The daily Alaskan., 1909-05-12
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His Inventive Genius.
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 TCopyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
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 Johnny Bounce and l were school mates and fast friends. Johnny was younger than l, but stronger, Every boy who could lick me availcd himself of the opportunity just for the fun or fl. Johnny could lick most of them and. noticing that needed friend, be- gan to lick every boy that licked me. This had wholesome effect, and was soon let alone. Indeed, 1 am not sure that did not Impose on some or them. knowing that q dread of Johns big fist would deter them from giving me deserved punishment.
 When we left school to go out into the world Cwc were pretty big boys them said to John Bounce: "Johnny, want you To understand that l owe you whole lot If ever get 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. "Bcsidcs, guess we'll both get along pretty we'll"
 1 didn't see John after our parting for years. Then one day man came into my office of very forlorn appear ancc. put my fingers in my pocket to get out 10 cents when 1 noticed the fellow looking at me with a quiz2Ical expression.
 You don't know me, Tom"
 No. l don't"
 "Tm Johnny Bounce"
 My heart sank. for l knew that the world had been too much for John, However. l gave his hand a warm grasp. asked him to sit down and tell me what he had been doing, He said he hadn't had much success thus f0r' but he had irons in the fire some or which he thought would pan out very big. l 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 l saw that John was sincere, so did not discourage him.
 'You can't run thing like that John." l said. referring to one of his schemes. "wiihuut being grub Siaked. haven't any capital to put in, but l wish you would let me lend you what vou need from time to time. I've got SIO here iu my No? Don't need IL: Well. whenever you do come right in here and get it,
 | knew perfectly well that he needed money. hu; could not brin" himself 10 take it from me. whose equal he had been in everything except an ability ro punch boys heads. and in this he had been my superior. l was obliged ro lct him @n without alrording him relief. but | tool, his address, resolving to find some indirect way of giving him money. EUJ l 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 ap' bearing to give ir.
 One morning a woman came into my office and said she had heard John ! Bounce. who boarded with her, speak of mr. She said that Bounce owed her . SS7.l5 for board. and she would like mc to tell her if he had any property on which she could levy. l told her 1 that Mr. Bounce was a perfectly hon. ur9hlc man, but was trying to carry through certain schemes without Sutli- 1 ciput capital She left with a check for the amount of her bin. A week later | received a note from John re . erptimg that the woman had thought l it necessary to adopt such strenuous measures and assuring mo that one of his irons was at white heat and he would soon call and return the amount | admired his plan of enabling mo to 1 help him indirectly.
 John never came Co sec me. His pride his ScusitivcucSS. whatever It was. wouldn't let him. One day q long . while after the board bill episode l received a note from an undertaken telling me that a man named John ] Bounce had died in a boarding house. 1 A letter from me had been found in his room. and since there was no money to bury him it was deemed ad- visarlc to notify mo. The amount re- uuircd was about $lOO.
 . l was sorry now since poor John 1 was gone ihat l had not been able to 1 do more for him. l incloScd a check for the amount and authorized call for more. ! did the latter as an cX- cusc to my conscience for not attend . ing to the matter personally. l couldn't bring myself to such melancholy duty.
 l A few months later received note ] from one who wrote that he had been an intimate friend of the late Mir. John ] Bounce, the inventor. It was proposed . by several of Mir BounccS friends to 1 place a hcadstouc aU his grave. There were four men ready to contrib ute $50 each. The cost of the stone 1 would be $2JO. Knowing that 1 had been schoolmatc of Mir. Bounce, he 1 had venurcd to write to know if l ] would make one of five. at once sent