The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-12-20


keenly.
"oh, alb, OF course" he remarked
carelessly. you've come to speak to
me about that fancy Of yours In con-
nection with the dynamo. eh, my
many'
Il hone and believe that It is some
thing more than fancy, sir" replied
Steele. speaking in low. firm tone;
but you shall see for yourself"
Mr.. Philip Headstone whistled few
bars from an opera which he had
heard on the previous evening and then
drew forth his cigar case.
..Tire away. my good chap" he SAID
as he lit the weed. but don't be longer
than you can help, for ! have to be IN
the city IN an hours time"
"Ten minutes will suffice. sir, to
show you all there is to See
"Good. Brcvity is the soul Of speclh-
cations. eli? But. first Of all. before
glance at the papers, let me hear your
verbal description Of your master
piece"
steele did not appreciate the banter
ing tone in which the young man
spoke. but naturally he could not very
well critlcise his employers words. He
therefore held his peace for moment
and then proceeded to explain In few
well chosen words the details OF his
scheme.
ucadstone's eyes gllstened with
amascment as the marvellous plan was
unf,Ided to him. for his quick percep-
ton took in the fact that this obscure
workman had solved ut last the prob
lem which the worlds wisest electri-
clans had been unable ito solve, the
production of electrical power ut mimi
tesimal cost. But he checked the en-
thusiastic praises that lowered on his
lips, for already a subtle plan was ger
initiating in his brain. and too much
enthusiasm might be fatal to It's work
ing.
He therefore merely nodded his head
in careless fas'.,on opined that there
might lie some; ..ing In the idea. though
1t was just tribe fantastic"-and then
turned 10 examine the drawings and
specifications which Steele had placed
upon the table. Having inspected
these documents for some little time,
he glanced hurriedly Mt his watch.
81 must be of now he cried abrupt
~. .Just leave ME these papers, and
I'll look into them this evening at
home"
Before Steele could utter word OF
remonstrance he had bounced on his
hat. gathered up the papers and thrust
them into the breast pocket Of his
frock coat Following him to the door,
the inventor calculated hastily:
But surely. sir, you cannot do any
thing with them IN the city. Let me
have them back now. and Twill tie
them up in readiness for your return
to the works."
"dy good man. don't intend return
ing to the works this afternoon. I'm
going straight home after l leave the
city, Come. su'ely you can trust your
employer, can't your
Without waiting for an answer to
this ironically phrased question the
young man larted down the staircase
and hailed a passing hanson. Steele
slowly returned to his workshop, his
brow wrlnkled with thought.
"He didn't seem to think much Of the
idea" he pondered. land yet he ap-
pearcd In violent hurry to collar the
papers. However, it'll be all right, of
course"
But had John Steele been privileged
to follow the progress of Philip Head
stones hansom he would not have
comforted himself with the assurance
that everything was "all right" for
Headstoue drove straight to the ONCE
of well known patent agent and,
thrusting the specifications and draw
ings Of the dynamo into that gentle
mans hands, ordered him to take out
protection for the apparatus without q
moments delay in his name.
In other words. the junior director OF
Bradley. Headstone & Co., limited,
was an unprincipled scoundrel. and he
had stolen the invention confded to
him BY his employee.
o. .
Next morning Steele went straight to
the boardroom and asked Headstone
for his decision regarding the appara-
tus. The latter stared at him with an
admirable assumption Of amazement.
ITO what papers do you refer. my
MANI" he inquired coolly. "Upon my
word cannot imagine what you are
driving at.
Steele gazed at him in hopeless
amazement.
.Are you Joking, sirf" he asked
thickly as a mighty terror begun to
SILVER through his being. Surely you
must remember that handed you yes
terday morning all the papers connect
ed with my invention"
II remember nothing ,of the sort. You: