The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-05-10
A SHORT CUT.
BY J. L. HARBOUR.

Drank PRATT was working at q
IL word hunt" A manufacturer
OF soap had offered a prize for
the longest list made from tbs
letters in it's name, and Frank
decided that the $500 was worth
trying for" He knew just how he could
use it to make more money, and he
mentioned several brilliant schemes to
Albert Rose, who listened, and talked
very little "And just think of III"
Frank said at length; IF 1 get ii, I'll
have as much as you would earn in 40
weeksiv
Yes, If Jon get it." Albert repeated.
Il have as good show as anybody.
of course you've got to be lucky as well
as smart, if you want to get rich. /
don't dispute that. l don't believe it
pays to drudge for five or six dollars a
week, anyhow A fellow who keeps
his eyes open is bound to see chances to
make big stake"
did you know that one of the part
ners in our firm began as errand boy?
Albert asked.
Did he? Well, it took him 20 years
/ to work up. Wasn't much enterprise
about thatl I'll bet you I'll get rich in
half the time,"
Albert laughed and walked away.
Frank went back to his word hunt.
telling himself that his friend was
getting tiresome. Frank did NOT blame
himself because they were less intimate
than they used to be, but yet it vexed
him lie found he had no heart for
dictionary hunting. Thinking of old
times, when he and Albert were in SYM
pathy, he listlessly took up the evening
paper. The column headed Business
Chances" caught his eye lie. read:
wANTED.-An energetic young man as
Office manager. by firm introducing new
commodity Liberal salary, and for a
bright young fellow with plenty of push,
prospect of partnership Successful appli-
tween one and six p m at SIS 3 street,
Room 80.
Frank read the advertisement a sec
ond time. Its fiattering suggestions
took effect.
That means mel he said lib
eral salary'-must be more than dollar
day, sure And a chance of a partner
shipi Guess I'll look this thing upl"
The Pratts lived in suburb, and the
next afternoon found Frank on the
first train for the city He had not
told his parents of his hopes and plans.
He felt himself too much man to ask
advice of anybody. Besides, he expect
cd to treat them to pleasant surprise.
Perhaps" he thought, 'TI be able
to come back and tell 'em I've got posi-
ton at SIS week. Wouldn't that slow
coach Al Rose open his eyesl"
No e1s was an old building near the
water front, once used as factory and
now only partially occupied. There
was no elevator. As Frank toiled up to
the fourth floor he passed youth of his
OWN age, who was humming tune as
he came downstairs He smiled in a
friendly way. and Frank took it as a
good sign.
The room he sought proved TO be a
small, close, dusty apartment, hidden
away in corner of the building. TWAS
furnished with desk, a cheap table and
two wooden chairs. A man sat at the
desk He looked up sharply as Frank
entered.
-Hello," he cried. did Lowell Broth
ers send that check? If they didn't. go
back and tell them the matter is in our
attorneys hands We've had more
bother about that trifing account of
S7O0 than"
He stopped all at once, stared hard at
4 for n - l..
beg pardon he said. II mistook
you for the confidential clerk of some
people who owe us little bill. What |
can do for you?-
Il came TO see about your advertise
ment in last nights Courier Frank /
answered.
-0h. yes. Sit down.
Has the place been taken yet?"
Well, no, not positively" the man /
said. He spoke in hesitating. cautious
tones. as if not at all desirous TO rouse
expectations Frank was on his mettle |
AT once.
we want bright, smart young fell /
low to do general Office work, and espe-
cially to meet callers in an intelligent.
attractive way. Think you could nh the
bill?"
I'm sure of it," Frank said, conf
IDENTIFY.
The man went on to explain that his
firm was introducing a ferf1lizer-"en-
dorsed by the United States expert
ment stations"-which was already
popular and profitable. Twenty of 30
stock companies, all controlled by the
firm, had been formed to push the sale
of the fertilizer, each company work
ing in definite territory. Capitalists
we're after the stock-and here the man
named several financial magnates whom
Frank well knew by reputation-andt TO
conduct preliminary negotiations with
such men the firm needed young man
Of uncommon ability.
= The story did not hang together very
veil. but it was fun of the sound OF
money, and the man who told it was
glib and impressive talker. Finally he
aid.
Our factory is in Bridgeport. Our
'ity Offices win be in the Commercial