and I says to myself, says I, ‘lf Graham will take for that patent I’ll give him spot cash, right in his hand.’ says 1.” With this Burnham tipped back In his chair and brought forth a wallet from which he drew a sheet of paper and several bills. “Five hundred dollarsf repeated Graham, thunderstruck by this munificence. “Yes, sir, five hundred, cash. To tel! you tbe truth—guess you don’t know It—l heard at the bank that they didn’t intend to extend the time on that note of yours, and 1 thought this five hundred would come in handy and kind of wanted to help you out Now. what do you say?" He flourished the bills under Gra ham’s nose and waited, entirely at ease as to his answer. “Well.” said tbe old man. “it Is kind of you, sir—very kind Everybody’s been good to me recently, or else I’m dreamin'.” ; “Then it’s a bargain?” “Why. I hope It won’t lose any money for you. Mr Burnham." Sam

hesitated, with his ineradicable sense of fairness and square dealing. “Making gas from crude oil ought to”— Duncan never beard tbe end of thht speech. For some moments he bad been listening intently, trying to recol lect something. The name of Biirnham plucked a string on the instrument of bis memory. He knew be

had beard it some place, some time tn the past, but bow or when or in respect to what be could not make up his mind. It had required Sam’s reference to gas and crude oil to close the circuit. Then he remembered Kel logg bad mentioned a man by the name of Burnham who was “on the track oty an important Invention for making gas from crude oil. This must be rbe man Burnham, the tracker, and poor old Graham must be the tracked Without warning Duncan ran round and made himself an uninvited third to the conference. ■ “Mr. Graham, one moment. 1 ” he beg ged. excited “Is this patent of yours 1 on a process of making gas from crude oil?" Burnham looked up impatiently, frowning at the interruption, but Gra bam was all good humor “Why. yes,” he started to explain; "It's that burner over there that”— “But I wouldn't sell it just yet if I were you.” said Nat “It may be worth a g<iud deal”— “Now. look here!" Rum ham got to his feet in anger. “What business have you got butting into this?" he demanded, putting himself between Duncan and the inventor “Me?’ Duncan queried simply. "Only just because I’m a business man. If you don’t believe It ask Mr. Graham." “He’s got a perfect right to advise me. Mr Burnham.” interjtosed Graham, rising. “Well, but—but what objection vt you got to his making a little mtney out of this patent?” Burnham blus tered “None, only 1 want to lock into the matter first. I think it might be—ah—advisable.” “What makes you think so?” demanded Burnham. his tone withering “Well,” said Nat, with an effort summoning his faculty's to cope with a matter of strict business, “it’s this way. I’ve got an idea.” he said, poking at Burnham with the forefinger which had proved so effective with Pete Willing, “that yon wouldn't offer 500 iron men for this burner unless you expected to make something big out of it. and It ought to be worth just as much to Mr Graham as to you,” “Ah. you don’t know what you’re talking about." “1 know that.” Nat admitted simply, “but I do happen to know you’re promoting a scheme for making gas from crude oil. and If Mr. Graham will listen to me you won’t get his patent until I’ve consulted my friend Henry Kellogg." “Kellogg!" “Yes. You know—of LJ. Bartlett & Co.” Nat’s forefinger continued to do deadly work. Burnham backed away from it as from a fiery brand. “Oh, well.” he said, dashed, “if you’re representing Kellogg”—and Nat took care not to refute the implication—“l —1 don’t want to Interfere. Only.” he pursued at random in his discomfiture. “I can't see why he sent you here." “I'd be ashamed to tell you.” Nat returned with an open smile “Better ask him " Rurnhnm . gathered his wits tosrethofvr a final threat “That’s what I will dor he threatened. “And I’ll do It the minute 1 can see him. You can bet on that. Mr What’s-your-name!” “No. I can’t.” said Nat naively. “I’m not allowed to gamble." His ingenuous expression exasperated Burn ba tn The ma n lost control of his tetu|»er at the same moment that he acknowledged to himself his defeat In disgust he turned away. “Oh. there’s no use talking to you”— “That’s right.” Nat agreed fairly. **But I’ll see you again. Mr. Graham”— ' ’ — —- “Not alone, if I can help it, Mr Burnham." Duncan amended sweetly. “But.” Burnham continued, severely Ignoring Nat and addressing himself squarely to Graham, “you take my tip and don't do any business with this fellow until you find out who he is.” He filing himself ouf of the shop with a barked ■'Good day!" “Well. Mr Graham?” Duncan turned a little apprehensively to the inventor. “Margaret Used to talk that way sometimes.", he remarked. “She was the best woman in the world—and the wisest She Used to take care of me and protect me from my foolish impulses. just as you do. my boy.” For a space Duncan kept silent, respecting the old man’s memories and a great deal humbled tn spirit by the parallel Sam had drawn. Then. “I was afraid what I said would sound queer to you. sir." he ventured-“that you mightn't understand that I'm not here to do you out of your invention." - “There’s nothing on earth, my boy” —Graham's hand fell on Nat’s arm—“that could make me think that But SSOO. you s«>e. would have repaid you for taking up that note, and—l could have bought Betty a new dress for the party Bnt I’m sure you've done what’s best You're a business man”— • “Don't!" Nat pleaded wildly. “I’ve been called that so much of late that : it’s beginning to hurt!” The old man turned away sadly, lighted a candle and went down into the cobwebby cellar to patch a broken window (To 1 Be Continued.)

“I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT AT DINNER.”

THE OLD MAN LIGHTED A CANDLE.