Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-01-27

offered to work for very low wages,
and as it was harvest time Tillson en-
ployed him.
Now, Jane no sooner saw young Zeke
Freeman doing the hardest work there
was to be done ON the farm, which her
uncle put upon the young man, than
she pitied him. Pity being akin to
love, she loved him. She was bright
enough, however, to keep the situation
from her uncle, who never suspected
1t till Freeman one day went to him
to ask for James hand.
"No; ye can't have Jane" snarled
old Tillson ungraciously. shes my
brothers daughter an has money of
her own, an you amt nothin' but a
hired man with no prospects. l don't
see what Jane was thinkin' on to say
We could ask me. Ye can't have her,
an that's all there is to it"
Zeke opened his mouth as though to
protest or to strengthen his case by
further argument, but Tillson's face
was grim and forbidding, and he knew
the old man too well to weaken his
chances by causing useless irritation.
lie turned away.
That afternoon they were near the
farmyard gate, Zeke digging post
holes and old TillsOn patching up Il
wheelbarrow, when the drummer of an
agricultural warehouse appeared. But,
instead of going straight TO Tillson,
he stopped at the gate and began to
examine 1t curiously.
cnptri,-rppn bn
presently. Good idea, though-grand,
good idea. How did you happen to
think Of it?"
It's some of my hired mans Oily
dallyin'," replied Tillson grufily. Hes
forever up to something of that sort.
Wastes half his time"
Zeke flushed a little, but did not
look up.
mo wasted time about that" de-
clared the drummer emphatically. It's
a valuable Idea. There's money in it,"
Money" questioned Tlllson eagerly.
Then he saw one Of the horses sQueeZ-
ing his body through the open door
way of the corncrib, and he rushed
off. He would have sent Zeke, only
he preferred him to continue at the
post hole digging.
$50 it's your idea, is it?" said the
drummer as he crossedato Zekes side.
Going TO have it patented, of course"
Zeke laughed. 'Patented!' he echoed.
THAT foolish thing? Why, it's moth
ing but lot of stones and two
hinges placed so the gate will shut of
itself"
But that's just the sort of thing
which usually proves valuable" per-
sisted the drummer. The simpler the
device, if it's useful, the better. You'll
make a mistake if you don't protect
the idea
"Then | guess I'll make the mis-
take" said Zeke carelessy. Patents
cost money, and l haven't any. Be
si6.s, If had l wouldn't risk 80 cents
on that foolish thing"
The drummer regarded him thought
fully. Look here" he said suddenly,
chow would you like to make trade? :?
could appropriate the idea for my
self If | did business that way, but
don't. Still, like to make money
wherever | see chance. My house
does a good deal in patent articles,
and / can generally guess pretty close
whether there's money in an idea or
not Now, If you say so. | will pu.
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 skeptically.
mo; it's only the idea 1 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, "Ill be glad
to have you fix 1t up. But l don't
want you to lose money" Then, lit
tie wonderingly, Il thought patents
were made of pulleys and springs and
and such things and that twas gen.
fuses who got EN- up who studied