The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-22
were finished and drying in the

q thousand were finished and drying in tn
7 yard.
! There stood Richard Miller, gazing upo
, his invention. 1t was the full realizato
of his dream in its mnutest particulars.
, was the happiest moment Of bis life. II
; was just on the point of Offering the righ
, of making and vending the machine in tn
: United States to the highest bidder, wher
an old Yankee tapped him on the shoulder
"Young man." said he, sthat's YER
good machine Of yours, but l see where
very important improvement can be made
} Under such circumstances, will give yol
fifty thousand dollars for your right, it'll
and interest in it,"
Miller grasped one Of the levers of hi
machine 70 keep him from falling. No! i
could not be; the whole thing must be
, continuation OF the brick yard dream.
How much did you say ?" asked Miller
in doubt.
"Fiftythousandr' said the man evidently
ready to increase the amount if Miller de.
mandcd /.
"Pll ake itH' gasped the inventor, who
still coud not believe the evidence of bis
senses. =.
..T,en come with me-"
\ few minutes more, and they were on
.neir way to Philadelp phia; and in crossing
the river, Richard Miller paid the last six
pence he had in the world, for ferriage.
Once arrived in the city, they went directly
to the Office of lawyer, where the necessary
papers, full assignment, were drawn up
Miller all the while doubling the possibility
Of the man having anything like the am mount
he offered but be still resolved in his mind
that he was safe if he got but single thou
sand in case. and the balance in worthless
promissory notes. At length, the sssigp-
ment was finished and signed, and the man
handed Miller check payable at one of the
principal banks, for the entire amount, on
the back of which the attorney certified to
Miller being the owner of the check.
The patentee was still incredulous but
satisfied that if the check was WORTHLESS, it
would be evidence of fraud, and the sale not
valid, the papers were exchanged, and he
left the office. lie ha.tened to the bank,
and presented his check to the paying teller.
| That gentleman scrutinized it moment,
and then asked how he would have it.
| Richard Miller was again nonplussed. He
stood like statue gazing upon the teller
until the question was repeated.
"Gold and silver - said Richard.
"Gold and silver"' said the teller in sur
! prise-''hayc you drayi'
Beg your PARDON" said Miller. let
me have bag Of thousand dollars in gold
and silver, and the balance in bank notes!''
A bag with that amount in mixed coin
was soon placed before him, and forty nine
! packages of one thousand each were laid on
the counter. Miller had by this time in a
measuee regaIned selE- possession, and after
stuHng the notes in his pocket, he shoul-
dered his bag of coin and left the bank.
As soon as he saw an omnibus. ne hailed
it, and rode to within two squares of his
home. When be reached the latter he stag
gered in beneath his load, and walking
directly to the bed, be emptied the bag OF
glIttering coin upon it, to the infinite amaze
ment of his wife. But what was her aston
shment when he drew from his pockets
package after package of bank notes. lie
contained himself until be had thrown the
last package upon the bed, when he gave
way to the widest and most extravagant
feelings.
ella ha har he laughed hysterically-
"my drenln is out! The machine works
Fifty thousand Ila. ha!"
Then snatching up his child, he continued
pacing the room
"My boy you are no hcggar! Fifty thou
sand ha ha -
In this way he rarcd, shouted and stamped
Large heads Of perspiratlon stood upon his
brow, his face looked haggari, and his eyes
had the wild glare of a maniac. In vain
his wife lr!cd to calm his agitation; he raved
until he ruptured a blood vessel. He sank
down in his chair with his child in his arms
the blood cnshing from his nose and mouth
He drew back his head to indulge in another
hysterio0l laugh, but it was checked with q
gurgling noise, and the next moment Rich
ard Miller was a corpse! His spirit hac
passed away, in the language of Longfel
low