Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-09-23

WILL STICK TO HIS LAST,

The Speculation Which Taught Mr.. Willow
to Confine His Energies and Brains to
Calico and Muslin.
Oam willow was a prosperous dry
goods merchant. His store on Four
teenth avenue was the center of fashion
in that part of the city. However dull
his heighbors might be his store was
crowded from morning until evening,
and The cries of "Cash - followed
each ether so closely and continuously
that it sounded from the street like
public school on examination day. So
long as Mr.. Willow devoted his entire
attention to the dry-goods business he
proSpered. Owing TO his excellent
Judgment in the ne of calicoes, mus
Inns and hosiery he was always able to
dispose Of his purchases at a handsome
profit. But Mr.. Willow had one I'M
fortunate hab t. He was restless and
ambitious. He never learned to let
well enough alone. He was contEnu-
ally investing his surplus wealth in
outside speculations, which were with
out exception disastrously unproft-
able.
$50 you think of mortgaging the
house to raise fifty thousand dollars,
do you, Samson !" observed Mrs Wiz
low to him one morning recently.
Eyes, my dear" responded Mr.. Will
low, with ardor. ''I have a sure
thing"
Sure thing p'' returned Mrs. Will
low, incredulously. "Do you recol-
lect the sure thing you had last year?
1t was in wheat, | believe. You got
your pointer from q man who was get
ting up a corner.
Yes, my DEAR" answered Mr.. Will
low, ''but this is not a speculation at
all. 1t is as sure as taxes. "
Is it in the dry goods line ?''
"No, not exactly, but it viii pay
better than any dry-goods store since
Stewart died"
"What is it ?'' inquired Mrs Willow,
with more curiosity than she had yet
exhibited.
That's right, " replied Mr. Willow,
illogically but enthusiastically. "L
knew you would agree with me. It is
a gold mine"
ga gold mine, Samson Willow"
Eyes, my dear, veritable golconda,
bonanza. We will be princes, both
of us. Sure thing. Secret. No one.
knows of it but myself and one other
man. 'Frad he'll go to Jay Gould or
Vanderbilt with it if don't give him
my answer to-day"
LET me hear more about IT." said
Mrs. Willow, eXcitedly.
''This man arrived here last night
from Montreal. He came that way be-
cause he was afraid it would excite
suspicion if he came direct from Ari-
zona."
"Arizona?"
eyes, my dear That's where the
mine is. He discovered it while he was
prospecting for lead. No one knows
there is any gold there. He picked up
boulder Of sol gold, worth fifteen.
thousand dollars if it's worth penny
He says there is lots more of it there.
[ took it in my hands. 1t is heavy.
and solid. He wants me to 90 into
partnership with him. If [ give him
fifty thousand dollars he will give me
a half interest and the nugget. We
will use the money to buy machinery
and develop the mine"
''Let me see the gold, and if it is
true [ will sign the mortgage" eX-
claimed the old lady with decision.
you shall see it this very day." re-
turned Mr.. Willow.
And so she did. The next day the
mortgage was recorded. The gold was
promptly transferred and the lucky
miner went to Boston to buy the ma
chinery. Mr.. Willow was in an ecstacy
OF joy. He could hardly wait to sell
out his store and visit his wonderful
purchase.
Last week he bought back his store
at a loss of twenty thousand dollars
and rented his former house. He will
never leave the dry goods business
again. The cause of his change os
mind is explained in the following item
which appeared in local paper few
days after the sale:
'The large nugget labeled Austria
liam Gold, valued at fifteen thousand
dollars, stolen from the Geological
Museum in Montreal by burglars, turns
out to be merely plated lead fac-simile
of a celebrated nugget found some
years ago."-M T. Graphic.