Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-05-12
ri sold them TO Druce. ="

| Il SOLO tnem 20 DruCe.
"What did you get-cash?"
II took his check OH the Trust Ma
tional bank
Ibid you cash it? Did you cash it?"
cried the young man. "hnd, If you
did, where is the money!"
"Druce asked me as favor not to
present the check until tomorrow.
The young man made gesture of
despair.
"The Trust National went to smash
today at Q. We are paupers, father.
We haven't cent left out Of the wreck.
That check business is so evidently a
fraud that-but what's the use of talk
ing? Old Druce has the money, and he
can buy all the law he wants in New
York. Oh, I'D like to have seven Sec
onds' interview with him with loaded
seven shooter in my handl We'd see
how much the law would do for him
then.
General Sneed despondently shook
his head.
"It's no use, John," he said "We're
in the same business ourselves, only
this time we got the hot end Of the
poker. But he played it low down on
me, pretending to be friendly and all
that" The two men did not speak
again until the carriage drew up at the
brownstone mansion which earlier in
the day Sneed would nave called bis
own. Sixteen reporters were waiting for
them, but the old man succeeded in es-
Gaping to his room, leaving John to bat
tie with the newspaper men.
Next morning the papers were full of
the news of the panic. They said that
old Druce had gone in his yacht for a
trip up the New England coast. They
deducted from this fact that, after all,
Druce might not have had hand in
the disaster. Every ything was always
blamed on Druce. Still, 1t was admitted
that, whoever suffered, the Druce stocks
were all right. They were quite unani-
mously frank in saying that the Sneeds
were wiped out. whatever that might
mean. The general had refused himself
to all the reporters, while young Sneed
seemed to be able to do nothing but
swear.
Shortly before noon General Sneed,
who had not left the house, received a
letter brought by messenger.
He feverishly tore it open, for he rec
ognized the we'll known scrawl Of the
great speculator.
DEAR sNEED-You will see By the papers
that I am off on a cruise, but they are as
wrong as they usually are when they speak OF
me. learn there was bit Of futter in the
market while We were away yesterday, and
| am glad to say that my brokers, who are sharp
men. did me good turn or two. often wonder
why these furries come, but suppose it is to let
| man pick up some sound stocks at reasonable
rates, If he has tho money by him. Perhaps
they are also sent to teach humility to those
who might else become purse proud. We are
but finite creatures, Sneed, here today and
gone tomorrow. How foolish thing is pridel
And that reminds me that If your two daugh-
ters should happen to think as do on the un.
certainty of riches ] wish you would ask them
to call. have done up those securities In q
sealed package and given the parcel to my
daughter-in- law. She has no idea what the
value If it is, but thinks 1t little present
from me to your girls. II, then, they should
happen to CALL she will hand 1t to them; If
not, shall use the contents to found college
for the purpose of teaching manners to young
women whose grandfather used to feed pigs
for living, as indeed my own grandfather
did. Should the ladies happen to like each
other, think can put you Oh to deal next
week that will make up for Friday. like you,
Sneed, but you have no head for business.
Seek my advice oftener. Ever yours,
| DRUcE.
The Sneed girls called on Mrs. Ed.
ward Druce.