The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-04
Speculative Bargains.

In ole the large city thorough fare
Of London, where several fine old wrecks
Of mansions testify to the pristiae splen-
dor OF the scene, not many years ago n
block OF those ancient seats OF grandeur
was to be sold. A purchaser presented
himself we will call him Alpha, His
offer Of ten thousand pounds was taken,
and the money was to be paid within a
certain number Of days. On his way
home Alpha meets Beta, and informs
him Of what he had bought, but not Of
the price paid. "Do you mean to keep
the property, or sell it? asked Beta.
81 don't mind parting with it for twenty
thousand pounds" answered Alpha.
Beta tried little fencing but he knew
the value Of the property, and he ulti-
mately gave the sum demanded for it.
A day or two after, Gamma receives II
note from Beta, to state that he has
certain houses and lnnd in his posses
sion, which he is half inclined to part
with will Gamma go aud look ut It for
himself, aud make IN offer II he is in
clincd to purchase ? Gamma went his
pnctiSed eye saw the value Of what was
for sale, and the future profit that could
be made OF it, Gamma and Beta had
tough discussion over the matter; but
result was that the former agreed to give
thirty.fye thousand pounds for Beta's
property, which he was half inclined to
part with ! Thus far all went on in a
bnsineSs.like way. Alpha gave his check
to the original seller for ten thousand
pounds, and took Beta's for double the
money while Beta received Gammp's
check for thirty five thousand pounds,
and pocketed the difference. All these
transactions were accomplished in about
n week or ten days. After little fur
ther lapse Of time Beta meets Gamma,
and sympathetically asks, "What are
you going to do with that property q
"Well,' replies Gamma, in cool, in.
different sort OF way, "on second
thought didn't care about keeping iti
and 80 ! have let il go ut IL sacritic ~
would it bo impertinent to ask what
you cal a sacrifice p "Notat all, " was
the frank reply Of candid Gamma. 81
let it go dirt cheap, considering its real
value wins satisfied with obtaining
fifty thousand pounds for it" "oh
were you really ~ gasped Beta "de.
lighted to hear 1t told you you would
make your money out Of the purchase,
when you bought the properly of me. -
" Have you any more to sell :" asked
Gamma. The lnGt was, in fact, well con-
tent with the way he turned his bargain.
Beta laughed, and expressed himself
satisdedtOo. He hurried of to Alpha, and
said to him, "Now that the business is
closed aud done between you and me,
will you tell me what was tho original
price paid for the property you sold 10
me ~" "With all the pleasure in life, "
answered Alpha. al gave ten thousand
pounds for it," "Now I'll tell YOU
something in return. You know | gave
you double that sum. sold at a profit
Of fifteen thousand pounds to Gamma,
of whom Delta has purchased it for fifty
thousand |" Alpha had reaped cent per
cent, but his heart sank within him.
He calculated the harvest he might have
gathered, and became depressed and al
together out Of tune. A fixed hut not
a pleasing melancholy seemed to en-
shroud him; and when he Is asked for
n subscription that may help to alleviate
some widespreading devastation, he
smiles u sad smile, shakes his head slow
ly; and apologetically remarks, "Haye
you forgotten that I lost forty thousand
poundsin speculation some time ago p
He is positive to this day, that il he
had met Delta first, instead of only
doubling his outlay, US he had done by
encountering Beta, lie would have null
tiplied it by five. He forgot his real
gain in his hypothetical loss, and ever
since he has refused to be comforted.-
Temple Bar