The copper country evening news., 1898-02-17
THE MAJORS VISIT.
.,,v = osnrLsMANLy CAPITALIST
'S 'sST,aeep A Pennsylvania TOWN.


,v.. v~obtrusive, but Had an Air
-. Him rhst won Respect ana Az
.,.n-whsn He Went Away, There
was Disappointment.
,.ts one spring evening In the middle
".,.s | = stranger alighted from pas
'onasr train that had just drawn up to the
'.a,,on Of a PennsylvarSa mountain town.
's'a''U 'Sas at once beset by half dozen negro
ho "" runners. the most enterpristng OF
no'o , took possession of his hand satchel
WIZ WIZ be had time to assent or dissent
a,'se peo be was pleased with the negro's
pee eS or because he fanoied the name OF
pusn hotel this porter represented the
nger 'no gave the man the check for his
s.nnt and nut himself under his guidance.
W. a. the hotel the stranger registered his
20 an a plain, businesslike hand as
i,Maior ns .John H." of Philadelphia. He
ID his toilet, ate his supper, and, light
~ CIGAR. went out, as he remarked. for
ins sroI, ahout the town. Upon his return
honr or so later he entered into conver-
o. oa.,on with the landlord. Major IL. ap-
s,oared 70 take an interest In the banks OF
r. p toyn. of which he said he had noticed
.hsre were a larger number. He inquired
30 their condition, and seemed pleased
80 bear that they were all regarded as
strono institutions, all under safe, con-
oorvative management. His interest, he
I,rted was owing to the probability that
ha ,yonld in the near future have occasion
80 denosit In one of them a large sum OF
money
major said he had heard that the morning
naner of the town-a paper OF repute ana
irapence-was for sale, in settlement OF
an estate, and that he was strongly dispos-
cd to buy It,
The next morning all the town knew Of
tbe presence of the rich gentleman from
philadelphia, who was going to buy the
-, and he was the object OF much
respectful curiosity when he appeared on
. the streets. In him the curious saw man
above the medium stature and beyond
middle age, who dressed plainly, but with
great neatness and who In the face, bore
q resemblance to General Grant, q resem-
bIance which was not lessened by the fact
that the major always had Cigar In his
mouth.
The first place the major visited the
morning after his arrival was the Office of
the newspaper that was for sale. He was
received there with much consideration,
and spent some hours inspecting the plant
and carefully going over the books. He
expressed satisfaction with what he had
seen and learned, and intimated his will
ingpess to pay certain sum In cash for
the property-a sum rather larger than
the management hoped to receive, though
not, of course, as large as that asked.
From the newspaper office the major
was escorted to neighboring bank. where
cordial and flattering. Seeing In the new
conner prospective customer and man
destined to be of much influence in the
community, this wide awake bank officer
not only took great pleasure in making
him acquainted with the really excellent
condition of the bank, but insisted on
driving him out that afternoon to see the
natural beauties of the region, which
seemed to charm the major. That night
nothing would do but that the major
should dine with him.
The next day other prominent men of
the town, who did not propose to permit
the bank president to monopolize the
major, sought him out, with the result
that before noon he was engaged to drive
out behind fast horses every afternoon,
and to dine as the guest of honor every
evening for week The major drove out,
and the major dned. His quiet and un-
ostentatious manner and his intelligent,
conservative conversation won for him
golden opinions, and in short time the
town was mad over the major. Mean
while he would drop into the newspaper
office every morning, where he was already
looked upon MS the new proprietor, and
spread happiness about him by pleasant
words of commendation.
Finally one morning the major an
nounced that be had definitely decided to
buy the paper and ordered a lawyer to
draw up the legal documents and have
them ready on specified day the follow
ing week. Ile said that he would have to
leave the town for few days to arrange
the transfer of the money needed for the
purchase and that he would return the
day before that fixed for the transfer
The major then dropped in to see his
friend the bank president, and gladdened
his heart by announcing an intention ol
opening apersonal account with tho bank.
Ho handed over his check for $l5, ,000
Drawn on prominent Philadelphia bank,
ana after chatting few minutes arose as
TO go, remarking that he had business
caii TO Pittsburg, for which city he would
start in the morning. The bank president
soiicltously inquired whether he had suffi
Gent funds with him for the journey, and
.ne major said he thought he had, but he
would see. After an inspection of his
wallet the major said that perhaps 1t would
oe prudent to replenish 1t, and that he
would take $500 ii his friend didn't mind
90 ne gave his check received the money
WIN careless matter of course manner,
SHOOK hands with the bank president and
s.rolled off to his hotel The next morning
,ne major quilted the town, taking with
Fan many expressions of good will and OF
nopes Tor a speedy return. He has not
peeh seen there or heard of by any of il.
inhabitants since.
Inc bank president was tho first to learn
snat the major was a swindler, and his in
n,ornatlon came from the Philadelphia
pank' He, being sensitive man and no,
caring to have his name banded about In
iluiculo on the common tongue, said moth
m mug then or till long after about the $500
Inc lawyer and the people in the newspa
4 1. .x~xll l..x