Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-12-01
A PATENT ELOPEMENT.


7 ..Happy to give 1t, sir. If can be Of
any use to the world at large by my
! knowledge of science
'Or make your fellow beings happy,
you're ready to sacrifice your valuable
time-eh, Mr. ?" insinuated Bob.
Certainly, sir"
tsYou can-you can, believe me, sir, I"
asseyerated the wicked conspirator,
earnestly and truthfully. "Have you a
rake%
| "Yes."
.I'Il help you bring It out here, and
| we'll make trial trip Of this wonder
| full machine"
A few minutes later the farmers hay
rake was brought out. Bob made
much ado of fastening it by rope to
the rear of the vehicle, and the farmer
watched him curiously, as he turned
the wheels and adjusted the hose to
| what he called position.
"This hose is an air brake, sir. The
idea is, If we can make it do SO, to have
the rake operate as usual. The air
brake might offer resistance to the
ground, push forward the front vehicle,
and ventilate the hay. Man and brute
creation demand air-why not We
hiclesY'
"Quite true" replied Jabez, some
what dubious and perplexed over the
apparent uselessness of the machine.
Utility and nonrefragibility, Mr..
Smith," ratified on Bob, recklessly.
1.-THE hypothenuse of the curve of the
diameter of the axle, you perceive. has
circumferential effect upon the
spheroid concavity of the brake. You
/ will understand these terms, Mr..
Smith, as mathematician and scient-
ist. All ready?"
Farmer Smith, overcome by the lofty
words, obeyed mutely, as Bob requested
him to get into the rake seat.
.'I'n drive the preliminary vehicle y
explained Bob, with a serene chuckle
at the fun of his oratory, "and you will
watch the effect of the air brake-if
the friction of the wheels generates all
over yonder stretch of meadow. By
the way, is one of your hands around p
They've gone to town." replied
Jabez, blumly.
He had a vague consciousness that
the stranger was a charlatan, for he
could not for the life of him see what
possible use the clumsy combination
Of wheels and hose could be.
"Ah, there's young lady! Your
daughter, Mr.. Smith. presume?' said
Bob, raising his hat politely. ''There
must be more weight on the seat of the
front vehicle. If you'll let her take hel
seat beside me, in the interests Of sci
ence, Mr.. Smith, %
He almost lost his dignified gravity
as he saw the suspicious look on the old
farmers face.
The last words, sin the interests OF
science" however, decided Mr.. Smith
"Jump in. Alice" he said. desper
ately.
The stranger whipped up the horse
Old Jabez. in the rake-seat behind
clung on wildly as the horse was driven
briskly. He almost fell forward as
there was a break caused by the rope
parting. Bob had deftly cut 1t with q
knife.
Hold on-hold onv' cried old Jabez
as the new motor-power vehicle dashed
forward.
He stared blankly as 1t traversed the
field, made sharp turn to the road
and, gracefully rounded a curve In
the highway, disappeared from view.
What did 1t mean? The boys had
taken the horses to town, and he could
not start in pursuit; but he grew
white as he discerned a fact:
He had been tricked!
He had cooled down considerably
when, at nightfa1l, a carriage drew uI
before the gate.
/ He looked grimly up from beneath
his shaggy eyebrows as Leslie Austir
and pretty, blushing Alice came for
ward.
Bob, following them. was the frs
to speak.
'The new motor power took up a new
passenger down the road, Farmer
Smith," he said. SHY. "You wanted
to make mankind happy, neighbor-
you've done it"
Jabez made a feint to declare hos
tilities, then and there, against the con
spirators, but he sank back disarmet
in his chair as the gentle voice of hi
wife said, pleadingly:
Forgive them, father-they are 81
happyp'
And Farmer Smith had not the hear
to say nay.