Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-12-01
The Stolen
Plans
BY MARVIN ST. JOHNS

1T can never De-1 CANNOT marry
you, Mr.. Tyson
The words seemed to sound the
death note to all the fond hopes of
Burt Tyson.
1t was a certain pleading, longing
expression in the true, tender eyes OF
Annette Saxton that checked Burt
from going away then and there. An
earnest touch of her trembling hand
detained him.
But you must not desert u.s." she
went on winningly. Surely we are
friends? My father has grown to
look for you and would miss you sore
ly. Oh, we are both us SO grateful
for all you have done for us!'
"It is nothing, it has been a pleas
ure, business training" declared
Burt in a manly, honest way. Miss
Saxton, l shall not annoy you"
"Oh, never thatp' insisted Annette.
'HThen-embarrass you 1t would
have been sweet delight to me to
know that your interest in me would
urge me to build great dreams on my
small start in life. Perhaps some
! day. later"
But Annette shook her head sor-
rowfully and murmured: "You are so
worthy of some one stronger than /
as a guide and helper. Please,
| please"
| Her eyes filled with tears and he
saw that he was giving her pain.
4 Ann tn
then there was an interruption. From
the wing of the house where Mr.. Sax
ton had his study and work room
there came a quick CALL
ooh. Mr.. Tyson, l must see you at
once!"
John SaxtOn was an inventor. For
merly he had been superintendent Of
the great Walworth Motor works, a
mile distant. He had made some i'm
provements on one of their speciaties
for which the company had promised
him a large reward. They dishonest
ly repudiated the contract, and he left
their service. Since then he had
spent whole year perfecting new.
motor that would be the last word
in it's particular line, if it met his ex-
pectations. The company had heard
of it and had made his Overtures. He
declined to treat with them.
Burt was in the employ Of an archi-
tect He had known Mr.. Saxton for
long time. 1t was Burt to whom
Mr.. Saxton had entrusted the drawing
up Of the plans and specifications of
his new invention. Burt found him
pacing his study in a state of the
greatest excitement.
"Mr. Tyson" he announced, II am
in deep trouble and distress. Some
one entered this room yesterday morn
ing when Annette and / were absent,
took the plans of the new motor at
| tachment from my desk and copied
Them"
COPIED them," repeated Burt in
amaZement.
"You suspect the Walworth COM
pany Of that wicked act?"
Suspect? / known fairly shouted
Saxton. They have stolen my pat
ent they are robbing me for second
time I"
'Then, even if you got your papers
into the mail at the very earliest mo-
ment tomorrow morning, they would
be day ahead of you?'
II am too late, see that" said the
inventor dejectedly.
"Give me those papersw
What are you about to do?' began
the inventor bewilderedly.
Leave it to me. Only-hope. I
think see way to circumvent those
Walworth plotters yet"
Then Burt was gone He passed
Annette, lingering at the gate. She
noted his agitated manner, his
urgency.
my father" she faltered.
HE will tell you ALL" explained
Burt hurriedly. "He is the victim of
cruel, wicked plot l am going to
save him if can"
Just at daybreak next morning Burt
| Tyson was at the nearest city. An
| hour later he had the wires east go
| ing in his behalf. 1t cost him nearly
all the 5000 he had saved up to send
long message to a close friend a
young lawyer in Washington.
Word for word he wired the specif-
cations Of the Saxton patent.
AT noon that day Burt received the
following dispatch from the friend he
knew he could rely upon:
Drawings, papers and application
filed. Caveat granted and later appli-
cants shut OUT
TIE story was all over the town
48 hours later. Burt was at the Sax
ton home when an emissary from the
Walworth works offered small for
tune for the valuable patent they had
tried to steal.
Again Annette stood at the gate as
he left the house. Again her grateful
soul tried to impart to him the emo
lions his noble fidelity had aroused.
Something in her eyes held him,
some latent hope drove him to speak
once again of fha love in hio hoarf