Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-01-06
MUD LAND STOCKS.
One Experience on Change Was
Enough for Mrs. Curtiss.

certainly, Salu MS WIG
Beyond making sufficient allow
ance for all ordinary household ex-
penses, ! will have nothing to do with
it."
- 81 understand. l am quite willing
to accept the entire responsibility"
"Then, if you'lil1e the house, accept
the agents offer, send to the warehouse
for the furniture, have the house, put in
order by Jaynes people, pack your
trunks, hire your servants and move in.
l shall be absent ten days or longer. l
shall find you there on my return?"
"Ycs. | shall lose no time"
Mr.. and Mrs Curtiss had been ma
ricd five years. During their first year
of housekeeping, Mr.. Cnrtiss discov-
cred that. the drainage of the house in
which they were living was defective.
He notified his landlord. He waited n
month. No notice was taken Of his
complaint. He promptly Cancelled his
lease, stored his furniture. and took his
wife to clearinghouse. ~.
Mrs. Curtiss, after a year or two,
found the life wearisome one. She
'longed for the comforts of q home, and
the agreeable occupation of the home
maker.
Mr.. Curtiss, on the contrary, pre-
ferred boarding. lie was man who
disliked the small responsibilities of
housekeeping His business, he urged,
was sufficient to occupy his mind.
Yet now, to crafty his wife, he had
aceeaed to her desire, stipulating, how
ever, that he was to be utterly free
from all the daily cares. Mrs. Curtiss
gladly agreed. She dislilled interfer-
cnce, and welcomed the assurance that
she was to have the sole charge of the
establishment.
A year elapsed. The contract was
scrupulously carried out by both par
ties. Mr. Curtiss provided ample
means, Mrs Custiss gave time and en-
ergy TO the making of pleasant home.
At the end of the year, Mrs. Curtiss
had balance of two hundred dol
lars, "Do what you will with it, 1t is
YOURS" her husband said. "You have
earned it."
She was planning the uses she would
make of it, when friend came in. She
could not resist the temptation of tell
ing her how we'll she had managed.
"What shall l do with it?" she asked.
"You know all about money, Aurelia.
Advise me-"
Aurclia wore eyeglasses. She specu-
lated in stocks. Her friends said she
made enormous profits; her enemies
declared her grandfather would turn in
his grave could he know of her losses.
tie had been day laborer in his youth,
they added.
"Stocks, of course" replied Aurelia.
"Stocl1s?" helplessly.
"Stocks" with decision. You have
Two hundred dollars, you say. You
shall buy twenty shares Of the Mud
Land Company. They are sure thing.
1t is bull market now, you know"
Dear mel" calculated her bewild-
cred listener,
THE bears have had it quite too
long" continued Aurelia. Everything
is booming now. Put on your bonnet
at once. Delays are fatal. l will go
with YOU" .t.l
Mrs. Curtis hesitated. 81 do not
think l can spend all the money that
way, Aurclia."
"Why not?" sharply.
~ ordered new silk yesterday from
Madame Grettine. 1t will cost sixty
dollars"
MADAME Grettine must wait for her
pay"
''Oh, not" shuddering. 81 have never
had bill unpaid"
you'll clear it fast enough. Mud
Land can be bought to-day for nine and
| three-quarters. 1t is worth more; it
will be worth twenty next week. Put
on your bonnet"
The stronger will conquered. Mrs,
Curtiss yielded. In a week she should
have four hundred dollars, she reflected,
She would. pay madame, send a ton OF
coal-to the widowed washerwoman she
occasionally employed, and put three
hundred dollars in Il savings bank
Her husba would have his little joke
about her capacity for business, but
what mattered that?
Aurelia broke in upon her pleasant
meditations. Hurry she called
! from the foot of the stairs. "Mud Lane
may go up couple of points while yor
daily"
Aurelia prided herself upon hel
knowledge of brokers' phrases.
whats point?" asked Mrs. Curtiss
coming downstairs, her gloves in hei
hand.
Surely you know. We must take 6
carriage. 1t may score twelve, if we
wait for the right car"
Score was Greek to Mrs. Curtiss She
had a confused feeling that it haC
something to do with baseball match
/ but she asked no questions.
At the brokers' office, Aurelia gave
the order. Mrs. Curtiss signed it, {
| feeling akin to, terror sweeping ovel
her. If it rises to thirty she thought
A notification of the purchase. of twenty
shares OF Mud Lang at va reached hel
the'next day. She carried it to Au
relia. "What must do now?"
PAY for your stock, of course. Yor
could have bought it on margin.
should, but" with laugh, 81 am useC
to taking flyers" . ltH
Yes with feeling of humility
How wise Aurelia was! how daring!
I'm go with you," said Aurelia
"There'l be the commission-it's OF
the statement, probably"
Mrs. Curtiss counted her money twice
before handing it to the brokers' clerk
That's right" said Aurelia, approx
ingly; "l'll make you a woman o
business yet"
Sell the stock at twenty" saic
Aurelia. Not a fraction below"
Mrs. Curtiss signed this order. /