Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 1 — page 49: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BIG IDEA. - “How could you control it?” “Like you said—with air. That part, it’s all right. But the heat you don’t pipe up—that’s bunk. You pipe up the gases from the coal—the products of combustion that are only part used, and you bum them in the regenerator furnace. be you could get very good _pro- ducer gas. How could I tell till I work it out? Maybe producer gas forty-five per cent combustible—how could I tell?” The chemist here plunged into a long dissertation of an exceedingly technical na- ture, which Mr. Leffingwell Hope, even though he had some knowledge of the types of furnaces used by the, Wentworth Com- pany, followed with difficulty. But the gist of it was, he gathered, that in all prob- ability the idea could be worked out to a practical conclusion. finished, waxing enthusiastic as he devel: oped his thoughts by voicing them: .“ He was just the baby to work it out, if there was enough money in it for him.” ‘“ That’s where I come in,” said the sec- retary. ‘I’ve doped out the idea—now you work it out. -P’ll see we get the money —we'll split it fifty-fifty!”’ ‘Vou could consider it done. told it to the boss?” “No, certainly not. I want it in good shape first. That’s why I told you it was a matter demanding secrecy. I haven’t told it to any one—only you.” Mr. Hope thought a moment. “ How about some other company than this one—would that be better, do you think?”’ The chemist considered. ‘ What it saves is only part of the cost of coal,” he said finally. ‘It ain’t that every factory what you tell it to right away breaks its neck to move to where the coal is.” “But it’s particularly good for the Wentworth Company, you mean?” ‘For them when they use so much fuel, and because, don’t you know about the new plant what they expect to put up next year? For them it would be a good thing.”’ Mr. Merkle referred to the fact that the Wentworth Company was considering the building of another factory for the making of optical glass. For some months they had been looking for a good location, one Have you May-- And as Mr. Merkle, preferably where they could use natural gas for fuel. | |“ T know,” said Mr. Hope. ‘“ These new gas babies’ at McKeesport got Mr. Went- worth interested last winter. But I heard him say he had about given up that lo- cality as a possibility.” Merkle nodded. ‘“ Your idea beats that,” he said definitely. ‘ You could pick up a coal: property cheap—where the coal was so deep you couldn’t mine it with profit.” ‘Then we'll put it through with Went- worth,” Mr. Hope announced with finality. ‘You work it out—how long will it take?” ‘A month or two. Maybe more. You know it, Leff, I’m busy now.” “You rush it through. I’ll do the rest. Let me know how you get on. And keep your mouth shut.” | “You could count on me,” said Mr. Merkle. 6 It was a big thing! All the way home that evening, the secretary’s heart beat fast at the thought of how big it was. A for- tune in his grasp at last! would give him Estelle! And no one to divide the money with except Merkle, and probably he could think of some way of getting rid of him at the last. A fortune for himself! Riches—the greatest thing in the world! CHAPTER V. JIMMY FINDS A FRIEND. IMMY got his job. He wouldn't have, probably, except for the fact that his message from Mr. Hope enabled him to get an interview with Mr. Cooper, during the course of which Jimmy convinced the office manager that he was an extremely in- telligent and likable young man. Since he had no business experience whatever, all Mr. Cooper could think of to give him was a sort of glorified office-boy job, at a sal- ary of fourteen dollars a week. | Jimmy didn’t keep that job very long. ‘Within a month he convinced the office manager that he could dictate business let- ters, and that his judgment on things he un- derstood could be trusted. Also, Jimmy cCoOmiclboooks 39. A fortune that - C©