Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1917-12-14

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descanting upon the luscious strawber
ries of her own raising, and the fresh
crisp vegetables from a little patch all
within her own keeping. Never had
Verne Purcell spent so pleasant an
evening.
1t led to others quite as enjoyable
That little garden and its bird denizens
became a cherished spot to Verne Pur-
cell. Much passed in his mind of
which his two new friends had no con-
ception. He was fighting a battle an
by himself, and unself1shness and sac
rifice won In the strong mental strug-
gle he underwent. Secretly he had
been working on the missing mocha
nism of the inventors machine. He
never spoke of 1t to Marsh nor to Jan
ice, for he designed vast surprise for
the former, and as to ,Janice-he was
in constant daze Of delight when In
her company.
He found her alone in the garden
one afternoon when he called. There
were traces of tears in her eyes and
she looked sorrowful and anxious.
Deity he drew from Janice that she
was worried about her father.
"He is growing thin and distracted
over his troubles" she finally acknowl-
edged to Verne. 'He often rises at
day break and shuts himself into his
workshop and scarcely rests to eat
until nightfall Father says there is
one little piece Of mechanism that will
put the finishing touch to the ma
chine"
"And he cannot find it," suggested
Verne.
'He insists he dreams it, but then
when he works he cannot reproduce it.
He keeps the blueprint on the work
shop table all the time, hoping the
missing link will come to his mind. Oh.
l hope he will not fail to complete the
machinei"
HE shall complete itT ardently
breathed Verne to himself, and he was
so attentive and sympathetic all that
evening that when he left ard Janice
returned to her room, she sat at its
open window in the dark, thinking Of
him. and fell into sIumber unawares.
Janice awoke with a start as she mo-
ticed a light in the workshop. Strain
ing her gaze, she recognized someone
bending over the work table where the
blueprint lay. She gave a great gasp.
1t was Verne Purcell.
The light was extinguished and
Verne stole across the garden and dts
appeared. The heart of Janice sank.
Why this clandestine and mysterious
visit? Was Verne Purcell not what he
seemed? Was he bent on stealing her
fathers invention? The first impulse
of Janice was to arouse her father
and tell him Of the incident. Then her
faith in Verne overcame her suspicious.
She was preparing breakfast the
next morning when her father came
into the room in a frantic
state Of excitement.
Eureka" he shouted. ooh, Janice,
my child! / have succeeded. I have
been half mad with despair and dis
Now I am lifted to the
very heights. have found the con-
Meeting link-think of ton the blue
print ! must have drawn 1t when
half dazed, the echo Of my dreamp'
He and his model left the house an
hour later. Janice visited the work
shop. A deep thoughtfulness settled
down over her as she examined the
and picked up a pencil from
the floor.
She received brief note from Verne
that afternoon. "Please tell Mr.. Marsh
that / am called away from the. city
for a day or two" it ran, and the day
there came a telegram to
Janice from her father: "Model ac-
copied. Money paid and royalties dur
ng life of patent"
3 The heart Of Janice fluttered. strange
y as Verne Purcell put In AIN appear
lnce two evenings later. She handed
him the telegram she had received
rom her father.
"Grandl Gloriousw exuberated
Verne, and slightly started. 'What is
.hls?" he inquired.
'The pencil you dropped in my IA
hers workshop the night you placed
IN the blueprint the connecting sug-
yestion Of the machine. Why this
great sacrifceY
'You askl' said Verne, with emo
ion, "when 1t means the lifelong hap
,iness of your dear father? Miss
Iarsh--Janice, you share my secret
lie must never know. 1t would crush
lis pride, his ambition. His was the
invention first. 1t is just that should
'tep aside"
at is noblel'' cried Janice, with
mining eyes. "Oh, my friend ="
She placed her trembling hands with
n his own, and Verne Purcell knew
hat there was a reward in store for
Tim, her undying love, for the asking.
Thought "Lleutenant" First Name.