Year: 1865

uObuihb ouObt VI tue uuCulHe ROulO en-
able him to dispose Of his right. But how
to get q machine built was 8 question
which p0RgSeS Sim sadly. No Que capA,
bic 0S i1sGAIos q perIccs AsacsJi&s would
undertake the job for less than one hun.
dred dollars. Alas he had no longer
that sum in the house. Miller was almost
bordering on despair, when one of the
mechanics to whom he had spoken called
upon him in order to make more minute
examination Of the model-he was emf
Dently a practical man--at the end Of
which he declared his firm conviction was
that the machine was a great invention !;
at all events he would be willing to build
one on a contingency. If it failed to work,
he would charge nothing; but If it an.
swered the expectation Of the inventor,
then he would charge two hundred dol.
lars for machine and risk. This vas vir.
tuaiiy taShg an interest in the success of
the invention, and Richard closed with
him. The mechanic was prompt and en-
ergetic, and putting his whole force to
work, in few days turned over to Miller
a complete machine.


His next business was to give the ma
chine fair trial. lie went over to Cam.
den, where he had an acquaintance in the
brick business, and prevailed upon him
to let the trial take place at his yard,
next day, at II o'clock. The proprietor
had very little faith in the machine, but
as he had large lot of brick for sale, he
was willing TO submit to almost anything
to attract attention to his yard. To this
end he silly inserted an advertisement in
several Of the daily papers of Philadelphia,
announcing the trial of wonderful patent
brick making machine, naming the time
and place, which of course be thought
would only be another addition to the long
catalogue of failures in that line of inven-
tionS.


Next day Miller partook of an early
breakfast, and then possessed himself Of
the last dollar in the house to pay current
expenses. He bade his wife to be Of
good cheer, that he thought he would re-
turn before night with not less than five
hundred dollars. The poor woman
thought it more likely that he would re-
turn detected, broken hearted, and ready
to die; but she said nothing.


From his home he went direct to the
machine shop, and had his invention TAX
en- to the ferryboat, and had it safely
landed, put up ready to operate at the
appointed hour. He knew nothing of the
advertisement in the papers, and was
therefore little surprised to see upwards
Of hundred people congregated in the
yard. lie did not like it, for in case OF
failure the modification would only be
the greater; but he consoled himself with
the belief that in case Of success competi-
tion might spring up to enable him to
realize one thousand dollars for his right,
instead Of five hundred dollars, at which
moderate figure he held it.


The clay having been elevated, the
horse was started and the machine moved.
1t was moment Of intense anxiety to
every one, and painfully so to Richard
Miller. Eureka it was a triumph mold
after mold of beautiful brick were carried
from it, until in an incredible short space
of time a thousand were finished and dry.
ing in the yard.


There stood Richard Miller gazing up.
on his invention. 1t was the full Iealiza.
ton Of his dream in its minutest particu-
lars. 1t was the happieSt moment Of his
life. lie was just on the point of offering
the right Of making and vending the ma.
chine in the United States to the highest
bidder when an old Yankee tapped him
on the shoulder.


Young man, said he, that's very
good machine Of yours, but see where a
very important improvement can be made
Under such circumstances will give you
fifty thousand dollars for your right, title
and interest in i'll!


Miller grasped one Of the levers Of his
machine to keep him from falling. No!
it could not be; the whole thing must be
a continuation of brickyard dream.


How much did you sayH' asked Mil
Ter, in doubt.


Fifty thousand!' said the man, evident.
ly ready TO increase the amount, If Miller
demanded it.


IN take it, gasped the inventor, who
still could not believe the evidence Of his
senses.


Then come with me y


A few inmates more and they were on
their way to Philadelphia, and in crossing
the river Richard Miller paid the last six
pence he had in the world for feTriage. -
Once arrived in the city, they went di-
rectly to the Office Of lawyer, where the
necessary papers, full assignment, were
drawn up-Miller all the while doubling
the possibility Of the man having any
thing like the amount of money he offer.
ed but he still resolved in his mind that
he was safe if he got but single thou.
sand in cash, and the balance in worthless
promissory notes. At length the assign
ment was finished and signed, and the
man handed Miller check, payable at
one of the principal banks, for the entire
amount, on the back of which the attor.
ney certified to Miller being the owner of
the check.


The patentee was still incredulcuS but
satisfied that if the check was worthless
it would be evidence of fraud, and the sale
not valid, the papers were exchanged, and
he left the Office. lie FASTENED to the
bank and presented his check to the pay.
ing-teller. That gentleman scrutinized it
a moment, and then asked how ne would
have it?


Richard Miller was again nonplussed.
He stood like statue gazing upon the
teller until the question was repeated.


Gold and silver said Richard.


Gold and silver !! said the teller, sur
prise; have you dray?'


Beg your pardon, said Miller; let
me have thousand dollars in gold and
silver, and the balance in bank notes'


A bag with that amount in mixed coin
was soon placed before him, and forty
nine packages Of one thousand dollars
each were laid on the counter. Miller
bad by this time in measure regained
selEpOssessiou, and after stufting the
notes into his pocket, Ire shouldered his
bag Of coin and left the bank.