The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-09-26


norvously at him, suddenly e1claim-
ing as his eye lighted up:
"Good heavens, Mr.. Stanmore, is
this actually you?"
''Yes," replied Stanmore. cit is
some time since we met, Mellor, and
until you spoke, wasn't quite GER
tain"
II know, l know" interrupted the
other, glancing at his worn, almost
tattered garments. "Most Of nv old
friends have some difficulty in recog.
niziEg me, but you were never one of
tbat kind, Stanmore. When man is
down in his luck, there are few who
remember him"
II am sorry to hear that you are
down in your luck. Didn't that patent
turn out all you expected?"
A wan smile Illuminated Mellor's
face for a moment. Switch patent,
Stanmore?" he asked.
"Some railway appliance, wasn't it ?
You expected to nuke great fortune
ont of it, don't you remember"
"Ah, that one. Is it then so long
since we met? wouldn't have be-
]leved it. How time does fly! Yes,
that was q great invention" he added
with q sigh. ''But l never could get
anyone to look into it. 1t would have
made several fortunes, if I could only
have gotten it fairly tried, but brides
were required and, as usual, I had no
money, nor could get the ear of any
man of influence. I have never yet
had q fair chance, Stanmore, and am
beginning to fear [ never shall"
"Has the patent run out, them"
"Oh, it never got SO far as patent.
ing A patent does not require much
money, but it was always more than I
could ever scrape together at one
time; I have inv: / I'd, ID cas;ay things kings
since then, BUT am q man who has
never had chance, and I am begin
ming to lose heart now"
If wish l were RICH" said Stan
more, 81 would then give you a chance
on at least one invention"
"You are rich enough" cried the
other eagerly, "to do me one favor.
You are evidently on your way to
lunch. Ask me to have something to
eat"
lyon don't mean to say, Mellor,
that you Come along with me to the
club"
81 am not dressed for the club,
Stanmore. Take me somewhere else. y
After lunch the two men talked to-
gether. Stapmore, as the prosperous
man of the two, naturally took il
upon himself to offer advice, Us we'll as
coffee.
"Haven't you had enough OF this
sort OF lie, Mellor? Why not give il
up, and get some regular employment
that will at least keep YOU from
starvation, aud give up thus Intellectual
dreaming OF fortunes? Remember,
not one invention in thousand sue
ceeds, even when the invento: gets
someone to back him."
"Shell sell myself as packhorse !?
cried Mellor. who, being fed, had re-
gained his normal enthusiasm, "wher
! know that I have the capabilities
of making a thousand men rich:
There are honest laborers in plenty,
but yon must not forget. Stanmore,
although you have paid for my lunch,
that / am one man in q million. Ne
amount of disaster will ever drive that
knowledge from my brain. know it,
I tell you, and I shall yet meet the
man whom / will convince; but even
if die in the gutter, I shall die as
confident in myself Us | am at::this mo
ment."
''You always were confident enough,
but what has it all amounted top
Nothing, I grant you-so far. But
the time will come. You spoke 6
while since OF my railway Invention
That would nave taken much money tc
develop. and it is now superseded, but
it was great in its time. have now
an invention that, if once put on the
market, would soon be used in every
household. 1t is as perishable as soa1
and as indispensable and as cheap
That is the kind of thing out OF which
immense fortunes are made. Nov,
how much do you imagine stands be
tween me and success? A beggarly
$40. If l had Gao in my hand to-day
would use the first five of it to gel
me decent suit Of clothes, new ha'
and pair OF boots; the rest woulc
make me millionaire.
"You would certainly be sure O.
your out6:, but I should doubt the
rest"
"Did you ever gamble, stanmore?
IL never did"
IL thought not. Then you must
have a little money in your possession.
Gamble on me to the extent of G4O. II