San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-15

sluu DINuiSb. clllli OV IIldD i
have given him a chance to put his
theories into practice. You may remem-
Der that he said he had theories regard
ing the use rich man should make of
his money.
1T strikes me you are willing to pay
pretty dear for the probable value of the
information, even if matters turn out as
you expect. But the money is yours,
Miss Harlan, not mine, and if you are
resolved upon being generous in this
wholesale way, it is not for me to COM
plain. We lawyers get conservative as
we grow older, and any romance that
may have been in us dries up like the
sap in trees that have begun to outlast
their usefulness. We know how hard it
is to earn an honest living, and when we
see any one in whom we have an interest
developing a taste for imprudent specu-
lations we instinctively utter protest.
Still, as you say, it is but years in
come, and may be the cheapest way in
the end to teach you reason is to humor
this expensive fancy. If the money is
lost you will never miss it, while, as
Stunning that this young man is all your
imagination paints him, know of moth
ing that would give Inc greater pleasure
than to see You happily married. That
is aromance to which would say Amen
with al my heart
Thank you very much, Mr.. Chelm.
But will not obtain your connivance
on any such terms. If you regard this
as other than purely business enter
prise warn You that you will be wofully
disappointed.
Il shall have to take my chance of
being right just as you are going to take
yours. But come now, since you insist
upon my treating this matter seriously,
what is it that you wish me to do?"
Everything, Mr.. Chelm."
Even to giving away the bride? You
must promise me that, EN-! Miss Harlan"
with pleasure"
1T is bargain, then. Command my
services as you will wish | could say
my capital also. But unfortunately
cannot afford to toss away my hundreds
of thousands like some people. But that
is an aside. Tell Inc what you wish me
to do. am all ears"
ITO begin with, when Mr.. Prime re-
turns on Saturday | should like you to
inform him that you happened by chance
to mention his predicament to a friend
of yours"
'Of which sex?''
That is entirely immaterial. But if
he should happen to inquire, | shall de-
pend on you to preserve my incognito
You must even fib little if it is neces-
sary."
Mercy on US! This romantic young
philanthropist talks of tibbing as if it
were the most simple thing in life. No,
mademoiselle we lawyers never fib. If
we are ever obliged to forsake the mar
row pathway of truth we tell square,
honest lie. But this is positively my
last interruption"
you are to tell him that this friend
of yours was very 'Iuch interested in his
endearors 10 find something to do, and
sympathiZed with his determination to
wear smile on his face and avoid baggy
trousers to the last. That Ii mean, of
course. the friend-am willing to give
him the chance for which he asks to
prove himself man by placing in your
hands a sufficient sum to found bank
ing house Of undoubted sDlvency. He is
to have complete control of this money,
on which he may pay interest if he
chooses. in order to satisfy your business
scruples. MIR Chelm; but he need never
pay it back unless he wishes to do so,
the particulars of which you will under
stand how to arrange better than | can
tell you. Some day in the dim future,
when he has realized his ambition-for
don't imagine for an instant, Mr.. Chelm,
that expect him to make a fortune all
at once-he may return the original loan
if he sees fit | shall be an old woman
then. and should, it may be, have less
objection to being known as his bene-
factress than at present. Let me see; is
there anything else to say? AS to the
name of the firm, it ought to be Francis
Prime and Company, presume; but the
company must be a man of straw. He
is to receive no outside help, not even
from you There, think have made
my wishes sufficiently plain"
You do not desire him to give secur-
ity for whatever you may advance? Not
a very businesslike arrangement. But
as for that the whole scheme is the most
utopian ever heard of. These women,
these women! 1t makes a prudent man
tremble to think what would become of
the universe if they had full sway! But
must submit, suppose. | have given
my word"
Il fear he has no security to offer I'M
less it be Ike--the beautifully ugly Ike;
Ike the imperious! Do you suppose he
would part with the animal? l took