Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-08-16

"Why, you have put little rubber
wheels on it' cried the interested
Edna. "It's like a carpet sweeper"
"Don't you see that it is the crown
ing perfection of the little deviceT'
asked Paul eagerly. "There is nothing
like it on the market. 1 have a great
idea about it, Edna, and / am taking
the midnight train for the city to
carry it out. / may be absent couple
of days, so don't worry at my absence,
only hope that great plan which
have in mind may succeed"
1t was a new Paul Merrill who re-
turned to Virden two evenings later.
He carried his pet invention all
wrapped up, and his step was springy,
his eye was bright and he hummed
a happy tune as he hurried in the di-
rection of the Wyatt home.
"I must get the glad news to Mr..
Wyatt, first thing" soliloquized Paul.
HE treated me square when l need
ed help and I'm going to return the
compliment. Twenty thousand dol
larsw and he slapped the breast Of
his coat. "How much it will mean, all
hands around! Hello!'
Paul halted, for he was just passing
the plant and there was light in the
office. He knew that for some time
past, amid his pressing business trou-
bles, Mr.. Wyatt had been working over
time.
"The very thing, if he is here" re-
flected Paul. "Edna can know about
our rare good luck later"
Paul found the door leading into
the dark outside room of the office
open. He was thoroughly familiar with
the place and started to cross the room
towards an open doorway, when he
halted spellbound.
In the main office, tied to q chair
with ropes, was his employer. Con-
fronting him, brandishing a heavy
billy, was a man roughly dressed and
vicious looking.
"Yes, it's me, Carleton Davis, your
old partner" hissed this malevolent
knave. "You sent me to jail, and have
Just escaped. I swore to have revenge,
and I'm going to get it. I'm here to
beat the life out Of you, here and
now."
The menacing scoundrel made a
swing at his helpless victim. Paul was
ten feet distant. He made rush. He
had only as weapon, missile, the
sample mop. He cleared the doorway
in nimble spring. The mop was too
bulky and unwieldy to lift to advan-
tage, but, holding it in front Of him, he
rushed full bent on the would-be
murderer, and caught him directly at
the waist. So forcible was the impact
that it carried Davis across the room
and sent him headlong through the
window, carrying the sash with him
and landing outside.
Shrieking with pain, his face and
hands gashed by the broken glass, the
baffled knave staggered to his feet, dis
cerning that ready aid had come to
his victim, and darted away in the
darkness, to be recaptured the follow
ing day and restored to his prison
cell.
'The mop did it, the new, improved
mop" declared Paul excitedly. "Mr.
Wyatt, I have sold my improved in
vention for twenty thousand dollars,
and-there is the money, sir" and the
audacious young man glowed with hon
est emotion. "Please tell Miss Edna.
She will be glad to know that have
succeeded in what I undertook"
"Ah!" murmured Mr.. Wyatt thought
fully, "she has been a co-conspirator,
has she?"
"She is the inspiration of my life,"
declared Paul tumultuously, "and I
hope you won't object"
So the cat was out of the bag, and
Paul Merrill eligible for a partner
ship. The "slow asset" had saved the
day and contentment and happiness
was the result for all concerned.