The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-08-06
"A Fort2ame for n wink.

4 writer in Golden Days tells Il "truc
story" of how gentleman refused one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars for
winking his eye, and thereby preserved his
honor. The gentleman, who is called Mr.
X, occupied confidential position in a
great railway corporation. 1t was rumor-
ed that the company was about to assume
charge OF Il languishing railroad. If SO,
the stock of the latter would rise i'll price
Now, one bold speculator-or operator,
as they a e called in brokers' parlance--
was an intimate friend of Mr.. X. After
long reflection he came to the conclusion
that the best thing he could do was to call
on Mr.. X, ask in confidence for some def
nate information OH the subject, and offer
to share with Mr.. \. the profits Of any
venture that he might make Oh points
given by him. This lie did.
"Mr. X.,' said he, ''if | knew that the
transaction which it is rumored is to take
place in few days were really TO occur,
could, by buying up the stock of the coma
panv that is now in the market, make both
you and myself rich men. Can you not,
by word, say whether the runor will be
realized or lot?"
81 cannot say" Mr.. X. replied.
"But word" the broker persisted. ut
shall be share and share alike ..=
81 cannot say Mr.. x. repeated as be-
fore.
/; you need not speak then, the broker
said, excitedly. Lift your arm, nod your
head, lift your eyebrows"
II cannot Mr.. x. replied. as calmly
as was possible.
s.Do you not understand your own i'll.
/ terests p the broker burst forth, hotly
! 'sMr. X, you are u poor man. Now, i
! you will only heed me, you may become {
rich one in q day. Are these reports true
| If SO. can clear three hundred thousand
at !; stroke. The half Of that SUM shall b.
| yours. do not ask you for word; yol
need not open your mouth. Only winl
your eye. 1t is possible for you to maxi
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
sir, simply by winking your eye!"
How vast a sum to Mr.. x, who, though
entrusted with grave secrets, was still onl,
Il clerk, receiving but q moderate salary.
He was staggered for a moment, bu
soon regaining his composure, he looket
the eagerly-expectans broker in the face
and answered, Il cannot do it, = md lef
the room instantly.
The broker went ava. creatfalIen. Il
the absence or all definite information, h
feared to take the great risks which Away
attend speculating h the dark, and did no
invest any Of his money.
1 III q few days, however, the whole mat
I5ter.was settled. The great company di
really take in the smaller, and the stoe
almost doubled in value.
A few days after that, the broker me
I Mr.. Y. on the street, and smarting keenl
under the feeling that an enormous gai
i had slipped through his fingers, just fo
the. want off, word, he rashly upraided NJ
4 *. for what he called his .sobstinacy.n
Dir. n, like all men Of true power, keI
his temper, and turning to his rash revile
he said:
The temptation with which you ssssail
ed me was great, indeed, but had 4 trtis
to fulfill, and my honor II beyond price.
Although every one should do his dut
for dtsty's own sake, still it is always
pleasure TO see great deeds of honor met
with deserved reward.
It vas %, / am glad to say, IL Mr. n.
ease. His capabilities and his perfeetrel
!. ability soon secured him one Of the yer
: highest positions in the company who's
secrets he had guarded SO well and he
now paid a salary that II 1T least half !
4 large is that which the President Of VI
II United States receives.
! A Clergyman asked for ! pass on one
e3Ethe Illinois roads, the other day, On Il