The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-01-03
A SHORTC CUT. /
BY ]. L. HARBOUR. E
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FRANK PRATT was working at a
word hunt" A manufacturer
OF soap had offered a prize for
the longest list made from the
letters IN its name, and Frank
decided that the 500 was worth
trying fer" 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 i'll"
Frank said at length; If / get IT, Ill
have as much as you would earn in 10
weeksi''
Yes, if you 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. 1
don't dispute that. / don't believe it
pays 10 drudge for five or six dollars a
week, anyhow. a fellow who keeps
his eyes open is bound TO see chances 10
make a big stake"
Did you know that one of the part
neTs in our firm began as errand boy?''
( Albert asked.
did he? Well. II took him 20 years
TO work up. Wasn't much enterprise
about that! I'll bet you III get rich in
half the timei"
Albert laughed and walked away.
Frank went hack TO his word hunt,
telling himself that his friend was
! getting tiresome. Frank did nor blame
himself because they were less Intimate
than they used to be, hut yet IL vexed
him Ee found he had TO heart for
dictionary hunting. Thinking OF old
times, when he and Albert were n syn
pathy, he listlessly took up the evening
paper. The column headed business
Chances" caught his eye. lie read:
WAN-TED.-An energetic young nan as
oflce manager, b I fira introducing z new
/ commodity. Liberal salary, and for 2
prospect Of partnership Successful appli-
cant must make a small deposit Apply be-
tween one AID six p N at els B street.
Room e.
Frank read the advertisement a sec
ond time. Its fattering suggestions
took effect.
That means mel" he said. lib
eral salary De more than dollar
a day, sure. and 4 chance Of a partner
skip. Guess I'll lock this thing uPl"
The Traits lived in 4 suburb, and the
next afternoon found Frank on the
first train for the city. He had rot
told his parents OF his hopes ard plans.
he felt himself too much 4 man TO ask
advice Of anybody. Besides, lie expect
ed 10 treat them 10 4 pleasant surprise.
Perhaps he thought, I'll be able
| TO come back ard tell en- I've got 4 rcsi-
ton ats15 week. Wouldn't that slow
coach ~ Rose open his eyes.~
20. els was an cid building near the
water front. cree used as & factory ard
now only partially occupied. There
wes 10 elevator. IS Frank toiled up TO
the fourth floor he passed 4 youth Of his
own age, who was humming a tune as
| he came downstairs. He smiled in &
friendly way, and Frank took it as a
good sign.
The room he sought proved 10 be a
small, close. dusty apartment. hidden
away IN 4 corner Of TIE building. Itwas
furnished with Z desk. 4 cheap table and
two wooden chairs. 4 man sat at the
desk Tie looked up sharply rs Frank
entered.
"Hello." he cried. did Lowell Broth-
ers send that check? IF they didn't, 90
back and tell them the matter is in cur
attorneys hands. We've had more
bother about that triEing account OF
SEQ than"
lie stopped all at opce. stared hard at
frank fer = moment, and then laughed.
Beg pardon" he said. u mistook
you for the confidential clerk of some
people who owe Us little bill. Whist
can I do for your"
y came to see about your advertise
nent in last nights Courier" Frank
answered.
"Oh, yes. Sit down"
Has the place bsen taken yet9"
well, no, not positively" the man
said. He spoke in hesitating, cautious
tones, as if not at all DESTROYS TO rouse
expectations. Frank was on his mettle
at once.
I've want bright. smart young fel-
low to do general Office work. ard espe-
cially TO meet callers in an intelligent,
attractive way. Think you could I'll the
bin2"
I'm sure of it," Frank said, conf
IDENTIFY.
The man went on TO explain that his
firm was introducing a fertilizcr-''en
dorsed by the United States expert
ment statioRs"-which was already
popular and profitable. Twenty Of 20
stock companies. al controlled by the
firm. had been formed to push the sale
of the fertilizer, each company work
ing in a definite territory. Capitalists
were after the stoek-ard here the man
named several financial magnates whom
frank well knew by reputation-and 10
conduct preliminary negotiations with
such men the firm needed c young man
of uncommon ability.
The story did not hang together very
well, but it was full OF the sound OF
money, and the man who told it was .
glib and impressive talker. Finally he
said:
Our factory IS in bridgeport. Our
city offices viii be in the Commercial
building. This hole''-he swept his
hand CONTEMPORARY around the room
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