Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-06-13
THE DOWNWARD COURSE.

,NdkuS uS uul " put ph Vui NAothNs
till we are ready for bed-but at all
events business did not (as too often
happens), retire from me; ana now
that l have little else 10 do | amuse
myself by changing my Investments.
My old friend Brown. whose humor
it as to enlarge upon my little weak
nesseS is always asking how the Ar
titicial Rain compny's shares are get
ting on il is curious, by the way, that
this very project, which in the novel
of Ten Thousand a Year is in
stanced as the height of folly, is now
within the sphere of commercial prlc-
ticabilityl or making a pretense of in
terest in the welfare of the Bottled
Sea .Air Association Whereas, as Il
matter of fact, am most prudent,
though a rather frequent investor.
Brown was staying with me few
weeks ago TO my great content, and
brought down with him an odor OF
the prulieus of the stock exchange
that quite freshened me up. Young
Jones, the son of another old friend,
was his fellow guest. and greater
contrast than there was between these
two could hardly be imagined. The
laUter'S companionship, too, was very
pleasant TO me, though in different
way. \ handsome, high spirited lad,
who had every reason 10 believe had
kicked a little over the traces at
home, and who in Il month or two
was 10 he exported To the bush,
where his love for open air pursuits
and skill in horsemanship would be
gratltied and his talents would have
a better chance for development than
in the office where he had for few
years been placed in the ethyl did moi
Sy1npathize With him. of course, with
this alteration of his plans of life,
and him; and. besides, he had not
come down TO stay with his godfa Their
at Chesham Manor to be scolded, but
to be put i'll good heart. Brown
thought | rather spoiled the lad, but
a hard life lay before him. and the
opportunity of enjoyment might not
again come to him for years He
was full of practical jokes, but had
too much respect for his godfather to
play them off on him. This | thought
sign OF grace, but Brown ION whom
he did play them thought the con-
trary.
AN un1alcuating joker" he said,
would play them ON everybody, but
Master Reginald has very shrewd
conviction on which side his bread is
butteied."
\ hard conclusion surely to arrive
at on one 50 young in any case. but
peculiarly so III that Of Reginald
Jones. For Reggie, as he was called,
was thoughtless and unpremeditative
even to recklessness, as he had had
good cause to repent Of; while his
manner and appearance We're frank
and youthful even for his years,
However, it lis always useless to argue
tertains prejudice, and | did not
attempt to do so.
one day when | had received a
consignment of scrip from my brokers
/ opened in his presence the secret
drawer in my desk and placed i
there, as II was my custom 70 do
since | had left town. 1t was as
safe there as it would have been nj
my bankers, and much more con
venient for exchange and the cutting
off Of the coupons.
Now ! think this IS a risky thing
to do observed Brown.
"But. my dear fellow, you have
known Of the drawer" replied /, smil-
ing. and have never taken an Inn
proper advantage Of it,"
Il have known Of it," he answered
gravely, without taking any notice of
the implied compliment; but Master
Reginald did not know Of II, ana
now ne does know"
Ii was true that Reggie had been
IN the room. but | had paid no more
attention to the circumstance than to
the fact Of my fox terrier Rip having
also been present, and | said so, per
haps Il little tartly, for | was vexed
AT Browns unworthy suspicious.
Yes, but your dog mas not bad
name, and your young friend -
HE has nothing of the kind ] In
terrupted holly "IIe has only been
little wild and hayward, and shown
an incapacity for business. Why, Il
he took that scrip which you must
forgive me for saying Is notion
that should not have entered your
mind he would have no more Idea
of how to dispose Of It than should
of Chaldean manuscript"
Nevertheless, ! should put i some
where else till his visit was over,
replied Brown, coldly; "you cant be
too careful with transferable securi.
ties
Then the subject dropped for was
not going to quarrel with my old
friend on account Of Master Reggie
Jones. and the subject could no longer
be pursued without neat, at least on
one side Ia few days Browns visit
came to an end, and the day after
the boy left me.
II was Just as | was starting for