The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-11-22

NEWSPAPER TOWARD ELY.
out food or shelter He was unkempt
and unshaven, and his clothes ached to
be taken Off But his bloodshot eyes
were staringly awake, and his voice
was an angry bark.
Look at that!' he cried, holding q
newspaper toward Ely, who made no
motion to take it, but merely identified
it with glance. Have you seen it,!
Il have" responded Ely. "Stendhall
has a pull with those people; not
enough to make them print a fake, but
of considerable advantage when his
news happens to be true. The paper
states that our machine can't be run
more than an hour at time and that
everybody who has bought our stock Is
beautifully stuck 1t also describes
quite accurately the interesting scene
which that fire so fortunately inter-
rupted. It's wonder that somebody
didn't do it before, but Stendhall has
evidently been holding it up his sleeve
until he could get me where lie want
ell me. What do you think of the pros
pect?'
"AIr Ely" said Jennings sOlemnly,
II think it couldn't be better
Ely steadied himself against the desk
and looked the inventor in the eyes.
You mean that you've solved the
puzzle;"
That's what I've DONE" responded
Jennings, choking with dry throat.
"Giyc me till tomorrow morning to put
the new parts on that machine, and I'll
run it faster than it's ever been run
before. and not four hours, but twenty
four, If Stendhall will camp there and
watch it
IF this is true" said Ely, don't you
whisper it to your pillow"
"Pillow:" echoed Jennings. DO |
look like a man acquainted with pill
lows? But I'll make some Of these
other fellows lie awake now, and lie
cast the newspaper wrathfully to the
floor and trod upon it.
Ely had not the vanity of the in
ventor and was III all respects juster
man, so he felt no animOsity against
the newspaper, which had told nothing
but the truth. Nevertheless, us mat
| ter of business, he served notice Of q
| suit for damages as soon as he became
| con, inced that Jennings really had per-
| fected his machine. The editor In
| question, alarmed, sent experts to the
| next exhibition OF the automatic, and
they reported that while changes had
probably been made in the machine no
| proof could be obtained and 1t was
now undoubtedly very valuable In
vention, whereupon the damage suit
| was adjusted and catering retrac-
tion was made.
AS result Of all this Stendllall and
his associates lost and Ely's party
won Il considerable sum Of money. the
price OF the stock went to par and 1t
sold freely. Meanwhile. however. a
clique inside bank where Ely had
| large discounts discovered that the
| Jennings Automatic Straw Hat Making
Machine company was worth stealing,
and they laid very clever trap. from
which Ely escaped after nerve de.
stroying struggle. 1t was not until the
middle of December that he knew
whether his profits and the control oil
the company-or indeed the coat on
his back and the shoes Oh his fect-be
longed to him Or to somebody else
Then tie scale turned in lii; favor
with tcwildering snddcnness. His foes
stood around him. hat in hand. begging
for small favors, and the air was vel
low with the gold OF success.
] So Ely went on a trip to get health
He had the money to rest and built
up. If he bad not won be would mos
likely have broken down: but. bayin:
won. he could afford the price of a new
set Of nerves. He made a very agree
able trip to the West Indies and re
turned ten pounds heavier and mucl
improved in looks.
Jack. old boy" said he after tn
briefest of greetings to his lieutenant
'bring OH the next trouble, and have !
lot and strong. I'm ready to get bacl
! tito the game"