Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-05-22

steps and up those Of his neighbor. The
bell rang; the door opened; Mr.. Poke
vanished from sight.
tfOh! hopes that you may never see |
him again, Miss Melinda" said Maggie, |
unable to repress her feelings.
''What a start you gave me, Maggie!'
said Miss Melinda; land what do you
mean ?''
ButMSggie made no answer.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Poke was shaking
hands with his neighbor.
t'I haven't the pleasure of knowing
your name, SIR" said he, 'Fbut thought
it my duty to call. Hope don't intrude.
am Mr.. Poke.''
mo, no-glad to see yOu,'' said the old
gentleman. s'Walk in, pray. Smith, my
name is.''
''Thank you, Mr.. Smith, 1 will,'' said
Priam, delighted with his success. ''And
I hear you are an inventor, sir.''
eyes, sir,'' replied the old gentleman.
"Any work in hand now? ?'' asked Priam-
"Any new Invention, sirf''
eyes, trife,'' replied Mr.. Smith.
"Would you like tolook atitf"
'sBetter and better,'' thought Priam.
Aloud he answered: 81 should feel much
pleasure in doing so.''
s'Come with me if you please" re-
sponded the old gentleman.
He led the way cellar-ward, Priam fol-
lowing. The cellar was not well lighted,
but there was a large object in one corner,
and something seemed to bubble and boil,
and fire cleaned dimly.
Priam put on his glasses.
ssMav ask you what it ?'' he said.
eyes, sir,'' replied the inventor. SIT is
a patent cremator."
ga patent creator ?" asked Priam. with
a vague remembrance of the atheistical
tendencies of his neighbor.
sfCremator, - corrected Mr.. Smith, F'You
know of course that many persons now-a-
days desire to have the bodies of their
friends reduced to ashes, instead of bury
ing them. They can then collect their
ashes in jar and preserve them in that
form, and graves and grave yards become
unnecessary"
stDear mel curious!' replied Priam.
ssI have heard of it, but can't say that [
like the notion.''
''Some persons do, though, - replied thu
inventor. f'There is a sale for the ere
: mator, and mine is a fine one. It is jus
completed. have only to procure body
: to tests its merits. Naturally am impa
. tient-very inpatient
At this point he paused. left Mr.. Poke
! side, locked the cellar door and put tn
! key in his pocket.
.'Bless me, what did you do that for p
calculated Mr.. Poke. Greatly, I've mad
= long CALI think must go.''
II esI have a proposition to make to you
: sfr,'' said Mr.. Smith, ''and want you t
: have time to think it over calmly. L coul
:. cremate living person as easily as deat
= one. If you'll step in I needn't wait fo
the body, and I'll send you to your siste
), in neat little pottery jar, with my ad
: vertisement on the lid.''
7 "He's crazy said Mr.. Poke to him
= self, s'and I shall lose my life.' Alou
he uttered the words: "Unlocl1 that doc
= this instant, sir.''
''You really object, then ?'' inquire
:. Mr. Smith.
: 'eYes, sir. Open that door," replied
= Mr.. Poke.
- In five minutes afterward, Maggie, t.
her great disappointment, saw Mr.. Pok
- fly out of his neighbours like an arro1
: from bow, and shortly after heard hin
: narrate his awful adventure to Mi9E. Ne
linda.
In course of time he related it to ever
i, one of his acquaintance, and it was onl
= when, six months after, Mr.. Smith, tn
inventor, gave his ''Patent Combinatio
a Washing Machine, Clothes Dryer an
:. Mangle'' to the world, that Mr.. Poke su:
! pected that his neighbor had played
20 trick upon him.