Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-06-09
AN UNPATENTED METHOD.

A Traveller Who Believed in Helping Tbos
Who Helped Themselves.
There were half dozen drummer
on Pennsylvania train in Pennsylva
MIA headed toward Plttsburg, which il
also in Pennsylvania, and they wer,
talking about all manner of interesting
things, as drummers always do. Incl
dentally their stories run into the sub
lect of the sharpness of drummers ant
their proof against the wiles of tn,
wary.
(which reminds me-" remarked 6
good looking fellow from Philadelphia
that about two years ago right along
here l had an experience. There were
eight or ten Of us, and at Johnstowr
we were joined by modest and back
ward kind of chap from Chicago
everybody gave the talker the laugh
out he went on with his story-"whc
had line of patented things which be
was selling. When he got started he
seemed to be very intelligent, and he
had tue patent business down fine.
About fifty miles or 80 out of Pitts
burg plainly dressed, clean looking
party came into the car and took a
seat among us, for he seemed to be a
man who liked companionship. Later
it developed that the new man had a
patent car coupler aud was looking for
capital. The Chicago man, in line
with his interests in patents, at once
| began an investigation, and pretty
soon he reported that the inven ton was
good one. So good, in fact. that he
made date with the patentee to meet
him next day at his hotel in PIttsburg,
the inventor saying he lived in one of
the interior towns, and was stopping
with brother in the suburbs.
when the patentee left the train at
his suburban station we guyed the
Cnicago man good deal about rain.
DOW chasing and Uranks with patton rs
and other things on which sensible
people very often waste a lot of time.
"That's all right, he retorted. but
one OF these very articles am selling
now was offered to me just as this fell
low offered me his today, and turned
it down. l happen to know that at
present it pays my firm about $4,000
year net, which l might as we'll
nave had as they. Since that date, nv
dear boys, you bet don't give any
Kind OF patent chance to get by
me until see what it is.;''
HE talked on quietly and earnestly
and when we got off the train those of
us who could had agreed to meet the
patentee at the Chicago mans hotel
next dav, and those who could not be
present had proxy named to act in
case the patent proved to be good. It
did so prove, for there was no question
about Its mechanical excellence, and
when the meeting adjourned a com.
mittee had been appointed to draw up
papers, organize and get the new com.
pany in shape. Each of US put down
our names for 30 much stock, the
Chicago man subscribing to $500 worth
and putting the cash down for it. In
day or two there was SO 900 to our
credit in well known bank, and there
would have been a lot more if we had
followed the advice of the Chicago
man, who was our general manager
and treasurer, but we did not want to
divide our snap into too many parts.
and refused to receive further subscrip.
tions.
when this was fully settled the
three or four Of us still re m aiming in
town went ahead on our business, leay.
ing the Chicago man and the patentee.
whose patent had gone in as one third
OF the stock, in charge, to keep things
moving until the next meeting of di.
rectors, two weeks later.
but that meeting never came off.
was unexpectedly called back to
four days later, and had
to stop overa train in Pittsburg. When
bad transacted the firms business I |
thonght I'd just drop into the hotel
where our man was stopping and see
how things were. The clerk told me
both men had gone to Harrisburg on
business two days before, and had told
him to hold mail, kilograms, etc., as
they would be back in three days.
That's all he knew, and that's all
could find out then, as I had to hurry
On to Baltimore; but l wired man to
meet me at the train in Harrisburg
who was stockholder to the same ex.
tent was. he had seen neither of the
men.
=, But why go on with the sad story?
They had buncoed US; that was ali !
there was to 1t. 1t was easy, because
We were easy. They weren't so
'narp as we were 80 stupid, and there's
no telling how many suckers would
nave bitten II We had not been greedy
and shut the subscription books. They
took every cent we had in the hank.
and left us with all the bills to paw
which we paid rather from a sense Of
iuty than sense of indebtedness, and
% the chapter ended. "-Washington
Star.