The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-09-20
A LAPSE OF MEMORY.
An Annoyance That Proved q Bless
ing in Disguise.

An Annoyance That Proved q Bless
ing in Disguise.
The theory of a special providence
will account for one little matter con-
nected with my personal history that
nothing else will. It's nothing of
story; it's only simple fact, but as it
had quite an important bearing on my
life it is something am not likely to
forget 1t was during my first year as
cashier of a bank. It was memora-
BILE year in one other respect, for had
gained the consent of the one dear girl
on earth to make me the happiest of
men. So, with s, good position, good
health, correct habits, the confidence
and goodwill of my fellow-men. and
the love of the sweetest and dearest of
girls, ought to have been happy
and l was. There was only one OBJ
stacle to the perfect contamination of
my happiness, and that was the fact
that l was poor and must of necessity
wait year before could ask Nell to
share my lot with me. But Nell I'M
derstOod this and was content to wait.
In fact, it didn't occur to either of us
that we had any alternative but to wait,
so We were philosophical over the mat
ter-and happy. One evening, as sat
in my room cutting the pages of a mag
azine was going to take to Nellie, /
heard quick rap at my door, and,
opening it, admitted my old friend.
Bob Bowen. Bob was an energetic,
dashing. enterprising young fellow,
with a good reputation in every way,
and remarkably clear-headed on bust
ness matters, so when he remarked in
lbs brusque, off-hand way: TON, I've
got good thing for you," why
pricked up my ears at once, prepared
to accept the fact that he really had.
"Now, Tom," said he, drawing his
chair up close to me, iii be brief. for
we have no time to lose. A friend of
mine has the option of buying a farm
on which valuable vein of coal has
been discovered for the pitiful sum of
$1,000. His option runs out tonight
at twelve o'clock. Now he has pur-
chaser ready to take this land off his
hands tomorrow morning at eight
o'clock for the snug little sum of $780,
600. You see, the party thinks he
already owns the land. Now. my friend
has been delayed in getting his money.
He won't get it until to. morrow MORN
ing. too late to do him any good. So,
you see, he has got to have IS, 600 to-
night"
''But what is this to me?" said I.
Il haven't got any little S.. 900 to help
him with"
''Of course not" said Bob, ''but
here, my boy, my friend offers to di-
vide with me what he makes in this
transaction if will help him out. for
he hates like the deuce to be beaten at
the eleventh hour. Now. l want to
help him, and If you will help me in a
way that you can, I'll divide with you.
and before breakfast tomorrow morn
ing you will have the snug sum of
5000. which may have the effect of
hurrying forward a certain happy day
-ehp" and he nudged me playfully in
the ribs.
very we'll, said I, "conceding that
would be a very agreeable little sum
to possess. ! am as much in the dark
as ever as to the help I can render"
But. Tom." interrupted Bob. "let
me impress one fact upon your mind.
The money is wanted only until to-
morrow morning at eight o'clock pre-
cisely. That is just as certain to oc-
cur as the sun is to rise. l saw the
man who Is to pay the money. / saw
the money. Now. Tom. you know
am your friend. and wouldn't do any
thing that is not perfectly straight
and honorable. Now, Tom, you can
have the $3.50 without doing any
one any harm or perpetrating any
wrong"
You mean." said I, coldly, for
was beginning to get the drift of his
scheme. that could steal this money
from the bank"
Nonsense. Tom" interrupted Bob,
'.you insult me by supposing that
could hint at such a suggestion Listen
to my plan now. You know very well.
Tom, that if you should say to the
board of directors tomorrow morning:
my friend here wants to borrow
5000 and | will indorse his note for
him. they wouldn't hesitate a moment
in letting me have it. Now. want to
borrow $1,000 and l can't wait until
the bank opens tomorrow morning.
want it and must have it tonight
You can sign a note with me for the
amount we will go to the bank and
get the money, leaving the note in the
place Of it. In the morning before the
bank opens the note will be taken up,
nothing done that has not been
straight. business-like and honorable,
but you will be richer by 1850.
Now. If you can find any moral flaw in
this simple little matter of business,
you have sharper perceptive powers
than have"
Bob's reason began to look piausi-
Bile. |. was quite true. as he said,
that the board of directors would will
ingly loan him s.. 600. but after all
this business was little irregular aud
didn't feel quite right about it.