St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-07-11

It seemed, indeed, as II this would b
the case. The stock began to rise stead.
lily. From fifty-six it rose to sixty-ive
in fortnight.
81 have made one hundred and eighty
dollars so far" said Albert exultingly.
''What do you think of that?"
'You had better sell cut. and secure
IT," said his wife.
'Not l. I will hold on. and mako
more"
1T may go down again"
Il don't believe it."
And Il did not 20 down. The fact
was some strong parties controlled the
stock. who were adroitly manipulating
il for q rise. So. quite independently
of its actual value. il rose steadily until
It touched ninety.
At that point Albert was fortunate
enough to sell out, receiving for his
twenty shares eighteen hundred dol
lars
He announced this to his wife with
great satisfaction.
~ clear profit Of six hundred and
eighty dollars" he said. "As much as
| could lay by in three years-and I've
done It inside OF two months Id bet
ter have kept il in tho savings bank.
hey?"
Take my advice. and put It back
there, Albert BE content with what
you have made. and don't risk the mon
ey again"
But Albert Grafton had had taste Of
spcculatiop, and the fatal fascination
was upon him
IL must make another venture, Al
icc." he said. Il don't deny there's
some risk. but want to make little
more"
"You can't expect to be lucky every
time"
1T wasn't luck. used my best judg-
ment 10 the investment, and il turned
out we'll"
lie began, despite his wife's remon-
strances. to seek out another chance
for a speculation. He was shown the
prospectus of o petroleum company,
which was represented rs wonderful
for the unparalleled yield Of the wells
already opened upon it Capital was
needed to sink an additional number.
which there was every reason to think
would yield equally we'll For that
purpose limited amount of stock was
offered to the public at the extremely
low price Of ten dollars per share.
Albert decided to invest his entire
capital in this promising speculation.
lie paid over eighteen hundred dollars,
and received in return = certificate OF
one hundred and eighty shares. which
he showed with great satisfaction to
his wife.
The shares, It is thought, will 60
up to twenty dollars in a month" he
said
But unfortunately they did not
They remained at par only week. and
then declined to nine. Somewhat un-
easy. Albert went to the secretary of
the company for an explanation. He
was assured by that gentleman that it
was all right; that the decline was ow-
ing to the efforts of . largo operator
who wished to buy in cheap. and profit
by the subsequent advance.
II this was the case the operator was
successful. since another week brought
OOWu inc pTlCc W SCSCA
Mrs. Grafton urged her husband TO
sell out
..What, and lose over five hundred
dollars?" he exclaimed II am not such
. fool"
''But you mny have to lose more"
mo. the officers say it is all right
They arc now digging wells As soon
as they prove successful the stock will
take bound upward"
Meanwhile the stock sank to Eve, and
again Alice besought her husband to
sell ''You will get back nine hundred
dollars" she said.
"And lose nine hundred? No. ! win
see it through" he said.
Poor Alice looked on with dismay.
Her heart sank within her every day
when she took up the evening paper,
and noticed q further decline in the
stock in which her husbands all was
invested She saw that he was too
headstrong to be influenced, and looked
forward sadly to the entire loss Of the
money.
Tho decline continued. until the
stock touched three. Albert began to
feel serious
.What do You think Of your stock?"
he asked Champion.
II am out Of II. was the reply.
''Out of il. When?"
81 sold out 1t four-I have lost conf
dence in It."
In panic Albert went to his broker
and directed . peremptory sale. The
next day he sold out. realizing two
dollars per share. instead of the orig.
inal ten. making three hundred and
sixty dollars. He hardly knew whether
to be glad or sorry when he learned
that the stock was no longer his. But
his wife heartily rejoiced
"Atleast," she said. you have saved
something from the wreck. and you
have gained experience. Now. let us
put the money back into the savings
bank"
Albert made no opposition. He felt
too much mortified and discouraged at
his losses to wish to engage in any fur
ther enterprise of . similar nature.
As for the petroleum stock. it went
down and down till it ceased to have .
market value. The last quotations we-e
ten cents q share, and il would not COM
mand that now.
Albert Grafton's lesson was . severe
one, but Il will conducc to his perma-
nent good. He Is young yet. and with
industry and frugality may earn q
For ono speculator who
makes fortune there are ten who fail
Slow and sure l. very apt to win the
Alger. Jr.. in Yankee
The Raal Victim.
Sharpen lin surprise)-You say you
are . victim Of the cigarette habit? !