The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-03-25


Whether the contract was signed else
where may be matter Of controversy.
II 80, it bore the date May IL, 1888.
CHAPTER II.
SMALL LOANS
OF all the gifts that are bestowed by |
the children Of men upon their fellows
none so little deserve the good name Of
charity as tips to walters. Russell be-
slowed his last quarter upon the man
who had served him with as much per-
sonal good will as he would have felt II |
he had dropped it in the slot Of ma
chine for tho dissemination Of chewing |
gum. The action was part Of his as
sumed character, and so was the cor
diality Of the accompanying feeling, II
he had only known it.
He walked out OF the restaurant and
leaned against building which cost .
million dollars. Then he looked across
the way at another Of equal magnih-
cence, and reflected that he hadn't q
cent in the world. He tried to estimate
the value OF the land they stood upon.
and wondered whether he had ever had
money enough to buy lot with two
feet frontage and six feet depth for q
grave.
But these gloomy speculations were
merely the first fruits Of his penniless
condition. The influence Of new ideas
and good meal triumphed over de-
spondency. Already he was working
out the details Of scheme full Of novel
experiences and large profits. Gilbert
Ray had begun life with borrowed
hundred dollars, and was worth mill
ions. Would not a smaHer initial loan
answer for man with mslerate expect
ations? II money could be made to
grow at oil, why not indefinitely; and,
II so, what practical difference did 1t
make how small the start WASP He did
not know anybody who would lend him
a hundred dollars, but he thought he
could borrow a quarter somewhere.
With that in hand, he might borrow a
half dollar; pay the quarter; and then
borrow dollar to pay tho half. The
possibility OF such a progression evil
IDENTIFY depended upon the careful use Of
each successive loan, and II the series
were carried far enough 1t would end in
riches and an established credit.
The wine OF the Cafe Napoleon must
have been strong, for the scheme looked
plausible to him. He Immediately be-
gan to run over the list Of his acquaint-
ances in order TO select the man who
should furnish the first loan. Russell
had never been borrower; in fact he
could not remember when he had asked
such favor OF anybody. But he had
often lent money, and that ought to give
him an advantage. He made out list
OF ten men whom he had frequently sup
piled with lunch-money during the last
six years. To the best Of his recollec-
tion they were all indebted TO him for
certain forgotten loans, but he resolved
not to mako any claim upon them for
past favors.
II Russell had known more about the
subject he would havo chosen any ten
men in the world rather than these.
The more money one lends TO man,
the less one can borrow Of him. So IL
happened that in three hours he had
called upon nine OF these men and had
found them all unable to accommodate
him. His method OF address was not
good. II is a difficult thing to ask for
loan, and the man who hasn't had
practice in the art is at great disad-
vantage. The confirmed borrower who
knows that tho chances are ten 10 one
against his paying, always. has a tact
which carries him through, even when
the lender has an equal lack OF conf
dence in final restitution. = tft III "
When Russell closed in upon his tenth
man he had begun to be discouraged.
This persons name was Rawson, and he
had been a clerk with Russell In the old
times, but being Of an ambitious dispo-
sition, he had abandoned salaried work
for the real estate and mortgage busi-
ness, wherein ho had prospered TO such
an extent that he was reputed 10 be
eating widows houses at the rate Of
three square meals day.
Russell hardly expected TO find Raw
son In his oftice as late as Eve o'clock,
but there he sat surrounded by aggres-
siye evidences OF prosperity. Russell
was embarrassed. He tried 10 remem-
Der some OF the easy formulas with
which Rawson himself used 10 approach
the subject, but none Of them seemed
10 flt the case In hand, so he said good
afternoon, and hoped Mr.. Rawson found
business good. That prosperous gen.
tleman, remembering q small balance
against himself in their old accounts,
supposed that Russell had come TO col
iect It, and the thought excited his re-
sentiment. He blew great cloud
OF smoke in Russell's direction and re-
piled that business was bad, and he was
much pressed for ready money.
"That's unfortunate for YOU" said
RUSSELL 'and for me, too, because |
called
"I'm sorry, old man." said Rawson,
"but haven't red cent. just bor-
rowed my car fare from the ofiloe boy.
but I'm expecting Q big Doodle next
week, and II you'll call Tuesday'-he
made o benevolent gesture and added,
in an inaudlble tone; IN be In Buf-
falo."
Then Russell went out with feeling
Of desperation In his heart. and, meet.
ling on the stairs man whom he had