The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-12-03
. THE MYSTERY
OF JOHN BOUNCE
A Genius Who Was Inventive
In Several Ways.

JOAHHg iSoNHtt Aha WV hoo'
mates and fast friends, Johnny wa
younger than |. but stronger. Ever,
boy who could lick me avalled himsel
Of the opportunity Just for the fun O
il. Johnny could lick most OF then
and. noticing that needed friend, be
gan to lick every boy that licked me
This had wholesome effect, and
was soon let alone.
When we left school TO go out into
the world 1--WE were pretty big boys
them said TO John Bounce: Johnny
want you to understand that ! owe
you whole lot. If l ever get chance
to make standoff for what you've
done for me III do it."
"Oh, you don't owe me anything,
Tom" he said. Besides, guess Wen
both get along pretty we'll"
| 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 at me with quizzical
expression.
"You don't know me, TomT'
"No, / don't"
I'm Johnny Bounce"
My heart sank, for | 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. He said
he 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 to one of his
schemes. without being grubstaked.
l 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 II?
Well. whenever you do come right In
here and get It."
/ knew perfectly well that he needed
money but could not bring himself to
take II from me, whose equai 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 go without affording him relief. |
but took his address, resolving to find |
some indirect way of giving him mon
ey. But | was very busy at the time
not an inventive genius and failed 10 /
think of any method of lending John I
Bounce money without appearing TO
give it.
One morning woman came into my /
office and said she had heard John
Bounce, who boarded with her. speak
of me. She said that Bounce owed her
SST45 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 a perfectly hon.
orable man. but was trying To carry
through certain schemes without suffi-
,ient capital she left with check
LUZ tut du1ount VI It'll UNI "a NGth
later received a note from John re-
yretting that the woman had thought
i necessary to adopt such strenuous
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
ielp him indirectly.
John never came to see me. His
,ride, his sensitiveness, whatever II .
vas, wouldn't let him. One day long
while after the board bill episode ] ,
eceiyed a note from an undertaken ,
cling me that man named John
bounce had died in boarding house
| letter from me had been found In ,
lis room, and since there was no mon. I,
y to bury him II was deemed adyisa. :
lie to notify me. The amount required q
yas about 500.
| was sorry now since poor John
Tas gone that had not been able to
o more for him. l inclosed check
Or the amount and authorized a call
Or more. ] did the latter as an ex-
use to my conscience for not attend
lg TO the matter personally. l couldn't
ring myself TO such n melancholy .
uty. "
A few months later / received note
'om one who wrote that he had been
4 intimate friend OF the late Mr.. John >,
ounce. the inventor. IL was proposed :,
= several of Mr.. Bounce's friends TO =
ace a headstone at his grave. There !,
ere four men ready TO contribute $50 :"
ch. The cost of the stone would be :
80. Knowing that ! had been
hoolmate of Mr.. Bounce. he had ven {,
red to write to know IL would A.
axe one of five. l at once sent my
eek for $50. a
A year passed. zone morning / re-
i've a note from a lawyer stating
at John Bounce had died few days y
fore (my hair stood on end with as a
that Mr.. Bounce had left A
= his sole heir Il wondered). that Mr.. !.
'unce had patented a mechanical toy, IN
d that q toy manufacturing company :.
,od ready to give $4,000 for the sole
Int to manufacture Il grasped my :.
SIX for support. 4
This wonder turned ont TO be a real {
=. accepted the offer. and when I
, check was paid me my eyes filed
IN tears. My poor. dear Johnny 4