The Meeker herald., 1919-09-20

set under spreading oak. All about
were roses. and honeysuckles. and
pinks. 1t seemed a favorite spot for
the birds, that charming garden spot.
and the dainty hostess fitted about
descanting upon the luscious straw9er-
ries Of her own raising. and the fresh.
crisp vegetables from little patch all
within her own keeping. Never had
Verne Purcell spent so pleasant an
evening.
II 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 hlnd OF
which his two new friends had no con.
ccption. He was fighting a battle all
by himself, and unselashness and sac-
rifice won in the strong mental strug-
gle he underwent. Secretly he had
been working on the missing mocha
nlsn of the inventors machine. He
never spoke Of 1t to Marsh nor to jan
Ice, for he designed vast surprise Tor
the former. and as to Janice-he was
in a 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 Jnnice that she
was worried about her father.
"He is growing thin and distracted
over his troubles" she finally acknowl-
edged to Verne. ale often rises at
dny brenk and shuts himself into his
workshop and scarcely rests to eat
until nightfall. Father says there 10
one little piece Of mechanism that Will
put the finishing touch to the ma
chine"
sand he cannot find it7" suggested
Verne.
ale insists he dreams 1t. but then
when he works he cannot reproduce 1t.
He keeps the blueprint on the work
shop table all the time. hoping tho
missing link will come to his mind. oh.
I hope he will not fail to complete the.
machine!"
'He shall complete i'll" ardently
brenthed Verne to himself. and he was
so attentive and sympathetic all that
evening that when he left and Janice
returned to her room. she sat at its
open window In the dark, thinking Of
him. and fell into slumber unawares.
Janice awoke with start as she no
ticed hight in the workshop. Strain
ing her gaze. she recognized someone
bending over the work table where the
blueprint lay. She gave great gasp.
1t was Verne Purcell.
The light was extinguished and
Verne stole across the garden and dis
appeared. The heart Of Janice sank.
Why this clandestine and mysterious
visit7 Was Verne Purcell not what he
seemed2 Was he bent on stealing her
fathers invention1 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
rushing into the room In q frantic
state Of excitement.
Eureka !" he shouted. "Oh. Janice.
my child! have succeeded. I have
been half mad with despair and dis.
couragement. Now 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 dreaml"
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
blueprint and picked up a pencil from
the floor.
She received brief note from Verne
that afternoon. "Please tell Mr.. Marsh
that l am called away from the city
for day or two" 1t ran, and the day
following there came a telegram to
Janice from her father: "Model &C.
copied. Money paid and royalties dur
ing life of patent"
The heart Of janice fiuttered strange
~ as Verne Purcell put in an appear
ance two evenings later. She handed
him the telegram she had received
from her father.
"Grandl Glorious!" exubernted
Verne. and slightly started. "What is
this?" he inquired.
"The pencil you dropped In my IA
Tiers workshop the night you placed
on the blueprint the connecting sug-
gestion Of the machine. Why this
great sacrifice?"
"You ask!" said Verne. with emo
tion. when 1t means the lifelong hap
piness Of your dear father7 Miss
Marsh-Janice, you share my secret
he must never know. 1t would crush
his pride. his ambition. His was the
invention first. It is just that l should
step asIde"
1T is noble!" cried Janice, with
shining eyes. "Oh, my friend -
She placed her trembling hands with
In his own. and Verne Purcell knew