Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 256, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1916 — Back to Shirtsleeves [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Back to Shirtsleeves

By Augustus Goodrich Shetwin

(Copyright. I*l6. by W. G. Ctaapjnan.) “It will be simply delightful!” exulted bonny, heartsome Eloise Dorsett, and her father groaned. Wallace, her brother, Just feeling the importance and dignity of admission to the bar, stared at her in marveling wonder. Her mother, in tears, increased her sobs. “Sis is right!" proclaimed the vivacious junior of the family, bright, ambitious Ned Dorsett. “I’ll have to leave college—for good ! I’ve told you educating me in the dead languages is a rank waste of time. I want something practical. Why, dad. get back in the old factory, back to shirtsleeves and real work; put me where I can handle tools, and see the wheels go round, and I’ll be a happy kid!” •It’s shocking to contemplate the old humdrum life in that dead town, BayviMe'!" moaned Mrs.. Dorsett. “My brother, mifcht be a little more considerate,” grumbled Mr. Dorsett. “Of course, I’ve lost a lot of money In promotion, but if he would refinance me for a spell, I know I will make a killing. He is set in his decision, however. He offers us the old home and the old factory. It’s our only prospect, so I guess we’lT have to take It.** “The old home has always been life’s fondest vision to me!” declared Eloise. “Why, mother, we’ll get our mind on raising garden stuff, and chickens, and flowers, instead of sum-

ing and striving amid shallow high society functions.” “And my favorite physician two hundred miles away when I get one of my sick spells!” complained mater familias. “You won’t htive any spells when you get among the flowers, and the fresh air, and real heartsome neighbors,” insisted Eloise cheerily, but her mother would not be comforted. John Dorsett had formerly operated a hardware manufacturing plant in a - moderately successful —way a-t —Bay* ville. Then he made some twenty thousand dollars within a few months on some very large sales of material he had bought on a low market. His ambition was to shine in a sumptuous office, discussing big deals. lie financed a copper mine, sunk all his money, and now his brother, who had some means, informed him of his dictum. So the old plant and the old homestead were rejuvenated at the expense of his relative, and John Dorsett began life all over again. “It isn’t so bad, after all,” spoke Mrs. Dorsett, two months later, after the return to the old home. “I don t seem to have any more of those weak spells, and I’m delighted the way things are growing. Why, we shall have enough small fruits to can for two years

ABsra r “ Eloise smiled wisely. Her father still had wild dreams of wealth and was not much good about: the little plant, but Ned was in a fever of delight most of the time, and, young as he was, made a most efficient manager. Ned was proud and confident when he came home from a business call on a city manufacturer. The latter had contracted to take theft entire output for two years on a staple line of plumbers’ tools, and prospective profits were large. They had to double their working force and Mr. Dorsett, at this signal stroke of business prosperity, began to take more interest in uffalrs. Then Eloise got the inventive fever. There was a demand for a graduated vegetable and fruit slicer for restaurants. Ned was wildly enthusiastic when Elofse showed him her first inodel. “It’s famous, if you can make it work!” exulted Ned. “But can I?” questioned Eloise dubiously. "You see, to perfect the movements necessary there is needed some kind of a double ratchet joint, and I can't think out Just what it must be.” “Keep on working at it. You’ll succeed,” .predicted her optimistic brother. One day Eloise came into the ofiice of the plant, to find her brother disCiurtng business with a remarkably

handsome apd attractive young man. Ned Introduced hiuf as Mr.. Bussell Boyd, the son of the wealthy city hardware exporter. Courteous and pleusaut greetings were efchanged. Ned, accompanying him to the depot when he went away, Eloise found u small metal object under the chair be had occupied. She could not suppress a cry of surprise, for the little device filled precisely the vital requirement in her invention. It was the coveted, worriedover accessory which made the operation of the sfleer perfijpt. Of course. Eloise knew that the device did not belong about the factory. The handsome young man who had just left must accidentally dropped it. She was still looking over the device and admiring its capabilities when Ned returned. Eloise told him of her And. Ned telephoned to the railroad station. The message reached Boyd before the train started, and inside of a half hour he was back at the plant This led to a stay of several hours. The young man told Eloise that he had been working on the device for over a year. It could be applied to a number of uses, and, when perfected, he expected to place It on a royalty with several manufacturers. Eloise showed him the slicer. Boyd examined it with attention. “When I come the next time, I will bring just the size of device that will fit your really valuable invention,” he promised. Which he did, and took not only an unusual interest in the slicer, but in Eloise as well. Her heart beat proudly the day that her invention made a perfect demonstration *>f its abilities. The patents on the device were issued to Eloise. Then this kind-heart-ed young man undertook to test its selling qualities. He came to Bayville one day with glowing accounts of his success. “I can get you a fine price for your Invention outright, or a partner who will finance its publicity and distribution in a large way,” he reported. “You think there is money in it?” fluttered Eloise. "I know it. The partner would be myself, Miss Dorsett. That would mean a merger of our mutual share Id the construction of the device, and would do away with royalties.” “I should be glad to do as you think,” said Eloise, and she flashed consciously, and Russell Boyd iooked pleased. He was thinking of a more important partnership/ for Eloise had been the principal attraction for him at Bayville for some time past. “Things are looking up, I declare!” acknowledged John Dorsett one day when the monthly statement of business showed generous balances on the right side of the ledger. “I have turned in my profits on the slicer, papa,” observed Eloise, “and that will mean something for the business right along.” “Dad, We’re back to shirt sleeves in a grand way, aren’t we, now?” piped in the volatile Ned, and Eloise felt that they were on a safe and happy basis at last. One day Eloise came to her father with a folded paper. “Papa,” she said, her face deliciously suffused, “I have legally transferred my share in the slicer to you.” “Why, Eloise —” began Mr. Dorsett, but Eloise interrupted with the statement : “Russel told me to do so.” “Bussell?” repeated - the old man, pricking up his ears. “Seems to me it’s been Mr. Boyd hertofore?” “Yes, but he asked me to be his wife yesterday; 1 ' announced aemurely, “and so I thought—l thought—” ‘-You blessed angel,- enthused her father, “you’ve made everybody happy all around!”

“Keep on Working at It. You'll Succeed.”