The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-15
A YOUNG NAPOLEON.
I.
"When Is it to be?"

cause ne was my lnL1mate LrlenO. lie n8Q
Sold me all about his engagement with
Varina Vincent, the pretty school teacher.
He had opened his heart to me, and felt
that had the right to ask when the we'd
ding would take place.
To my surprise Strong's handsome face
c1ouded and he paused for q moment be-
fore making reply.
''To tell you the TRUTH" he said, 1--WE
do not see our way clear to an early mar
rage. We are both poor, but we are
young and can afford to watt
said nothing, but I could not help
thinking In q small town like Cotton
vile Strong was regarded as very pros
porous young man. He had saved a few
thousand dollars, and his salary was the
highest paid to any one in the place.
Only few years before Strong had en-
tered country store as clerk on starva-
ton wages He had advanced steadily
until he had become the cashier of the
only bank in Cottonville.
81 have done pretty WE'LL" resumed
Strong, giving me keen glance, "but
do not know exactly how stand. Some
Of my investments may turn out well, or
they may ruin me. Besides, have bOr-
rowed some money"
"That is what cannot understand" I
interrupted. "You are prospecting, and
yet you borrow money for speculations.
That is not wise"
Strong laughed, and threw his head
back proudly.
cold fellow, you don't know my plans"
he answered; 81 have never made fail
ure yet have the gift of seeing farther
ahead than most people, and I am going
to utilize it. l borrow money, but know
where to place it. l don't venture be-
yond my depth. Debt is blessing under
some circumstances. The most successful
nations and individuals go the deepest in
debt"
1t was useless to argue with Strong. In
our debating society he had always come
off victor in every discussion. Self poised,
well equipped and magnetic, there were
few men, or women either, that he could
not win over>to his side.
''Varina understands me,' he said.
'iShe is willing to wait. She knows that
it is best for us both"
''Well, my young Napoleon" I re-
marked, 81 hope that one of your brill
liant, speculative campaigns will satisfy
your ambition, and that you will then
settle down and marry and take life as
you find it. Only few men find the
short cuts to fame and fortune, and it is
dangerous to seek them"
Everybody in COttOnville called Strong
the young Napoleon of business. His
brilliancy, his rapid intuition, his imperi-
GUS ways, and the fact that his classic
features resembled somewhat those of the
great Corsican, had fixed the name on
him when he was in his teens. And he
liked it. All men like to think that they
resemble heroes and conquerors.
"Twenty thousand dollars profit in cot
ton futuresp'
1t was big thing for Cottonville. But
the young Napoleon took it quietly. He
was not surprised, he said to his inquiring
friends. He had felt certain that he would
make ten strike.
81 am off for New York." said Strong,
the next day after the intelligence of his
good fortune had reached him. ''Goodby,
old fellow.''
''But when are. you coming back 20
asked, holding him by the hand.
ooh, l don't know. I can't very well
say at present"
''There is VarinaH' exclaimed. "Ah,
see. After your return there will be
wedding
"Don't bother me with that subject |
now," snapped my friend; "my head is
full of important business matters, and l
must 60 to New York. There is no way
out of it. 1t is all right with Varina. Of
course l am coming home as soon as !
possibly can, but have an opportunity |
Of getting on the inside in Wall street,
and l must CO."
"Getting on the inside?''
"Yes, / said so. But you know nothing |
about speculation and care less. I mean |
just this: / have some friends there who |
will put me up to something that will pay |
better than any of my past ventures
"My dear friend" / urged, "why not !
let well alone? With your present start
you will soon be the richest man in Cot |
1onville.'
SIN Cottonville!' he sneered. ''There, /
never mind that. / like the town and I |
am coming back Goodby."
People shook their heads at first. In
few weeks their suspicious were confirmed. |
Strong had plunged into the very vortex
IF the speculative maelstrom in Wall |
street, and it was not long before we
heard that he had made another lucky hit. |
"Strong is phenomenal genius in his |
way SttlU DitukcT OOIcS W liz Ouc Jay.
''He reads human nature at glance, and |
can adapt himself to any class of men. I
have no doubt that he is as much at home !
among the New York capitalists as If he |
had been one of them always. And he
will impress them, too, just as he i'm
pressed people here"
l ventured to express doubt.
''You are Mistaken" said Jones. |
'sHave you never noticed few rare men |
who seem to have nothing in common |
with the people around them-men who, |
from their birth, are cosmopolitan by ma
ture, with nothing provincial about them? !
Strong is such man. A stranger could |
not tell from his appearance and con-
what part of the country he is |
identified with. In New York, San Fran |
cisco or New Orleans he would be at !
home. 1t is only here, where he was born,
that he appears to be altogether different |
from his fellows"
Banker Jones was something Of q |
philosopher and had to yield to him.
saw Varina every day. Sometimes I |
was at the postoff1ce when she called for |
her mail, and was always well pleased |
to see her bend her pretty head and hurry |
~~~skA - Al