Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-17
TIE Daily Storv
me Gate Mai Won Jane

hired man with no prospects. don
see what Jane was thinkin on to sa
ye could ask me Ye can't have heT
an that's all there Is to It."
zeke opened his mouth as II TO pro
test. or to strengthen his case by fur
ther argument but Tillson's face wa
grim and forblddlng, and he knew th'
old man too well to weaken his chancei
by causing useless irritation. He turned
away
That afternoon they were near the farm
yard gate zeke digging postholes and
old Tillson patching up wheelbarrow,
when tho drummer Of an agricultural
warehouse appeared But instead Of
going straight TO Tlllson, he stopped at
the gate and began to examine 1t curl
! ously.
tQueer contrivance that" he said pres
| entity good idea, though. grand, good
idea How did you happen to think Of
it?"
TITS some Of my hired mans dilly-
dallyln," replied Tlllson gruffly; hes
forever up to something of that sort
Wastes half his time"
zeke flushed little, but did not
look up.
mo wasted time about that" declared
the drummer emphatically; ITS valu
able idea. There's money in it,"
Money!" questioned Tlllson eagerly,
then he saw one of the horses squeezing
his body through the open doorway OF
the corn crib, and ho rushed off. He
would have sent zeke only he preferred
MIN to continue at the post-hole digging
80 it's your idea, is it?" said the
drummer, as he crossed to zeke's side
Going to have 1t patented, of course"
zeke laughed. Patented" he echoed
that foolish thing? Why, it's nothing |
but lot of stones and two hinges |
placed so the gate will shut itself"
But that's just the sort of thing which |
usually proves valuable" persisted the
drummer. THE simpler the device, il |
IT'S useful, the better. You'll make a |
mistake If you don't protect the idea"
Then l guess I'll make the mistake"
said Zeke carelessly; patents cost |
money. and 1 haven't any. Besides, If 1
had, l wouldn't risk fifty cents on the
foolish thing"
The drummer regarded him thought
luliy. Look here" he said suddenly
now would you like to make a trade?
could appropriate the idea for myself
y l did business that way, but l don't
still. like to make money wherever 1
see chance. My house does a good deal
N patent articles, and l can generally
guess pretty close whether there's
money in an idea or not. Now, If YOU
say SO. l will put this through at my
1wn expense and keep half the profit.
What did you say7"
You mean use stones like that and
ll? asked Zeke skeptically.
NO. it's only the idea l want We
would find some substitute for the
tones"
Zeke's indifference began to vanish. "If
'ou really think it's worth anything" he
aid doubtfully. "Pll be glad to have you
TX 1t up But don't want you TO lose
money. Then, little wonderingly, II
housht patents were made of pulleys and
prlngs and-and such things, and that IL
vas geniuses who got em up, who
tudied years and years to mako 'em all
ight."
THE drummer smiled. "It is that way
ometimes," he said, "but not always. I
ave known inventors to have their Ideas
ONE TO them in moment in q flash of
lought. But suppose we fix this up
ow."
He opened notebook and wrote for ,
anded 1t to ZelSe. =
Its sort of agreement for you to ,
ut your name to-" he said. Read 1t
rst though. Never sign anything until
ou know what II Is. Later 1 will have :
,gular papers made out for both of u.s." l
EeKe read the paper and signed his G
anne with the pen which the drummer
eld ready Then he resumed his dig c
ng. A few moments later Tillson came
lrrying back. Il
"The drafted horse ate a full peck of g
'od corn" he began wrathfully "No a
lpper'n he get this night. Now, what is
bout that gate bizness? Hows there !
oney in it?" X
BY getting the invention patented" h
lswered the drummer carelessly; but Il
Exc and have fixed that up. Well,
ust be going"
But look here" exclaimed Tillson. "ys
ust talk with me bout that gate. It's
inc. Zeke ain't nothin' to do with it." 7,
'Oh, don't want the gate" said the a.
ummer coolly; TITS only the idea; and A
at, believe, belongs to zel5e. Good L
rillson stared at him as he walked -
7ay the wrath deepening on his face y
ddenly he swung round to Zeke. What
ye get2' he demanded; come. hand 1t
I didn't receive anything, in money" II
Se answered. n
Stop" roughly; don't tell any yarns. :,
dn't hear the man say you an him e'
ed 1t up2 Now how much money did In
give ye for my CATER Look at mo sc
aight." -,
.eke did so, with half smile. Hes =.
pay for getting out a patent" he re- II
ed. ''and have half what We make" W
An ye didn't get any money!" de
Not a cent" =,
'ilson looked at him sharply but there -
s no deceit in the straightforward face. 7"
en- he realized the fact. Then ye're
idiot" he snaFled. "The man was Nj
on the ideei I could see that from the az
y he spoke Ye could have got fifty
a hundred dollars Jest as easy as SO
hin. Mebbe We could have made a OF
de for a lot OF his tools, An now ar
nl Yen never hear from the man SO
ain" In spite OF what had been said, bu
could not bring himself to believe that II
simple eOntFivance was OF any value I'll
en- when the regular papers" came,
h imposing seals and black space fol
a TO sign his name, he regarded them ~
re as interesting novelties than as 10
thing that would affect his future.
hut one day letter came which caused -, -
eyes to open wide with amazed de- ts
hti and which. after a half hour OF "a
ID thinking, carried him into the house a.
TX when he returned from the town.
Tillson met him at the barn door,
face dark. ~
What dye leave work for, without my =.
E-sof' he demanded
~. hn