The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-14
CHAPTER xxvI. d ImnicjraF Venture.

Al N Henry Caosby and concentrat-
 ed with penny pursuing in- tensity upon books, invoices. bills and receipts when committee Of four members Of the city council. including the mayor, entered, with much pomp and ceremony.
 Tn deferenee to his ofFciaI capacity Mr. Boyler and Mir. Kerr and MT. Scorpf1e allowed Mayor Sawberry to take up position about two feet in front of them, and in solemn array, hats held formally across their left wrists they awaited the attention of the proprietor
 Mr. Closby cams foRsvazd, with scant graciuusness. .WeIIga he demanded peremntor11y.
 me mayor cleared his throat ss4Ve represent Spanglerville, the people and the city council. he began sonorously and looked back at his followers to see if they were properly supporting him. His eye was attracted irnmediate1y tOE one Of the show windows, however, against the pane of which was datly pressed the nose of face otherwise entirely concealed by radiating pink beard of the most inflamnatory ans arehietic type. Needless to say that face was Blackie Dawss!
 Very well, 7, responded MT. Closby, bis gaze also rowing to the face i1 the window; each eye of which at that mo- ment successively winked shut
 It has come to the ears Of the city council that yoa have found the city water of use, necessity and profit in an art manufacture known as glazed in7 lay. Is this aIlega lion true r And the mayor, annoyed with himself, but unable to resist the fascination. turned again to find the face at the window pane. It was not there. he was reliev- sd to note, but suddenly it appeared at the other window So low down that only the nose and eyes were visible above pile of gingham. Much dis concerted, the mayor repeated his question.
 asSinee 1t is nobedyss business de cline to answer, responded MT. Clos by, watching Blackie with mild pleas ure, as that earnest detective slowly traightened to his full height, his nose sliding against the glass all the way hp.
 You hold patent for such pro- cess, though. the mayor charged. sturdiIy resisting the impulse to look behind him. You might as well answer that much, because Congressman Oar kins sends me the Patent Ofhce Record free and have looked it np-"
 AThen you know that I obtained a patent said Closby dryly.
 It has come to the ears of this body. went on the mayor, looking rigidly out of the back door to prevent his head from turning. that you have made over s4O.oOo from this patent in less than three years and that you're taking in from it over $25.000 a year. Is this allegation true 2''
 tsI refuse to answer
 .sYou don't need tor, retorted the mayor warmly. s.The city council has absolute proof' It was almost impos- sible not to look again at that show window, but Mayor Sawberry accomp Iished itland gazed stoniIy out through the back door at the high board fence Now, the city council, which only wants its rights, Mir. Closby, has de cided On this: It will take over the manufaeture of your glazed inlay nakett municipal enterprise, charge you nothing for the use of our valuable natural resource and pay you fail and reasonable royalty on the output The anestioh before us for dispassion ate and friendly argument is. What is the least royalty that will satisfy you 2.
 A sscnd light kindled in Henry Clos by's eyes. AI have been waiting foi this happy moment, he gayly inform ed them, and thereupon he emptied himself of all the bitterness that had been clogging his system since he was a boy.
 ssIn coneIusion.1 he went on, smilipe sweetiy in his black beard. "I have no1 forgotten that you cringing whelps came to obtain possession of my paten on glazed inlay You may have it. | VIII cost you exactly $6O.o0o; no more no less. Thanking you, one and all for your kind attention, bid you , pleasant good morning.
 The mayor and the committee wer. MDeechleas with rage, surprise ant