The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-10


 At length Harry spoke again.
 Well, what do you think about accepting this proposition?" he ask
 Accepting it?" repeated Sam, me- chanicalIy. "Oh, that's just as he says" @
 'Just as he says!" retorted Kel- part of the patent-that it was all yours,'
 "Of course he did" declared Ora. ham, triumphantly. That's just like him. But he owns it all.''
 The man from New York stared at the gentle old chemist a few mo- ments trying to straighten the matter out in his own mind and then gave it up.
 What arrangement did you have?" he asked.
 We didn't. have any," said Sam.
 Kellogg lost a bit of his patience. Then why in Heavens name do
 Graham turned slowly and placed a hand on his arm
 Well, I'll tell you,'' he said, slow ly suppose you were an old man, MT. Kellogg, who'd failed at every thing you had undertaken. Suppose that you loved, but because of your inability she went about so shabby and forlorn that all the young folks laughed at her and wouldn't have anything to do with her.,
 He paused moment and Kellogg looked gravely out across the dark lawn to where the lights of neigh bor's house were gleaming, and he conjrred up in his mind a picture of what it was that Nat had stumbled upon less than year before.
 ''Suppose you'd come to the end ,'' went on the old man, "and were about to be turned out of your store gave you every, cent he had in the world to. start you over again, and then in addition, he had worked with all his might, day after day, until he'd made everything comfortable and easy for you: suppose he'd changed your shabby little girl into a beautf- ful y,Nung woman--and then that a patent that you'd have sold for $500 only for him suddenly brought you in whole lot of money-who would you think 1t belonged to?"
 Kellogg reached out and gave the old mans hand a comforting squeeze, and then he rose quickly and turned away.
 "I didn't realize how much he meant to you.'' he said. quietly.
 Here's Nat now" said Graham, in an infinitely more cheerful tone, as he heard the familiar step on the walk. :'Ill go in and see how Bet tvs getting on ard leave you two to- gether."
 Kellogg went forward a few steps to meet Nat. and his first glance at Duncan,s face told him that the For tune Hunter had been wrestling with himself and had arrived at a de- cision.
 "Oh. here you are.' said Nat, in 9 ~& -.~I Ia- 1> Ia k4~a~r ,11 over for you. Harry, I'm not going through with this thing. That's flatr'
 .'No?' queried Kellogg, but with lit tie surprise in his tone.
 s'No!" declared Nat, thrusting his hand into his pocket. Here's a check for four hundred dollarS-all
 ''On, don't want these" protested Kellogg. trying to shove >the papers back on Duncan.
 s.But you'll take 'em just the same!" declared Nat, defiantly. "Pd rather pay that back than find the going to see Lockwood and his daugh- ter and tell them the whole thing"
 You've got a pleasant little job ahead of you;' suggested Harry.
 'T don't care about that" said Nat, wearily. "It's Josie Pm thinking Of. Why. it's awful, Harry, to trick a girl into, caring for you and then to-
 He hesitated for a phrase and Kel- 1ogg supplied it.
 ssRreak her heart?" he suggested. Don't flatter yourself, Nat. 1t isn't that she loves you-it's because you're the best chance she's seen. The sys- if anyone else had tried it. The trou- ble is that people know you're en- gagged and they'll say you've thrown her over and that's going to make her feel pretty cheap for awhile, but she'll get over it. Only you'll lose a fortune--don't forget that"
 'I never had it and I don't want it. There are better things than money to make man happy"
 You got that out of a book" grim ned the other, maliciously.
 "No. I didn't. found it out thing I wanted when | was in col lege-youth. health. all the money I wanted and plenty of friends and I thought was a pretty lucky and a pretty happy kid, but I know now how you can beat that sort of happi- ness to, death. Harry. the real way to be happy is to work and have your work amount to something and to have some one who believes in you to work for! Eve found that out this yeary'
 Kellogg turned to . him suddenly with frank smile and his hand out stretched.
 And you're right, Nat" he said, heartily. I'm glad you backed out It was a low-down scheme, and I proposed it because I'm schooner and I knew it would workout it's made a man of you, Nat, and Pm mighty glad"
 Nat clasped the extended hand and locked at his friend curiously.
 What's changed you all of sud- den?" he demanded.
 Well, I've talked with Graham admitted Kellogg. "and-I've seen his daughter
 They were starting into the house arm in arm when chatter at the gate, the rush of hurried footsteps, and the sound of voices made them turn in surprise to face 'tBlinky' Lockwood, Josie and young Barnett All three were intensely excited and the fair Josie had evidently been weeping. ], Here. young man." called the banker. pointing a long forefinger tt Nat, "I want to have a word with you right here and now'
 Duncan stopped while Kellogg went up the steps into the shadow of the porch.
 Well, sir," said Nat, what is it?''
 There ain't no use of my beatin' around the bush," said Lockwood. 1T know you've behaved yourself in this town, but nobody knows who you are or where you come from, and now Roland's made charge again you and you've got to answer it."
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