Chapter I: Front Matter

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The Invention Series

CARL AND THE COTTON GIN

by

SARA WARE BASSETT

With Illustrations by William F. Stecher

Boston Little, Brown, and Company 1924

Copyright, 1924, by Little, Brown, and Company. All rights reserved

Published September, 1924

Printed in the United States of America

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I THE MCGREGORS 1

II CARL TELLS A STORY 17

III A TRAGEDY 31

IV PROBLEMS 45

V A TANGLE OF SURPRISES 60

VI THE WEB WIDENS 71

VII THE COMING OF THE FAIRY GODMOTHER 79

VIII THE ROMANCE OF COTTON 97

IX NORTH AND SOUTH 112

X A LESSON IN THRIFT 124

XI A FAMILY CONGRESS 140

XII A CLUE 160

XIII HAL REPEATS HIS VISIT 180

XIV SPINNING YARNS 193

XV TIDINGS 219

XVI A RELUCTANT ALTRUIST 228

XVII AN ORDEAL 237

XVIII THE SOLUTION OF MANY MYSTERIES 250

XIX UNRAVELING THE SNARLS 259

ILLUSTRATIONS

"MR. CARL MCGREGOR," ANNOUNCED HE IN A STENTORIAN TONE _Frontispiece_

_Page_

"THE COTTON IS SENT TO FACTORIES TO BE GINNED" " 129

"BUT THAT ISN'T OUR BASKET, MOTHER," CARL SAID. "THIS IS MUCH BIGGER" 155

"I'VE HUNTED FOR YOU AND YOUR RED CAR EVER SINCE" 253

CARL AND THE COTTON GIN