Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-08-05
I" MILLIONS IN IT."
STRUGGLEs'S GREAT INVENTION.

| met Struggles on the street yes.
terday, and no asked me as usual,
for quarter. His face, however,
wore cheerful look, thing | had
not seen for long time. Had it
not been for his asking the loan, l
should have almost thought that the
good luck that he was always sure
was near at hand, had at last materi-
allied. l asked him no questions,
for, as he was laxative, | knew it
would soon come out.
81 want to tell you a good joke"
he said, gayly.
"All right" l said.
Gibson-you know Gibson-ac-
tually refused to lend me ten dol
lars"
did not see any joke about that,
and told him so.
Let it go, them" he said, lightly,
and broke out with " How would
you like to travel?"
Where 2"
" Everywhere; all over Europe-
with me-be introduced to the ma
bobs as the friend of the greatest
of American inventors 2"
THAT would be grand. Thank
you, old friend. When do we start ="
Just three months after get my
invention before the general public,
The returns will be quick and enor-
NOUS. Millions in it -! The express
sion isn't original, but it is very fit
ting"
! didn't ask what his invention
was; | knew there was no need of
my doing so.
Have you got half an hour to
spare"
"Oh, yes" | answered.
"And couple of nickels for nv
car fare down to my room 2" he
asked.
nodded assent, and he hailed a
car, which we soon boarded. Later,
he showed me up several flights of
stairs, and into rather shabby
apartment.
1t would seem rather strange -
Struggles said, :" if in years to come,
hundreds of my admirers should
climb up here to visit the room
where the greatest invention of the
age had been wrought out, wouldn't
| it ?''
| admitted the reasOnableness of
the remark, and looked around the
room To discover any signs Of mech
anism belonging to the wonderful in
vcntiOn, but failed to see anything
of the kind. | did, however, sec
something which made me start {
little, Struggles being bacelor. L
was lady'a hat. AS l discovered
this, gave my friend an inquirins
glance, and instepd Of being embar
rassed, IA 1 anticipated he would
his face frightened up as he said:
That, sir, is the invention"
Ventured to remark that a LADY,
hat was not exactly a new idea, bu
Struggles gave me a really pityin
look as he took up the headgear an
at once began to unfold to my aston
ished eyes and understanding tn
= wonders Of its construction. Th
hat was a neat tasty affair, built low
+ and Struggles assured me it was COZ
rect in style. There were no flow
ers upon it, but ribbons of exquisil
shade and texture covered its su
face in an unObstructive way. | az
, mired it; l could not help doing s,
Just the thing for a theater {
concert" l ventured. Meat an
g unobstructive."
Struggles grasped my hand. "YC
have hit it exactly" he said.
Developments now began. TT
inventor placed that hat upon h
+ head. 1t didn't fit, but that didn
signify. After he had got the h
D.. properly adjusted, he placed h
thumb and finger upon what a
q peared to be small silver orname
q just above the wearer's ear, al
:. drew out a tiny transparent tub
the end of which he placed in /
O mouth. Presto, change! The
was a soft stir among the ribbor
n as if they were being famed by
spring zephyr, and then in gracei
O loops they began to rise. Again
~ gave gentle puff, and modest bu
n came peeping forth as if from sic
under their coverlets of silk.
Struggles paused here to let
admire the hat at this stage Of
A. development, and then with d
donable look Of triumph upon
9. face he gave one more puff.
n Ah, the change that came now
ia The loops Of ribbon were raised
v. an enormous elevation, and ca
g modest bud became a full bio
9. Hover! An exclamation of plea:
O. SURPRISE, which / could not repre-
r, came from my lips, and Struggl
a his face aglow with a white heat
enthusiasm, went on:
" "You have witnessed its beau
. understand now its utility. NV
4 . vention will be known as I" Str
Of gles's Initiating and Collapsing Tn
- tre and Concert Hat" Now wa
q very closely"
m Struggles now pushed the t
tube back into its former place, {
instantly ! saw his thin locks, VIII
lr- badly needed cutting-I thought
re my quarter-begin to gently agit,
- as If swayed by a summer me
We ing's breeze. Struggles assured
of that there were twelve small out
'or which distributed the escaping