Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-02-04

"Will you have the goodness" said l., t
tell me precisely how much all these fund
are worth you have bought for me?
1.-The calculation is easy" and takin,
out 1t pencil he ciphered on the back of
blank check for a few minutes, and thel
said: Zone hundred and twenty THOUSAND
dollars p
| opened both my ears and eyes.
"You say one hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars-are you quite certain 2"
Perfectly"
Not wishing to appear too startled, | re
piled briefly:
"That is we'll. Yon spoke also of
bank {"
eyes i; the establishment of the bank has
met with some difficulty, but the affair is no
less good. We are on the eve Of terminal.
ing it, and scrip is we'll up"
t'Could that scrip be also sold !"
eyes, and holding as you do, one hun
dred and fifty shares one thousand dollar
shares-whioh are tolerably up, you can
realize thereby eighty thousand dollars"
although, as yet, I have paid nothing?'
"Undoubtedly."
CAL right. since you say so. Now,
would like to make a good and safe invest
ment of the whole. Be so kind as to tell
me what you think"
"You will need q home here. Reserve
enough for that, and invest the balance in
fve-twenties, seven-thirties and ten-forties,
and other safe enterprises that will arise,
and the coupons aad profits will insure you
a nice income"
:'By disposing of what I have, in the way
specified" said I, "what will be the net an
nual incomeG"
'About twelve thousand dollars a year
on all your investment, which might be
judiciously used in increasing it,"
''Twelve thousand dollars a year, guess
I can manage to live on that" continued [.
"When can [ receive it?"
Tomorrow, if you confde the transac-
ton to our house."
''That, of course" was my rejoinder,
what other house could inspire me with so
great a degree of confidence {"
The president of the bank bowed, and
asked me to have a glass Of champagne,
Will it be believed? In the midst of all
these treasures I felt a certain embarrass-
ment in asking for a small amount, Of which
I stood in the greatest need. I had not a
dollar in my pocket.
With some confusion, I added:
"Can I, without indiscretion, beg you to
advance me, for the time being, a small
sum, which I need in my..progrcss through
this city :"
"Certainly, my dear sir. Our safe is at
your disposal. How much do you want ?
three, four, Or ten thousand dollars"
II do not require SO much just now-one
thousand dollars will be sufficient"
After I got the United States bonds and
other securities, and the thousand dollars [
wanted SO precisely, I arose to depart,
"NIay I beg YOU" said the president,
leading the way as | was going out, ''may
[ beg you to continue your favors to our
house :"
"Certainly, sir, you well deserve it," I
replied, conscious of having the vouchers of
a twelve thousand dollar income in my breast
pocket, one thousand dollars in g%reenbacks
in my pocket book, and sufficient securities
beside to secure a lot and build upon it a res
idence suitable to my taste.
Il have another favor to ask Of you," said
the President, ''come to tea this evening,
my wife will be so happy to meet you"
II regret that other engagements just now
call my attention for the day, and will deny
me the pleasure"
"To-morrow-any time, you will always
be welcome"
"Thank you. Good evening"
As I departed from the bank l began to
realize my wealth-my importance. Secur-
tiles for a p%fincely home and a prlncely in
come !! I had no doubt that I was destined
to resuscitate the noble house Of McArone
from the dark ages of oblivion. | was now
possessor of an income of twelve thousand
dollars a year. When I landed in st. Louis
[ had nowhere to take my trunk, and not
much more than its bus hire in my posses
sion. But now [ ordered a hack from the
the court house square, and, taking my trunk
from the Pacific Railroad depot, I put up in
a nice room at the Southern Hotel.
For several days I was tormented with
importunate visits. The entire staff Of the
four newspapers called about fifty times to
solicit my subscription. Begging letters lay
in piles upon my table. Invitations to sup
per, evening parties and %soirees arose around
me in odoriferous pyramids. Hungry edi-
tors came to ask me if | didn't want to run
on the independent ticket for Congress, or
for Mayor at the next, election. [ could
have their support. They could mould the
American, German and Irish elements OF
St. Louis, as the potter moulds the PLASTIC
clay.
About a week after my arrival at the
Southern Hotel the waiter brought me UP
the cards Of my friends Smith and Robinson.
I ordered them to be shown up. They were
astonished at my situation. 5l
cts the devil to be permitted to see you,'
said both nearly together.
eyes; I IN besieged by persons with al
sorts of solicitations and projects ; but you
my dear friends, you will always be vel
come. You are just in time to come ane
sec a site I have purchased, and where I an
about to have erected a regular mediava
castle. It will cost about one HUNDRED
| thousand dollars"
Il suppose it must be some considerabl
way from here" said Smith, with a signii
cant nod,
''Not far from the Fair Grounds" said l
"Let me take you there in my carriage"
"Your oarriage?"
"My carriage"
''You have a carriagew
Yes, and a spanking team, | bought tw
days ago"
My two friends retired to the window
where they whispered to one a%noteer, look
ing all the time very lugubrious.
Mac" said they, turning to me, ed