Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-07-11
room, Mrs. Smith, and leave the kitchen

| would be as light, and the a-cakes as
delicately favored, as if she herself had
made them. So heartfelt was her graft
tude, that half an hour later, when they
had exhausted the subject of city life,
the neighbors, and piecing bed quilts,
she surprised her cousin by waxing
eloquent over Polly, Polly's father and
Polly's wrongs. 1t took nearly an hour
to tell the story, allowing for the inter-
ruptions occasioned by little Effie, who
was of an inquiring disposition; but Mrs.
Latham was interested, and listened de.
lightedly.
"And wouldn't it be surprise to
everybody if her fathers inventions did
turn out to be worth something, after
alls" she exclaimed. 'sThings like that
have happened. Tread of man of that
kind getting twenty-five thousand dollars
for patent once"
"He WON'T" declared Mrs. Smith,
shortly. "We used to think about it at
first Qook out, child, don't drop that
vase); but there's ben more than dozen
come to look at his inventions, different
times, and they all agreed they want
worth the stuff that was put in them."
''I suppose they ought to know" re-
luctantly admitted Daniels wife. ("Etfie,
dear, don't cut holes in the sofa. I'm
afraid Cousin Ann won't like it.'') And
Daniel says that there isn't one thing out
OF Il thousand like that that pays. But
| always think of what might happen.
And you know there is a chance"
Mrs. Smith tiptoed to the kitchen
door.
"Pollys a good girl to work, if
nothing else," she declared, coming back
well pleased with the " of the creamy
custard and nicely J.. ,wned biscuit.
"She's as quick as flash of light
ming"
"Yes, and so handsome" chirruped
Mrs. Latham. ''If she was only as rich
as some of the girls that"
Mammal it was a wild shrek of
terror and pain. Effie, in her endeavor
to find out where the smoke went, had
stood too close to the open fireplace, and
her thin muslin apron was in blaze.
"Help! Save her! Water! Where's
the water9 Oh, my baby, my baby!"
shrieked the frantic mother, at that in
slant hardly less sane than the child, who
was running wildly about the room.
Mrs. Smith rushed into the kitchen,
screaming as she went: "Fire! Help!
Fire, She's burning to death!' -e 3
"Who?" gasped Polly, dropping her
armful of wood with crash. The next
instant, before Mrs. Smith had time to
realize her purpose, she had rushed into
the other room, caught the frantic child,
and wrapped her in her woolen dress
skirt. 1t was only for one minute. In
the next, Mrs. Smith had deluged them
with water, Polly was ruefully regarding
her burned hands, and the fire was out.
But that minute made the inventors
daughter the heroine of Scrogsville.
They talked about it at the store, and
the sewing society, and on their way to
church. The weekly paper devoted half
a column to a description of the Incl
sented her with copy of "Les Misera-
bles" as testimonial of her valor and
AS for Effies father-''I'm not
a rich man" the big, broad shouldered
mechanic declared, when his wife, with
the tears running down her cheeks, told
him the story, ''but some way or other
I'll try to make up to that girl for what
she's done for us. If there's anything in
her fathers inventing that any amount of
my work can fix into paying him ordi-
nary day wages for the time he's spent on
It, I'll find it. And what's more, he
won't have to reckon with anything but
the gross proceeds. The expenses I'll
pay out of my own pocket"
And that was how the investigation
commenced. From the first Scrogsville
people did not put much faith in it. 1t
was a very thorough one. All John
Spriggs inventions, brought from garret,
toreroom aud barn, were examined,
AIKEN to pieces, studied, put together
lgain, turned this way and that, and ex-
,erimented with in every possible COM
,ination. But the more Mr.. Latham
worked the less hopeful he became.
And after week of patient labor he was
orced to agree with the others who had
ried that "the inventions want worth
he stuff they were made off," He came
nto the Spriggs's kitchen that day look
ng rather crcstfallen.
''No; there's nothing in them," he
aid, in answer to Polly's inquirlng
glance. "Nothing that l can find, and
used to call myself good hand at that
ort of thing. 1t cant be helped. But
wish l hadn't said anything about it
low."
John Spriggs looked up from his work
With reassuring smile. He had been
he least interested of any in the in
"Oh, you needn't be-" he
cheerfully. 1T was very
ind of you, very kind of you; but it's
lardly to be expected you'd find any
hing of consequence in these old con-
rivances of mine. Now, this weaving
Machine, when get the idea worked
ut, Mr.. Latham, / wouldn't take twenty
i've thousand dollars for the patent"
Daniel rubbed his head. ''I s'p'ose |
lot, sir. You-you won't mind accept |
ng little money from me, Miss Polly, |