Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-06-28


[ had self-control enough to deposit my
money in the bank, keep my secret, and
attended 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
few months he was worth as much as /.
NY resolution to be satisfied with what |
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 1attering 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 one time we might
have made $4,000 or $4,000 apiece by
selling, though neither of US thought of
that for moment. Then there came a
lull, and then, without a moments warn
ing, the stock tumbled with such fright
full rapidity that, before we realized it,
our little fortunes were swept away.
Thornton made haste to sell, but we found
ourselves each $4,000 in debt, and with
I no consolation except that some dozen of
felloW-speculatOrs had been cleaned out
in the same style as ourselves.
/ shall not soon forget our meeting after
the disaster. l could not reproach Thorn
| ton, for his losses were as heavy as mine;
it was he who rescued us from the di
lemma Of having to pay $4,000 between
US at once, without funds, or have our
transactions exposed to our respective en-
ployers.
Il 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."
| cannot say liked the suggestion, but
there was no alternative. Thornton intro
duced me to his friend, the note-shaver,
a Mr.. jackson, a cunning, oily man, with
a disagreeable expression of countenance,
though his manner was singularly polite,
considering that we could furnish no Sc
curity. However, we had to give him a
note for $4,000, payable in six months,
with interest, in order to get the 81, 900 we
needed
The transaction completed, we breathed
more freely, feeling that we had at least
six months repTieve.
The misery | endured during those six
months [ cannot attempt 20 describe. [
hardly saw Thornton, who studiously
avoided me, until one evening toward the
end of the fifth month he called me into
Mouquins and showed me release,
signed by our Jackson, from all obliga
ton under our joint note.
"What does this n ean?' | gasped.
" 1t means that | have paid my half
with interest,"
And where did you getthe money ?" I
cried, amazed.
"Speculating in stocks" was the cool
reply. "Why don't you? ] suppose Will
son, Carter s. Co. would lend you enough
to begin with. At any rate you can Dor
row it of them, even if they don't lend
it."
With these words Thornton turned and
abruptly walked away. | suppose he
meant to do me a service by this internal
suggestion, but he light better have thrust
dagger into my heart. [ cannOttell how
L brOOded that night over what he said, or
how the next day | tremblingly acted
upon it, employing a young broker, to
whom Thornton had introduced me, to in
vest the purloined funds. had some de-
luSive successes, but the day the note
came due / possessed not a cent to meet
my share of it, and was 81, 500 behind in
my accounts with my employers. Mus
tering up all my courage | called on Jack
son, told him had not been so fortunate as
pose that he accept my note for S., 900 in
settlement of ny present obligation.
L will do so, readily" said he, "upon
one condition, and that is, that you have
! good name at the back of IT'D
but | 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.n
a." And that's the very reason, my dear
fellow" said Jackson, g | will not do it,
unless | have good name at the back On
that condition / have no objection to make
it a year, so as to allow you sufficient time
| to look about you and pay the money COM
fortably. Now, think we'll 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 to-mor-
row. Now, take my advice and try the
experiment"
left jackson, hardly knowing what to
do. True, | was on very friendly terms
with the junior partner, and | believe he
bore me great good will. Still, it was a
very dangerous experiment to try, for if
he should refuse and inquire into my ac-
counts, he would find me a defaulter to
the amount of 81, 500.
And here | must hurry over the partic-
| ularS of the crime [ committed, so pain
full are they to think of. Suffice it to say,
instead of obtaining his signature, | was
guilty of forging it. My renewed note
was accepted, but it would be impossible
to describe the terrible state of my mind
The only method | had of relieving my
self from the penalty of my crime would
be by perpetrating others; and this, felt
convinced, would only be to prolOng, for
short time, the misery l was in. a feel
ing of recklessness then came on, and /
resolved to let things take their course.
Just before the Office was about to close,
one day, Jackson entered and told one of
the Junior clerks he wished to speak with
the senior partner. Although he remained
In my room during the time the youth
went with the message, he took not the
slightest notice of me, but, with perfect
command OF cOuntenance, looked about
him till his eye fell on me, when he
showed no more appearance of recogni-
ton than if l had been total stranger
He was soon after ushered into the senior
partners office, and ], closing my desk,
| put on my hat, and, in a state of terror it
would be impossible 10 describe, returned
home. The state of my mind that night
would battle all description. | tried to
sleep off the danger | was in. All was
useless; and | turned over in my mind in
Vulnerable schemes of the vaguest descrip-
ton by which to save myself. When I
think them over now, and can estimate
their utter worthlessness and absurdity, /
can easily understand was in the condi-
ton of the drowning mau who catches at
| a straw.
The next morning, entirely forgetting
my breakfast, in a fit of recklessness I
dressed and went to the office. Shortly