The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-11-12

which we have listened, M. RlAuslDle
Sparkler called at Walter Withereil's house
finding himself and his wife both in. He
was a man of middle age-about forty-with
light, faxen hair, neatly oiled and curled,
and an immense haxen moustache, a pair of
eyes Of light blush gray, which in certain
lights, scintiIlated like the eyes OF a squirrel;
a prominent Roman nose, like the cutwater
isboat, with slopiDg forehead, and a pair
of ears that betokened ssinine will combined
with great caution. He was dressed in the
very height of fashion, wore an immense
diamond Tor pastel in his shirt front, and a
heavy, weight of bright, yellow metal ut
looked like gold attached to his watch.
AHA hal ha" laughed Sparkler, after
he had laid out his brilliant plan for the
hundredth time and had, in bold fancy,
filed Walters Golfers to the br1m with gold.
"Hal hsl hal Old Spoopendyke came to me
yesterday and wanted to give me his block
of eight story marble front steps in New
York for two hundred shares of our stock.
All! the old rascal has long head on his
shoulders He can see-aye, see-what our
enterprise must come 10. But I did not lis
ten. You can imagine that it was great
temptation, but put it behind me. We
had resolved that we would not give our
property to make wealthy men wealthier;
but to make poor men weallhy-poor men
who were at the same time deserving. Think,
my dear Witherell-you will own more
thsn old Spoopendyke proposed to take for
that valuable estate in the great metro polls"
And 30 the oily-tongued man talked on
until Walter had the same as promised that
he would be prepared to take the stock on
the morrow.
That very afternoon after Sparkler had
gone, Walter filled out mortgage deed with
his own hand and then called in Justice to
acknowledge the signature OF himself and
wife. Jennie signed it. but it almost broke
her heart to do il. And during the evening
he took the deed to the man of whom he was
to have the money, and received $1,000
ten new crisp 500 greenbacks, fresh from
the United States Treasury.
When Walter reached home, on his re-
turn from the money lenders he found
boy at the door with a telegram. 1t was
from his sister. informing him of the sick
ness of his mother. THE Doctor says danger
Gus. Come Immediately" was at the close
of the message.
The nearest railway station was six miles
dista:t and there was no train until morn
ing which would help him on his way. How
ever, the business to be done with Mr.. Spark
Ter he could leave With his wife lust as we'll.
the preliminaries had been all arranged and
all that remained to be done was TO pay over
the moneys O00-and take the certificate
of stock.
There will be a paper to sigma sort of
bond-just for FORMS cake. which you can
sign Just as well. The wife's name is good"
Hadn't you better give me the power Of
attorney" suggested Jennie. "Mr. Sparkler
may refuse TO take my name without some
such thing Just you sit down aud write out
q simple statement that you give me entire
authority to sign for you a certain paper
stating what 1t is, and that you will hold
yourself bound thereby"
Walter liked the idea, aud he proceeded
forth with to make out the paper as his wife
had suggested. He gave her this, together
with 50 600 in money, and she was to do the
business with Sparkler. The 81, 600 from the
savings bank he had drawn that very day, so
that the money was all ready
On the following morning Walter ate an
early breakfast, then harpessed the horse
which his wife was used to driving. and hav-
ing kissed his little ones, he entered the car
riage, and Jennie drove him over TO the sta
ton, and stopped there and saw him OFF. On
her way home she stopped at the dwelling of
her dear friend, Kate Moulton. whose hus-
band was going to take 81 900 worth of stock
of the Grand Orient Petroleum Mining and
Manufacturing Company.
Kate" said Jennie, "Charle will surely
take this stock?'
Yes; have tried to persuade him, but he
will not listen.'
Dear Kate, 1 want you to do me favor.
Listen" And she whispered the request
into her ear, so that not even the walls
should hear it. Twill you do itT'
And Kate Moulton promised that she
would do it, upon which Jennie Witherell
went home quite content
1t was afternoon when Mr.. Sparkler called,
bright and bustling ready for his business
with Walter Withereu. He was somewhat
disappointed when he found that the man
was gone, but when the wife had assured
him that she was fully empowered to act for
her husband, he was content. She led him
into the library and gave him a seat after
which she proceeded to business. And
I DInr--
quite so ready to his hand as he might have
found the master of the household. How
ever, she managed to get through the bust
ness after fashion, and she breathed more
freely when she had seen the last of the
philanthropic Speculation.
On the morning of the next day telegram
came from Walter. to his wife, informing her
that his mother was failing and she had bet
ter join him with the children, and on the
day after that, leaving the house in the care
of their one house servant and the farm
hands, she set forth in answer TO her hus-
bands call.
She arrived in season to see Walters
mother alive, and to sit by her side when she
fell asleep. They tarried until after the
funeral, and then returned home and took
up the usual cares of lite.
Ii was on the second morning after their
arrival home that Jennie gave TO her hus-
band large, legal-looking envelope within
certificate of the Grand Orient Petroleum
| Mining and Manufacturing Company, certi-
| tying that Walter WitheTeu, in the sum of
| two thousand dollars the receipt whereof
was thereby acknowledged, was entitled to
eight hundred and fifty shares of the capital
stock OF said company, etc.
| Wster carefully Iefolded the handsome
| flaming document, put it back into its en-
velope and put it away in private drawer
of his secretaire, and from that time ceased
to talk about it That is, he talked no more
with his wife, but ever aud anon, when he
CHANGED to meet Charles Moulton aud
George Simmons both of whom had bought
some of the same stock, he would pass a few
words with them on the subject.
Time passed on-six months were gone,
and not word had Walter heard from
SparkIer, He began to be uneasy, and,
more than once, had said TO himself be
wished he had not taken that stock He had
heard of the failure of many companies
which had proved to have been simply
frauds and cheats.
Nine months had passed, when, one day
Charles Moulton stopped Walter in the street
and asked him il he had received notice OF
assessment-l0 per cent.-from the Treasurer
of the Grand Orient, No, Walter said be
had not.
WELL" said Moulton, "they sent to me,
and notified me that IL the assessment was
=