The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-15

Here is 81, 750 in cash, and here is a
check for "a, 700. Go in and win." =
Thornton jumped up and grasped my
hand, exclaiming:
you're man OF nerve You deserve
to be rich |" E
7 "Well," said I, 'it depends good
deal on you. See that you make no mis-
take"
Never fear," said he, "you'n be
worth 500, 900 before you know it."
After some further conversation we
parted, my occasional misgivings being
speedily dispelled by delightful visions
of sudden wealth.
You will see that had put into Thorn
toms hands the whole of my little inher-
itance together with two years interest,
which / had allowed to accumulate, my
salary for the last two years having been
amply sufficient for my wants. I am
satisfied that it would have been lucky
thing for me if 1 had lost every cent of
it. But, as it happened, Thorntons in
stinct was not at fault, he sold out at Just
the right moment, and found myself rs
he had predicted, worth $40, 900, besides
several odd hundreds with which L in
dulged in champagne, game suppers,
and some other expensive luxuries which
[ had hitherto entirely avoided.
L had self-control enough to deposit
my money in bank, keep my secret, and
attend steadily to my regular business.
Thornton, too, kept his affairs from his
employers, but continued to speculate
with his share of the profits made off my
capital, and with such success that in a
few months he was worth as much as L.
My resolution to be satisfied with what I
had made, and tempt fortune no more,
gradually vanished as [ noted his con-
tinued prosperity. and when he came to
me with secret information of projected
movement in leading stock, which prom
ised results of the most fattering charac-
ter, and told me he had invested every
cent he had in that stock, L readily agreed
to do the same. At first everything went
well. The stock began to rise slowly,
and at one time we might have made four
or five thousand apiece by selling, though
neither of us thought of that for q mo-
, ment. Then there came lull, and then,
without moments warning, the stock
tumbled with such frightful rapidity
that, before we realized it, our little for
haste to sell, but we found ourselves
each So, 900 in debt, and with no consola-
ton except that some dozens of fellow
speculatSrs had been cleaned out in the
same style as ourselves.
L shall not soon forget our meeting
after this disaster. I could not reproach
Thornton, for his losses were as heavy as
mine, and it was he who rescued us from
the dilemma of having to pay 81, 900 be-
tween us at once without funds, OF have
our. transactions exposed to our respec-
tive employers.
81 have friend" said he, "who will
shave our joint note for a fair discount,
and before it comes due, we shall have
time to get on our feet again..
cannot coy liked tile suggestion,
but there was no alternative. Thornton
introduced me l. his friend, the note
shaver, Mr.. jackson, a cunning, oily
man, with a disagreeable expression of
countenance, though his manner was
singularly polite, considering that we
could furnish no security. However,
we had to give him a note for S., 600,
payable in six months, with interest, in
order to get the 81, 600 we needed.
This transaction completed, we breath
ed more freely, feeling that we had at
least six months reprieve.
The misery endured during those six
months, 1 cannot attempt to describe
hardly saw Thornton, who studlously
avoided me, until one evening toward
the end of the fifth month, he called me
into Mouquin's, and showed me a release,
signed by Jackson, from all obligation
under our joint note.
"What does this mean ?" I gasped.
cit means that 1 have paid my half
with interest,"" said Thornton.
"And where did you get the money ?"
L cried, amazed.
"Speculating in stocks, was the cool
reply. "Why don't you? 1 suppose
Wilson, Carter & Go. would lend you
enough to begin with. At any rate you
can borrow it of them, even if they don't
lend it.
- With these words Thornton turned
and abruptly walked away L suppose
he meant to do me a service by this in
fernal suggestion, but he might better
have thrust dagger into my heart. 1
cannot tell how brooded that night.
over what he said, or how the next day
L tremblingly acted upon it, employing
young broker, to whom Thornton had
introduced me, to invest the purloined
funds. l had some delusive successes,
but the day the note came due 1 pos
sessed not cent to meet my share of it,
and was 81 800 behind in my accounts
with my employers. mastering up all
my courage L called on Jackson, told
him had not been so fortunate as my
friend Thornton, and ventured to propose
that he accept my note for So, 900 in set
tlement of my present obligation.
81 will do SO readily" said he,
"upon one condition, and that is, that
you have good name at the back Of it. -.
"But I hardly know to whom L could
apply" said. 81 would much rather
give you greater discount on my own
promissory note-in fact, any discount
you choose to demand"
"And that's the very reason, my dear
fellow, said Jackson, 81 will not do it,
unless 1 have good name at the back.
On that condition have no objection to
make it year, SO as to allow you suffi-
cient time to look about you and pay the
money comfortably. Now, think well if
there is any person to whom you could
apply. You are very thick with the
Junior partner in your firm, why not get
him to put his name to it? At any rate
You can but ask him, and the thing may
be done tomorrow. Now take my ad-
vice and try the experiment"
L left jackson, hardly knowing what
to do. True, I was on very friendly
terms with the junior partner, son of the
senior hartman and ba1iava he. howe mn