Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-03-05

this through at my own expense and
keep half the profit. What do you
say?'
"You mean use stones like that and
ALP asked Zeke skepticaly.
mo; it's only the idea | want. We
would find some substitute for the
stones"
Zeke's Indifference began to vanish.
IF you really think it's worth any
thing" he said doubtfully, "llI be glad
to have you fix it up. But | don't
want you to lose money" Then, a lit
tie wonderingly. 81 thought patents
were made of pulleys and springs and
and such things and that twas gen
luses who got EN- up who studied
years and years to make 'em all right"
The drummer smiled. 1T is that
way sometimes" he said. but not al
ways. have known inventors to
have their ideas come to them in n
moment, In flash Of thought. But
suppose we fix this thing now"
He opened a notebook and wrote for
some seconds, then tore out the leaf
and handed 1t to Zeke.
ITS a sort OF agreement for you to
put your name to-" he said. Read 1t
first, though. Never sign anything un-
til you know what it Is. Later | will
have regular papers made out for both
Of u.s."
Zeke read the paper and signed his
name with the pen which the drum
l,nI hn rnS
digging A few moments later TillSon
came hurrying back.
"The drafted horse ate full peck
of good corn" he began wrathfully.
mo supper II be get this night Now,
what is it bout that gate biZness?
How's there money in it,
by getting the invention patented"
answered the drummer Carelcssly, "but
Zeke and have fixed that up. Well.
must be going"
"But, look here!" exclaimed Tillson.
aye must talk with me bout that gate.
It's mine. Zeke ain't nothin' to do
with it,
"Oh, don't want the gate" said the
drummer coolly. IFS only the idea.
and that. believe, belongs to Zeke.
Goodby."
Tillson stared at him as he walked
away. the wrath deepening on his face.
Suddenly he swung round to Zeke.
what did ye get?" he demanded.
Come, hand it over"
81 didn't receive anything in money"
Zeke answered.
"Stop" roughly. Don't tell any
yarns. Didn't | hear the man say you
an him fixed it up? Now, how much
money did he give ye for my gate?
Look at me straight"
Zeke did so, with a half smile. Hes
to pay for getting out a patent" he
replied, land have half what we make"
AN We didn't get any money!"
mot cent"
Tillson looked at him sharply, but
there was no deceit in the straightfor
ward face. Even he realized the fact.
"Then ye're an IDIOT he snarled. "The
man was set on the idee; could see
that from the way he spoke. Ye
could have got fifty or a hundred dol
lars jest as easy as nothin'. Mebbe
we could have made a trade for a lot
Of his tools. An now-huh!-ye'll
never hear from him ag'in."
Zeke did not answer, and presently
Tillson went toward the barn grum-
bling. But his words did not disturb
Zeke in the least. He scarcely eX-
pected to hear from the man again.
In spite of what had been said, he
could not bring himself to believe that
the simple contrivancc was of any
value. Even when the regular pa
pers" came, with imposing seals and
blank places for him to sign his name,
he regarded them more as interesting
novelties than as anything that would
affect his future.
But one day a letter came which
caused his eyes to open wide with
amazed delight and which after a half
hour Of hard thinking carried him into
the house after his Sunday clothes. 1t
was nearly dark when he returned
from the town. Old Tillson met him
at the barn door, his face dark.
"What dye leave work for without
my say so?" he demanded.
you say tother day the mortgage had
run by and that if you didn't raise the
money soon they'd be selling you out.
SO I've been to lawyer and had 1t
fixed over In my name, to save you
trouble You can pay me whenever it
suits. You see" in answer to the look
on Tillson's face. Il got check for
two thousand on the patent and am
likely to get as much more every year.
| think I'll buy Dickson's big farm
that joins ours
Tillson stood looking at the young
man with mouth and eyes wide open.
The expression on his face was
study. One would expect to see some
shamefacedness there, but there was
none. There was not even gratitude.
For the moment there was surprise
mingled with feeling OF suspicion
that Zeke had assumed his debt that
he might make something by 1t. One
who always acts from mean motives
suspects every one else OF doing the
same thing. His first words indicated
that such was the condition Of his
mind.
"What interest you goin' to charge
me?"
"Never mind about the interest. You
can pay whatever rate you please or
nothing at ALL"
"Waal, | suppose you've got to be
paid suthin'. What Is it you wantT