The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27
BY GEORGE eRAxrHax BArx.

Frederick Jameson was slowly learning
the uncertainties OF being az Inventor
Golden dreams of sudden fortune had been
floating through his mind since boyhood
His ready imagination not only helped
him In devtsing mechanical effects. but
built many air castles for him-dreams OF
quick prosperity based on his inventive
genius. He read the stories OF the great
inventors again and again. The patent at
torneys and their newspaper organs fed
his thoughts on glowing tales abou: the
man who had made his fortune out OF the
return ball and of others like HIN. Bus
though he spent all his savings from his
salary on lawyers fees and the making
OF mo iels, nothing that he did seemed at
all practicable. After a time he began 10
look into the Patent Office during the
noon6ay hour to study the flies and seek
ideas-for he lived in Washington. Once
or twice he had TO go 10 the Office Of The
Patent Commissioner for information. for
experience now enabled him to do for him
self much that he had once paid lawyers
to do.
All his inventions. he at last began 10
realize, had been worked out on the wrong
plan. There was only one way 10 make
invention profitable. one of the old dream
ers OF the model room told him one day.
that was to study what was wanted most
by people in everyday life or by great cSr-
porations in the prosecution Of their busi-
ness. and invent that He was on the
right track at last He had oeel study
ing electricity for a great many years at
a scientific school where he spent MS ev-
enings. Now, he had worked out the prob
lem OF the wireless telephone. This was
an object of universal need. Nations
would have TO use it-in business life 1t
would replace the old wire system. More
over, in the great cities 1t was the key TO
the overthrow of the great monopoly
which controlled the underground wires
A rival corporation would make him -ich
a soon as he could turn over the title 10
his invention.
Jameson waited impatiently for his ap-
plieation to go through. The proceedings
were unusually long. AT last he went 10
the Patent Office to inquire. To his con-
sternation he found that his application
had been anticipated by twenty-four
hours. and that the name of celebrated
inventor known TO be in the pay OF the
monopoly was attached to the applica-
ton. The Office stamp showed that MS
application had been reached in the reg
ular course after the other application,
and IL was, therefore. valueless. Halt
stunned with grief, he turned 10 go away.
As he was leaving the building woman
followed him down the hall and slipped
bit of paper into his hand. He reached
the desk of his employers office before he
read it. In fact, he quite forgot 1t until
he put his aching head in his hands and
felt the paper there.
"Be at the south entrance of the build
ing at o'clock Important business"
was what the paper said. jameson re-
membered the sweet-faced woman in the
Commissioner office who had often an
swered his inquiries. Nothing but busi-
ness communications had passed between
them, though more than once as his eyes
met hers he had wished that he knew her
in something other than business rela-
tion. Well. he thought, there was moth
ing sentimental in this scrap of paper
1t was something important. though, that
he should be at the entrance of the build
ing at the hour when she left her work.
Before he had time to speculate as to
the meaning of the message, letter was
brought in By a messenger. 1t was in a
plain envelope. He opened 1t and was
surprised to see the letter heading of the