The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-12

/ looked grave as ] reflected that this
was undoubtedly the fact.
What have you done with your
$250?" [ inquired.
Bought Erie, of course. I'll treble
it, sure"
/ cross-questioned him closely, went
over the newspaper reports once more,
and then took my resolution. Calling
for pen and ink / filled up q blank check
and said, handing him the package of
greenbacks.
"Here is $1,750 in cash, and here is a
check for 81, ZOO. Go in and win"
Thornton jumped up and graspsd my
hand, exclaiming:
"You're a man of nerve! You deserve
to be richl"
WELL" said lit depends a good
deal on you. See that you make no
mistake"
"Never fear, said he, you'll be worth
$4,000 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 I had put into
Thornton's hands the whole of my little
inheritance together with two years in
terest, which | had allowed to accumu-
late, my salary for the last two years
having been amply sufficient for my
wants. I am satisfied that it would
have been a lucky thing for me if I had
lost every cent of it. But, as it hap
pened, Thornton's instinct was not at
fault, he sold out at just the right mo-
ment, and I found myself as he had pre-
dicted, worth $4,000 besides several
odd hundreds with which I INDUCED in
champagne, game suppers, and some
other expensive ..luxuries which l had
hitherto entirely avoided.
/ had %selfcontrol enough to deposit
my money in bank, keep my secret, and
attend steadily to my regular business.
Thornton, too, kept mis- 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 I.
My""resolution to be satisfied with what
I had made, and tempt fortune no more,
gradually vanished as I noted his con-
tiuued prosperity, and when he cane to
me with secret information offs projected
movement in leading stock, which prom
ised results of the most f1attering charac-
ter, and told me he had invested every
cent he had in that stock, / readily
agreed to do the same. At first every
thing went well. The stock began to
rise slowly, and at n time we might
have made four or five thousand apiece
by selling, though neither of us thought
of that for a moment. Then there came
lull, and then, without q moments
warning, the stock tumbled with such
frightful rapidity that, before we
realized it, our little fortunes were swept
away. Thorton made haste to sell, but
we found ourselves $4,000 in debt, and
with no consolation except that some
dozen INTERPRETATIONS had been cleaned
out in the same style as ourselves.
l shall not soon forget our meeting
after this disaster. Y could not reproach
Thorton, for his losses were as heavy as
mine, and it was he who rescued us from
the dilemma of having to pay $4,000 be-
tween us, at one without funds, er have
our transactions exposed to Jul respec-
tive employers.
al have a 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."
l cannot say I liked the su DIGESTION,
but there was no alternative. Thornton
me to his friend, the note
a Mr.. Jackson, a cunning, oily
man, with a disagreeable expression Of
oountenance, though his manner was
'ingularly polite, considering That we
could furnish no security. However,
We had to give him a note for $4,000,
in six moths, with interest, in
'rder to get the $4,000 we needed.
Thistransaction completed, we breathed
more freely, feeling that We had at least
six months reprieve.
The misery I endured during those
tx months, I cannot attempt to describe.
hardly saw Thornton, who studiously
me, until n evening, toward
he end of the fifth month, he called me
nto Mouquin's, a~n9es'oWed me release,
igned by Jackson, from all obligation
lnder our joint note.
What does this Eaean ?" I gasped.
cit means that I have paid my half
With interest" said Thornton.
"And where did you get the money ?"
cried, amazed.
Specializing in Stocks" was the cool
eply. why don't you? l suppose
Carter & Co. would lend You
nough to begin with. At any rate you
borrow it Of them, even if they don't
end it.n
With these words Thornton turned
nd abruptly walked aWay, supnose