The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-02-03
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'By getting the invention pat
ented," answered the drummer
carelessiy, "but Zeke and have fir
ed that up. Well must be going"
"But, look here!" exclaimed Till
son. eye must talk with me bout
that gate. It's mine! zess amt
nothin' to do with it."
"Oh, I don't want the gate" said
the drummer coolly. 'Tfs only the
idea, and that, 1 believe, belongs to
Zeke. Goodby."
Tillson stared at him as he walk
ed away, the wrath deepening on
his face. Suddenly he swung round
to Zeke. 'What did ye get" he
demanded. ''Come, hand it over"
II didn't receive anything in
money!" Zeke answered.
"Stop~ roughly. Don't tell
any yarns. Didn't I hear the man
say you an him fixed it up? Now,
how much money did he give ye for
my gate? Look at me straight
Zeke did so, with half smile.
Hes to pay for getting out pat.
ent," he replied, "and have half
what we make"
can ye didn't get any money"
"Not a cent"
Tillson looked at him sharply,
but there was no deceit in the
straightforward face. Even he real
lied the fact. "Then yer an idiot!
be snarled. "The man was set on
the idee. l could see that from the
way he spoke. Ye could have got
$50 or 800 jest as easy as nothin.
Mebbe We could have made a trade
for lot Of his tools. An DOW
huhEyeu never hear from him
ag'in."
Zeke did not answer, and pres
emily TGlson went toward the barn
grumbling. But his words did not
disturb Zeke in the least. he scarce
ly expected to hear from the man
again. Even when the regular pa
pers" came, with imposing seals
and blank places for him to sign his
name, he regarded them more as
novelties than as anything that
would affect his future.
But one day q letter came which
caused his eyes to open wide with
amazed delight and which after a
half hour of hard thinking carried
him into the house after his Sunday
clothes. 1t was nearly dark when
he returned from the town. Old
Tillson met him at the barn door,
his face dark.
"What dye leave work for with
out my say soT" he demanded.
Business" replied Zeke. 81
heard you say t'other day the mort
gage had run by and that if you did
not raise the money soon they'd be
selling you out. So Tve been to a
LAWYER and had it fixed over in my
name, to save you trouble. You can
pay me whenever it suits. You see,'
in answer to the look ON Tillson's
face, 'I got check for $4,000 on
the patent and am likely to get as
much more every year. l think III
buy Dickson's big farm that joins
ours"
Tillson stood looking at the
Young man with mouth and eyes
wide open. The expression on his
face was study.
"What interest you goin' to
charge me-"
"Never mind about the interest.
You can pay whatever rate you
please or nothing at ALL
"Waal, | suppose you've got to be
paid suthin'. What is it you want 2"
Jane
ooh. that's the pay you're after
The moment the old curmnd-
seon's interest came to the front lie
was less concerned about that of his
niece.
"You and she can settle that, !
suppose. As long as she's satisfied
suppose I'll have to be-"
Jane was perfectly satisfied, and
before long there was wedding.
But Zeke didn't buy Dickson's
farm. He drifted into the employ
of firm engaged in the develop
ment of mechanical contrivanceS
and is now very rich man.