Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-14

over the printed lines. His eyes spark
led and his rigid jaws relaxed. Tho
''OpaQue'' Gold and Silver Mining Com
pany had declared dividend OF two per
cent, payable in sixty days! His ner-
vous fingers clutched the paper as he read
it again and again, laughing historically
the while; then holding it at arm 's-length
in front of him, he rushed franticallv
around the room at the rate of 1000
quarter miles in 1000 quarter minutes.
once, twice, three times, then bolted out
OF the door, and around the corner to his
friend Jimson, with whom he was accus-
toned occasionally to exchange accomo-
dation. He explained the situation brief
ly, and showed the letter to Jimson, who
smiled grimly and said nothing, but
wrote out the check.
II shan't forget you, old friend" said
Smiley, shaking the others hand, warm
~, ~ shan't be the least proud-not T."
The note was PAID, and Smiley was in
an improved heaven. His thoughts were
above selling dry-goods, and his business,
lett to 60 of itself, soon clogged and ran
down. Smiley spent his days roaming
through the city, posting himself on the
value Ut real estate, and noting available
bargains. He set his mind upon half
block of unimp1oved property near the
Park, and busted himself with original
and decidedly novel designs for dwelling
houses which he proposed erecting there
ON. He spent hours contemplating the
show-windows Of Fifth Avenue tailors.
but couldn't decide upon which would
suit him best, pattern that afforded on
ly two checks between the two garments,
or a rig out Of pure white flannel. He
went down to the Ledger Office, and in
curing for Mr.. Bonner personally, want
ed to know if perhaps be hada team of
roadsters with first class record that he
wanted to sell. He commenced negotia-
lions tor an elegant sarcophagus, weigh
ing seventeen tons, and fitted with dyna-
mite attachments, remarking:
"Crime is contagious, and nobody
knows what might happen: we rich men
must take precautions in time"
Meanwhile poor Mrs. S. found her
meagre weekly allowance considerably
abbreviated, and when She asked the rea-
son, her husband mysteriously said: "Pa-
tience, my dear, and you shall see. You
shall rldein your own carriage yet, and
wear silks and satins, aud a real sea-
skin sacque.''
This time Mrs. Smiley concluded that,
without doubt, it was her husband
himself who was gong tc fail.
She had confidence in her weaker half.
and so she waited patiently, and lived on
hash and liver and high anticipattons,
while the poor children were restricted
to butterlng their bread on one side
when their was butter on the table.
Three weeks from the date of the first
letter, there came a notice of another
dividend, this time of one per cent,
payable IN ninety days. Smiley could
not believe his eyes. He was as COM
pletely beside himself as if he had been
the Siamese twins.
He hurried right off to TiAiany's and
asked to see the handsomest pair of dia-
mond earrings they had. A rising young
plumber had just been III to purchase a
few trinkets for his girl, as the salesman
apologetically explained, and had cleaned
out all the larger stones. They had
nothing better than pair of 7 1-2 carats,
but expected some larger ones in a few
days.
"You'll let me know when you have
something halfway respectable,', said
Smiley, tossing his card down and walk
ing stlffly away.
SPY George" he muttered, eff this
keeps"on, I may be Alderman yet"
BY this time he was prepared for any
extravaganza of good fortune, and when.
few days later, he received from his
broker anote requesting him to meet him
in the ante-room of the Stock Exchange,
he was not at all unnerved. Probably
some one had offered to purchase his hun
dred shares at par. Or perhaps the min
ers had struck rich new vein, and
dividend so enormous had been declared
that Sharpe feared he might die of heart
disease if he heard it too suddenly
He was comparatively calm, and tried
very hard to preserve dignifed indif-
ference, but when he saw Sharpe Sharpe,
the good angel to whom he owed all
this-he could not restrain himself, and
he rushed to embrace him with outstretch-
ed arms.
But Sharp wasn't affectionate; he
waved him off and handed him a letter.
"Tell me how much it is2 can stand
it."
'Read that, Smiley, read that" and he
wrinkled his forehead, blinked his eyes,
and screwed up his mouth in the approx
ed pantomimic expression OF sympathy.
And Smiley read with blanched face:
Office of the 0paqua Gold and Sszver
Mining Co., 222 New st., Neu York C;ty.
Dear Sir-Enclosed you will find note
at six months for one hundred and twelve
50-1o0 dollars (112.5V, being dividend
OF 1-8 per centum on one hundred shares
capital stock of the O. G.. s. s. N. Co.,
Nos. 11512-11611 inclusive. The
lease of the mine having expired, the
company is compelled to go into liquida-
ton, and this dividend represents the
proceeds of the sale of the machinery,
out-buildings, and total available asset.
The outstanding liabilities now in pro-
cess of adjustment, will necessitate an
assessment of about per cent, and you
will hold yourself ready to honor our
sight draft to that amount.
Yours, &C.,
UR1AH SKINNER, President.
D. ED. BETTE, Secretary.
Puck.