The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-12-04
CHAPTER III
The Optinist

It was at this point that James
Mariner came into Edwards life.
There was nothing extraordinary
about the man or his errand. The
grist of Edwards job was dealing
with people like him, hearing their ex-
plantations, listening with an air Of
sympathy to the tale Of their troubles,
discounting their hopes; and finally
seeing to it that the great insurance
company's rights were guarded to the
last penny.
James Mariners case was one Of
the commonest sort. Years ago, when
he'd been temporarily prosperous and
believed he was going to be rich, he'd
taken out big life insurance policy.
The riches hadn't materialized, and
after paying a few premiums he'd let
the policy lapse. He'd come upon 1t
, the other day, while looking over some
old papers in his box, and he wanted
to realize on it. 1t must be worth he
thought at least six thousand dollars
anyhow six thousand was what he
wanted. Edward felt sure, again from
long experience, that the cash sur
render value Of the policy would prove
to be nothing like that amount. Also,
before the interview had lasted five
minutes, he saw that despair had forth
fed Mariner in whatever belief he had
that he could get his six thousand or
anywhere near that. He evaded COM
ing down to facts and figures; he
wanted to put off the moment of dis
illusionment as long as he could. He
wanted to tell his story first.
The story could have no possible
bearing on the case. You had only to
look it up in little well-worn book
of tables to know to cent how much
Mariner was entitled to be paid for
his policy. Neither the urgency Of his
needs nor the brilliancy of his ex-
pectations had any relevancy in the
matter at ALL Yet. it was out of some
thing more than mere tolerant good
nature that Edward let the man tell
his story. He didn't know why he did.
He told himself bitterly, as he sat
back to listen-with only half his
mind at frst-that his own despera-
ton, his sense of failure, his lacerated
self-esteem was finding momentary
comfort in his visitors appeal.
It wasn't long, though, before he
forgot to think about himself. When
Mariner began telling what he wanted
the money for. a change came over
him. The stigmata Of failure faded
out. Despite the gray streaks in his
hair and the lines in his lean face,
there was something about him that
gave Edward an impression of youth.
He wanted something tremendous, and
it was something that he saw-almost
within his reach. Yet his manner was
not that Of a visionary. He had not
forgotten how to smile.
It appeared he was an inventor. His
most important invention had been
carburetor for automobiles. It should
have made him a very rich man, for
the principle of it had proved to be
sound and was now in almost uni
versal use; but he had got involved
disastrously in litigation. You had to
have millions behind you to get any
where with that, and he had had no
backing at all.
81 wandered in the wilderness ca
while"-he smiled refiectively as he
said that-"trying my hand at all
sorts Of things; the less l knew
about them the better they looked.
But walked up at last and went back
to my own field. I've invented de-
vice for giving a motor the sort Of
mixture it needs, rich or lean, auto
matically."
He broke off for another SMILE ut
isn't likely of course. humanity speak
ing, that the thing is as good as it