The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-05-23
RICH.
Grafton's Speculation and the Les
son 1t Taught Him.

son II IduSnC him.
I've been too long plodding. Now
mean to go to work and make money,
said Albert Grafton.
"You have saved up two hundred dol
lars a year for the last five years, Al
wcll?"
only a thousand dollars in five years
That's rather a poor prospect, Alice"
Il fancied it was doing well. Still,
shall be glad if you an do better. But
what has made yor discontinued on
sudden?"
II will tell you. You know Cramptor
in our Officer"
Yes"
"Well, three months ago he received
a legacy of n thousand dollars from al
aunt of his. What would you have
done with ito"
PUT it in the savings bank?"
"Where it would have earned by thi.
time fifteen dollars interest. He die
better than that He bought shares in
a mining company, and to-day he sold
out for two thousand dollars"
doubling his money!" said Alice, in
surprise.
Eyes, and in three months. That's
what / call doing a good stroke of bust
ness"
Yes, but there was a risk about it.
'Of course you can't gain without in,
curing some little risk. Now suppose
he doubles his money again in the next
three, or, say six months, he will have
four thousand; IA sum which it would
take us twenty years to lay by"
SLOW and sure is a good rule, AL.
bert"
Il really believe, Alice, Won would
prefer a snail to a horse. If | were go
ing to live as long as Mcthusaleh,
might be satisfied with my slow gains.
AS | don't expect that, | mean to take
a shorter end to fortune"
81 am afraid, Albert, that it will
prove a short cut tn poverty
Don't croak, Alice. Trust to me.
and you will ride in your carriage yet"
Albert Grafton began at once to look
out for some profitable mode of invest
ment for the little sum which had been
accommodating at the savings bank for
five years. 1t amounted now, with in
terest, to about eleven hundred and
fifty dollars; n sum which he had re-
garded with satisfaction until he had
been dazzled by the lucky speculation
of his fellow clerk. He dropped a hint
to Champion that if he should hear of
a good investment he might be disposed
to embark in it himself. He withdrew
the money from the savings bank in
order to have it ready to use at short
notice.
The lucky chance was not long in ar
irving.
One day Albert came home in excel
lent spirits.
We'll wife" he said, what do you
think | have donc?"
Mrs. Grafton looked inquiringly.
81 nave invested the money"
"How?" she asked, not without con-
siderable anxiety.
'In the Winnebago Mining Company
"a capital thing"
"What do you know about the COM
pany, Alberto
''Oh, it's a first-rate company. The
mine produces tons upon tons Of cop
per every year"
How do you know"
1.-THE prospectus says So"
Are you sure the statements are to
be relied upon?'
''0f course. Don't be so suspicious.
Alice. One would think the world was
made up of sharpers."
What did you pay for the shares?"
''Fifty-six dollars. | had money
enough to buy just twenty and have
thirty dollars over"
suppose we put that back into the
savings bank"
What for?'
I'VE have had money in the bank so
long. that | shall feel better if we have
even that little left to our name"
Its a strange fancy" said the hus-
band, laughing, however, l will hand
the money to you, and you may do as
you like with it."
He passed over a roll of three ten dol
lar bills. which his wife put in her purse
and deposited in the savings bank the
next day.
Alice did not look with much favor
upon the Winnebago Mining Company.
even after seeing the circular which
demonstrated in the most convincing
manner that it could not fail to pay a
dividend of fifty per cent. the first year.
besides rising materially in market
value, thereby making it a most desira-
bic stock to invest in. Somehow Alice
was skeptical, and though she could
not detect the fallacy, felt that there
vas something wrong. Her husband
became almost angry with her on &C
count of her PERSISTENT disbelief, de-
ciaring hat she was ~hopelessly prcju-
diced.
Il hope am wrong" she said smil-
ing family. II trust events will show
me to have feared groundlessly."
1t seemed, indeed, as if this would be
the case. The stock began to rise stead
lily. From fifty-six it rose to sixty-five
in a fortnight.
Il have made one hundred and eighty
dollars SO far" said Albert exultingly.
What do You think of that?"
You had better sell out, and secure
it." said his wife.
Not |. | will hold on, and make
more"
1T may go down again"
Il don't believe it."
And it did not go down. The fact
was some strong parties controlled the
stock, who were adroitly manipulating
it for a rise. So, quite independently
of its actual value, it rose steadily until
it touched ninety.
At that point Albert was fortunate
to sell out, receiving for his
shares eighteen hundred dol
lars.
He announced this to his wife with
great satisfaction.
"a clear profit of six hundred and
dollars" he said. LAS much as
| could lay by in three ~years-and I've
done it inside of two months I'D bet |
ter have kept it in the savings bank,
Take my advice, and put it back
there, Albert Be content with what