The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-07-15
His Inventive 6enius.

copyright. 1909. by American Press Asse-
Johnny Bounce and were school
mates and fast friends. Johnny was
younger than I, but stronger Every
boy who could lick me availed himself
Of the opportunity just for the fun Of
X. Johnny could lick most Of them
and, noticing that I needed friend, be-
gan to Hex every boy that licked me.
This had q wholesome effect. and !
was soon let alone. Indeed, am not
sure that did not impose on some Of
them, knowing that a dread Of Johns
big fist would deter them from giving
me deserved punishment.
When we left school to go out into
the world 1--WE were pretty big boys
them said to John Bounce: Johnny,
I want you TO understand that l owe
ycu a whole lot. II ever get Z chance
to make a stand OF for what you've
done for me. I'll do It."
"Oh, you don't owe me anything.
Tom" he said. Besides. I guess we'll
Doth get afOnS Pretty we'll
didn't see John after our parting
for years. Then one day man came
into my ONCE Of very forlorn appear
ance. ] put my fingers In my pocket
to get out 10 cents when noticed the
fellow looking at me with quizzical
expression.
~You don't know me. Tomr
mo, don't"
I'm Johnny Bounce"
Ny heart sank, for knew that the
world had been too much for John.
However, 1 gave his hand warm
grasp, asked him to sit down and tell
me what he had been doing. He 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" I said, referring to one Of his
schemes, without being grub staked.'
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
SO here in my NOT Don't need It?
Well, whenever you do come right in
here and get IL"
knew perfectly well that he needed
money, but could not bring himself TO
take 1t from me, whose equal be had
been In everything except an ability
to punch boys heads. and In this he
had been my superior. I was obliged
to let him 90 without affording him
relief, but took his address. resolving
70 find some indirect way OF giving
him money. But I was very busy at
the time and put the matter OF. Be
sides, am not an inventive genius and
failed to think OF any method OF lend
ing John Bounce money without APP
pearfng to give II
One morning q woman came into my
once and said she had heard John
Bounce, who boarded with her, speak
OF me. She said that Bounce owed her
SS7.45 for board, and she would like
me to lei her II be had any property
on which she could levy. told her
that Mr.. Bounce was a perfectly hon.
orabIe man, but was trying to carry
through certain schemes without suffi-
cient capital. She left with a check
for the amount Of her bill A week
later I received note from John re-
GREETING that the woman had thought
Il 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, bis sensitiveness. whatever II
was, wouldn't let him. One day long
while after the board bill episode
received q note from an undertaken
telling me that man named John
Bounce had did in boarding house.
A lister from me had been found IN
his room, and since there was no
money 10 bury him It was deemed ad.
vssabie TO notify me. The amount re-
Quirsd was about 500.
4 wss sory NV since poor John
vns gone that I bad not been able q
do more for him. I iDclosed q check
for The amount and authorized cal
for more. I did the latter a. an ex
cue 20 my conscience for not attend
ing to the matter personally. couldn't
bring myself to such a melancholy
duty.
A few months later I received Z mot,
from one who wrote that be had beer
IN intimate friend Of the late Hr. Johr
Bounce. the inventor. II was proposet
By several Of Mr.. Bounce's friends I,
place a besdstose az he grave. Their
were four men ready to contrib
ute $50 each. The cost Of the stoDl
would be $40. Knowing that ha,
been a sch, climate of Mr.. Bounce. b
had ventured TO write 70 know n
vvuld make one Of I'VE. ! ct once zen
my ehsct f,s 30.
A year passed. One morning I re
essved q pots frOo Q lawyer stain,
sAat John Bounce had Did Z few day
before lmy hair seood % end with -