The Meeker herald., 1919-05-10

were roses, and honeysuckles, and
pinks. It seemed favorite spot for
the birds, that charming garden spot.
and the dainty hostess fitted about
descanting upon the luscious strawber-
rics 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.
1t led to others quite as enjoyable.
That little garden and Its bird denizens
became cherished spot to Verne Pur-
cell. Much passed In his mind Of
which his two new friends had no con-
ceptIon. He WINS fighting battle all
by himself, and unselfishness and sac
rifice won In the strong mental strug-
gle he underwent. Secretly he had
been working on the missing mccha-
nIsm of the inventors machine. He
never spoke Of 1t to Marsh nor to jan
Ice. for he designed vast surprise for
the former. md MS to Jnnlce-he was
in n 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 sorrowfu and anxious.
Deity he drew from Janice that she
wns worried about her father.
"He is growing thin and distracted
over his troubles" she finally acknOwl-
edged to Verne. ale often rises at
dny break and shuts himself into his
IN
until nIghtfnll. Father says there In
one little piece of mechanism that will
put the finishing touch to the ma
chine"
"And he cannot find itT suggested
Verne.
ale Insists he dreams II, 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.
hope he will not fail to complete the
machine"
"Hc shall complete III" nrdently
brcathed Verne to himself. and he was
so attentive and sympathetic all TINT
evening that when he left and janice
returned to her room, she sat mt Its
open window In the dark. thinking of
him. and fell into slumber unawares.
janice awoke with start as she no.
tIccd light In the workshop. Strain
ing her gnze, 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 clnndestine and mysterious
visit7 WINS Verne Purcell not whnt he
seemed? Was he bent on stealing her
fathers inventIon2 The first impulse
OF janice WINS to arouse her father
md tell him OF the incident. Then her
faith In Verne overcnme her suspicious.
She was preparing breakfast the
next morning when her father came
rushing into the room In frantic
state Of excitement.
"Eurekn" he shouted. "Oh. Janice.
my child! I have succeeded. have
been half mad with despair md dis
enlargement. Now I am lifted to the
very heights. I have found the con-
Meeting llnk-think Of it-on the blue
print! I must have drawn II when
hnlf dazed, the echo OF my dream!"
He md 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 pencil from
the floor.
She received brief note from Verne
that afternoon. "Please tell Mr.. Marsh
that ! am called away from the city
for dry or two" 1t ran, and the day
following there came telegram to
Janice from her father: "Model ac-
copied. Money paid and royalties dur
Ing life of patent"
The heart Of janice fiuttered strange
ly as Verne Purcell put in an appear
nnce two evenings later. She handed
him the telegram she had received
from her father.
"Grnnd! Gloriousw exubernted
Verne. and slightly started. "What is
this?" he Inquired.
1.-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 sncriflce"
"You askw said Verne, with emo
ton. "whcn 1t means the lifelong hap
pness OF your dear father7 Miss
Marsh-Jnnice, you share my secret
he must never know. 1t would crush
his pride, his ambition. His was the
invention first. 1t Is just that should
step aside"
ut Is noble!" cried Janice. with
shining eyes. "Oh, my friend ="
She placed her trembling hands with
in his own, and Verne Purcell knew
that there was reward In store for
him, her undying love, for the asking.