The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-02-13
POWERBYS
ADVENTURE.


Powerby-that's not his real name,
but 1t will serve for the purpose of
this story-is the executive head of
great manufacturing corporation. He
started in at S. week as a shop boy
and now he is drawing $4,000 per
year, with the prospect of an increase
II times keep on getting better for the
company. His rise was altogether due
to his mechanical ingenuity, with
which was combined a rare faculty for
managing men. He had progressed so
far on his upward career as to be in
charge of one department of the works
when he was coming from the mills
one day to eat his noon dinner at his
home. He bumped up against a ''con"
man, whose star game was a variation
Of the ancient lock swindle. Poverty
was not wearing much besides his
working clothes, and few streaks of
grease marked his hands and gar
ments. The fellow who was looking
for easy money picked him out for a
victim and approached him with the
smile that is burned into tintype photo
graphs.
Now, my fritnd," the stranger said,
you look like a mechanic and I'm sure
you will be interested in one of the
most remarkable puzzles Of the age.
1t is this little lock which hold in
my hand. 1t seems easy to open, but
Just as you think you have solved the
mystery you are due for another guess
I will show you how nice can handle
It,"
His interest in peculiar mechanism
being excited, Poverty took close
look at the ''con" man while he locked
and unlocked the little piece Of metal.
doesn't seem to be difficult" said
Poverty.
Eyes, but it is," said the operator
airy it,"
Poverty tried and the lock few open
easily enough, just as the "con" man
had intended it should. Poverty lock-
ed and unlocked it several times and
handed 1t back to the owner with the
remark that it would take more than
that to bother him. The "con" man
made a few passes over it, asserted
that he had got it fixed now and offer
ed to bet Poverty anywhere from SIS
to 500 that he couldn't open it again
I'm a church member and it's
against my principles to take money
from the poor,'' was Powerby's reply.
At this moment the confederate
came along the street. He inquired his
way to a certain railroad station and
was about to pass on when the man
with the lock said: This gentleman
and myself were having a little dis
cussion about this lock. He says that
he can open 1t without any trouble
and l say that he cannot Just watch
the proceedings for a few minutes If
you are not in a hurry to catch your
train.
AS a matter of course the third man
opened the lock and then the inevitable
betting proposition came up. The lock
man offered to put up $40 that he could
@<Oe w ~ ot,oihy anu WllCu lie WAGER
was accepted the confederate insisted
that Poverty should hold the stakes.
The lock quickly few open for the
third man and Poverty handed him
the $40. Thereupon the "con" man de-
clared he couldn't understand it, but
he demanded satisfaction and the con.
federate agreed to a bet of $25 a side.
This time the lock man won, and then
he turned to Poverty. Now" he
said, you were smart enough to work
1t before, but I'll bet you $50 that it
will fool you now"
Done" replied Poverty. He had
caught the trick of the mechanism and
opened the lock without an instant's
hesitation. Just as the confederate,
who had been stakeholder, was produc-
ing the bills fourth man came up and
demanded to be told what the trio
were doing. He got an answer that
Il was none of his business and a