The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-31
Select gtorg.
WALTERS SPECULATION.

"Walter, wouldn't do 1t. LII Dusl-
ness that we amt fit for. We are doing
very well now; at any rate we are walking
with our eyes open and managing our own
affairs. Think how we have worked and
contriyed, and almost stinted ourselves to
get that 81 900 into the bank And what
have we done it for? Don't you still de-
sire to own the Cranston meadow, and
don't you mean to put up the new barn !?
Oh! Walter Ifyou will listen to me |
will tell Mr.. Plausible Sparklcr to take care
of his own business and allow you to take
care of yours. Let US own the beautiful
meadow we have so long talked of, and let
us have barn room enough for the cattle
we can keep when the meadow is ours.
OIL think, my dear husband, we'll have
one Of the best and handsomest farms in
this whole region"
eyes, I know, Jennie; but you don't
exactly understand. You don't take into
account what is sure TO come back to us.
Think of the thousands we'll have where
now we've got little or nothing Why,
bless you look at it. Mr.. Sparkler has
made me a grand offer. He lets me have
the stock at $3.50 and the par value is
500. Why, I'd be fool not to take it.
He wouldn't do that to many-now, you
bet r
FWalter, are you entirely carried away
by that mans wonderful talk Now, will
you just listen to me for few moments ?
In the first place, you know very well that
Plausible Sparkler would not give dollar
to save you. He is not one of that kind.
Now, about the price of the stock. Look
me in the eye, Walter; would the man sell
you horse for one-quarter or one-half
what it was really worth Z? All you know
he wouldn't. No, the very fact that he
offers the shares at that price is proof that
they are good for nothing. And now,
there is just one more thing. If the land
of which Sparkler tells was so rich in min
erals, in coal and oil, and in such magnif
cent lumber, do you suppose that he and
his mates would be around among poor
folks like us, picking up dollar by dollar ?
No; you know they would easily find the
capital necessary to develop it.
"Ah! but, my dear wife, the very OBJ
ject of this company is to keep out those
wealthy capitalists. These men have been
poor themselves, and are bound to give
poor men chance. And, you see, they
must have money-capital with which to
develop the property and put it in working
order There are steam ensia..s to be put
up and furnaces and forges to j. Quilt, and
branch road must be built. Don't you
see? One or two thousand will"
'Two thousand Why, it was only
81 900 the other day.
"Yes, I know; but dye see, I've con-
cluded that $4,000 will double, and more,
too, for they will make me present of 80
shares outright if put in $4,000. That
would be $50 shares, and in less than
year that stock will be worth $10l In two
years it will be at par And We'll live to
see it worth an even hundred. / tell you,
Jennie. it's a big thing"
sBut where are you to raise 81 900
Walter ?"
"Why, we've got 81 900 in bank, and |
could raise 81 900 on the house and farm"
Jennie Witherell turned pale and trem-
bled. She was frightened, for she saw that
her husband was entirely infatuated. Wal
ter was 80 years of age, strong, steady,
industrious, simple-minded man; and she,
the wife, was two years younger. They
had been married eight years and three
beautiful children blessed their home.
Walter had received the farm with his wife.
1t had been her fathers. But there had
been a thousand dollar mortgage on it, and
that mortgage he had lifted with money of
his own when they were married, taking
the title deed in his own name. Thus far
in life he had been content to work honest
ly and industriously, seeing his store in
creasing slowly but sure. He was an ex
cellent mechanic house carpenter, and
when there was building to be done he
could assume directions of the work, re-
ceiying for his labor sufficient to hire three
strong men on his farm for the same time.
He had the best breed of sheep in the coun-
try, the best cows for milk and butter, and
some of the very finest blood in the way Of
horse flesh. In short he was one of the
most thrifty and most prosperous, in every
way, of the mechanic farmers in the State,
and the projectors of the "Grand Oriental
Petroleum, Mining and Manufacturing
Company" had spotted him as one Of their
first victims, and so plausibly had they
talked, SO grandiloquently had they set
forth the golden possibility of their vast
property, and 50 plainly had they given him
to see the wealth that must flow upon him,
that his head was turned.
On the very day after the conversation