The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-07-10
Observation-Disclosures !,
His Inventive Genius.

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Icopyright, 1902 by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
Johnny Bounce and were school
mates and fast friends. Johnny was
younger thln |, but stronger Every
boy who could lick me ayailed himself
of the opportunity just for the fun Of
il. johnny could lick most of them
and, noticing that needed a friend, be-
gan to lick every boy that licked me.
This had a wholesome effect, and |
was soon let alone. Indeed, l am not
sure that did not impose on some OF
them, knowing that dread of Johns
big fiat would deter them from giving
me deserved punishment.
When we left school to 90 out into
the world tive were pretty big boys
them said to John Bounce: "Johnny,
want you to understand that | owe
you n whole lot. If ever get a chance
to make stand Off for what you've
done for me, I'll do It,"
"Oh. you don't. owe me anything,
Tom" he said. "Besides, | guess wen
both get along pretty we'll"
i didn't see John after our parting
for years. Then one day man came
into my Office Of very forlorn appear
ance. put my fingers In my pocket
to get out 10 cents when ! noticed the
fellow looking ut me with n qulzalcal
expression.
"You don't know me, Tom?"
"No, don't"
I'm johnny Bounce"
My heart sank fof ! knew that the
world had been too much for John
However. / gave his hand a warm
grasp asked him TO sit down and tell
me what he had been doing. lie said
be hadn't had much success thus far
but he had irons In the fire" some Of
which he thought would pan out very
big. / had heard OF these 'irons" be-
fore In connection With men who had
lost their grip on the world and knew
that instead Of irons they were gases
But ] saw that John was sincere, so /
did not discourage him.
"You can't run a thing like that,
John" ! said, referring 10 one OF his
schemes. without being grub stakcd.
[ haven't any capital to put in, but
wish you would let me lend you what
you need from time TO time. I've got
$40 here In my No? Don't need It.?
Wen, whenever you do come right IN
here and get It,"
] knew perfectly well that he needed
money, but could not bring himself TO
take Il from me, whose equal he had
been In everything except an ability
to punch boys heads, and in this he
had been my superior. ! was obliged
TO let him 90 without affordlng him
relief, but took his address, resolving
to find some indirect way of giving
him money. Bnt was very busy at
the time and put the matter of. Be
sides. am not an inventive genius and
failed TO thlnll OF any method OF lend
ing John Bounce money without ap.
pearing to give 1t.
One morning woman came into my
Office aud said she had heard John
Bounce, who boarded with her. speak
Of me. She said that Bounce owed her
$ST45 for board, and she would like
me TO tell her IL he had any property
on which she could levy. told her
that Mr.. Bounce was n perfectly hon
orable man, but was trying to carry
through certain schemes without sum.
cient capital She left with a check
for the amount Of her bill. A week
later | received a note from John re.
GREETING that the woman had thought
It necessary to adopt such strenuous
measures and assuring me that one of
his irons was at white heat and he
would soon call and return the amount.
| admired his plan Of enabling me TO
help him indirectly.
John never came to see me. His
pride, his sensltlveness, whntever II
was wouldn't let him. one day a long
while after the board bill episode
received a note from an undertaken
telling me thnt man named John
Bounce had died in a boarding house.
A letter from me had been found In
his room, and since there was no
money TO bury him It was deemed ad,
yisable to notify me The amount re.
qulred was about $l00
was sorry now since poor John
was gone that | had not been able to
do more for him. ! inclosed a check
for the amount and authorized call
for more. / did the latter as an ex.
cuse to my conscience for not attend
ing to the matter personally. / couldn't
bring myself TO such a melancholy
duty.
a few months later / received n note
from ONE who wrote that he had been
an intimate friend OF the late Mr.. John
Bounce, the inventor. II was proposed
by several Of Mr.. Bounce's friends toI
place headstone at his grave, There
were four men ready to contrib
ute $50 each. The cost OF the stone
would be $3.50. Knowing That had
been n schoolmate Of Mr.. Bounce, bel
had ventured TO write TO know il IL
would make one of five. | at once sent
my check for $50.
A year passed. One morning ] re-
ceived note from a lawyer stating
that John Bounce had died a few days
before (lny hair stood on end with as
A.. - 1.