The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-06-21
TOM sPRAGLIN'S FORTUNE.
Ely j. NJ. MALONE.

Tom Spraglin was clerk in a dry
goods establishment in little country
village "out West" TOMS salary was
small, very small yet, as he was a
Young man without any family, he
managed to keep himself handsomely
upon it. Besides, he occasionally made
something extra outside of his weekly
stipend for Tom was of quite specu-
iative turn of mind, and whenever he
saw an opening in which he thought q
dime could be made he was sure to
dive at it.
He had repeatedly tried gift enter
prises, lotteries, etc, but with not much
success, generally losing considerable
in the operation. Tom, who had a
keen eye for business, soon saw this,
and very naturally concluded, and with
saSeness, too, that it would be better
far better for him, pecuniarily, to let
such things as these alone in the fu-
ture; aud that if he had money to in
vest in anything, to invest it in some
thing better than mere contingencies
At length, however, it came, and il
made young Spraglin leap for joy
Sure, now, fortune, a competency was
his, if he would but reach forth his hand
and grasp it. 1t came in the shape of
a circular, a confidential one of course,
from the firm of Scrimps & Scrubs,
Broadway, New York. In substance it
was thus:
The said firm of Scrimps & Scrubs
were about to confde to his (Tom's)
keeping secret of vital Importance, a
secret, that if well kept, and faithfully
observed on his part, would be the
means of securing to him an indepen-
dent fortune. He had been recon-
mended to them by a gentleman of his
town to be young man of trustiness
and ability, and just the one to engage
in the business they were about to lay
before him. However, they would say
in the premises, if, after knowing the
nature of their business, he did not
choose to engage with them, they ear
nestly requested it of him to keep their
offer a profound secret, as it was one
that a divulgence of would surely bring
upon their heads irretlievable ruin aud
lasting disgrace, staining their hereto
fore unsullied regulations. For they
were men of high standing and social
position in their own city. They were
now placing themselves entirely at his
mercy. But they thought they need
no danger on this score, for
they had unbounded confidence in him:
and if he did fulfill their expectations.
he certainly would never regret it
Then came business. They wanted an
agent in his vicinity a shrewd, wide
awake man, and one Cup to snuff
one who could dispose of, per week, at
least thousand dollars of "Queer,"
culgo diet, counterfeit money. They
had an abundance of it on hand
They were regular manufacturers of it.
Would he accept an agency? This
was chance that but few, only the
most favored, had offered them; per-
haps he, if he sighted this one, might
never have it repeated. But they had
said enough; a word to the wise was
sufficient. And then they concluded
with very glowing description of the
stuff.
For while, after reading this mis-
sive, Tom was in the widest ecstacies
IF delight. Bright visions of future,
wealth filled his overturn-
ng .imaginations, and throwing himself
pack in his chair he laughed loud and
ong.
Rich! why, in a little time he would
DC equal in point of wealth to the
Rothschilds, the Astors, or any of
hem. He had never had any other
dea than at sometime wealth would
De his; but he never thought of it pre-
'enting itselfso suddenly, and lin a shape
20 easily come at as it had.
Would he take an agency? 1t tic
Sled him considerably, and he laughed
again still louder Ay, that he would
AXE it, and jump at the chance.
He well knew his determination was
lnything but honest, beside, being