Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-27
AN ODD SPEOULATOR,
By Greene l.. Elwood.

rrom n worldly point OF view my life
al hcon monotonous succession of
raoctdowns until | made the acquaint-
snceof Leonard Hardman.
was giving an elaborate account of
ur IN luck to friend of my college days
.rJ implorinC him to help me to a stu
ator suitable to my attainments. Gill
sart listened sympathetically. When my
s,orv was finished, he thought awhile in
Mis- 1uict way and then said, with a pc
oKent old boy, you have had a tough
Elmo Of H. but don't despair. | am going
70 Give YOU a letter to Leonard Hardman,
capitaist. whom | know quite well.
10 is good man. Go to him and relate
1our story just as you have to me, and
,bink he will be able to do something for
Won. He asked me to find him a man il
could. and | think you will please him."
oDo you mean that l am to tell him all
sbout my-my failuresY" | asked in as
constituent.
Certainly; tell him everything. He
likes candor, and if you don't make him
understand that you have made a bad
mess Of business heretofore l doubt if
he will want you"
queer situation, to be sure. Gilbert
rave me the letter, and / lost no time in
hunting up Leonard Hardman.
found him a man of co or thereabout,
short. stout. red faced and side whisker-
3D. evidently a substantial citizen, who
never permitted himself to go hungry or
thirsty. lie had even the appearance of
benevolent person. His suit of offices
was quite pleasant and extensively fur
tjshed but he kept no clerical force save
On Office boy.
Mr.. .ardman read my friend Gilbert's
letter with surprising interest and then
turned TO me inquiringly.
colbert advised me to tell you all
shout myself" l began in an embarrassed
way.
Go right ahead" he said heartily.
an the first place, then, | am a college
man, though | was graduated at the
wrong end Of my class. or course some
enc had to graduate there. When | left
college, | taught school awhile, but my
abilities, which were quite conspicuous,
we're not really appreciated. and | took
Up life insurance. In this work | found
il so difficult to please the company,
especially so difficult to make ends meet,
that | turned my attention to fire insur-
sDce, with practically the same result.
Giving up insurance, l became a can
rasser for very excellent book, but
business was not good. Knowing that
there was no better judge of land values
anywhere than myself, | went into real
estate, with my usual enthusiasm and
pluck, and yet my success in that line
could have been much greater. | then
got mixed up in politics. Tried to get
the nomination for congress, but circum-
stances forced the nomination for the leg
stature upon me, and at the election |
was showed under. Disguised with the
uncertainty of political life, | became a
museum lecturer, ceasing that work when
the proprietor became bankrupt. Since
that time | have been engaged as an ad-
7ertisng solicitor, which, believe me, is
work far below my capacity and a very
precarious way of making a living in the
bargain. ! am now looking for some
thing Of steady, remunerative kind. !
have never been appreciated, sir, nor
given fair opportunity to show my ad
mirable business and literary qualifica-
tons, All ! ask is such an opportunity.
Gilbert suggested that you might he able
10 employ me in your business"
There | stopped. The effect of my his
tory upon Mr.. Hardman was almost star
ting. From the very first he evinced an
intense interest in me, and when | ceased
speaking he grasped me by the hand
with convulsive warmth.
81 am sure | can help you," said he
that is, if you will help me. You see, it
IS a case Of reciprocity. | have been sue
cessful in business way-Quite success
tll but a man always wants to do better
than he has done and see his gains in
crease faster For a long time have
felt the need Of an assistant, a man Of
certain qualifications, such qualifications,
indeed, as ! feel that you possess. If
you will engage with me, am confident
that We can accomplish great things"
What is your line of business" l
ventured to ask.
"Oh, I'm what you call a Spectator;
buy thing no matter what, so long as
il is something that will likely increase
u yalue-increase surely and quickly.
Now, could give you as a starter"-he
reflected a moment-"say, $3.50 a month
for your services, this arrangement to
continue so long as it is mutually agree
able. How DO you like thatW
Like it," | repeated, amazed, for l
had never made so much as 500 a
month in my life, although of course l
iet capable of earning any kind of sal
tly, no matter how large. Like it!
Why, | consider it a very generous prop
Csition. I'll do my level best to deserve
Your confidence. | will strive, sir, as
lever before to-
"No, no." he cried excitedly; don't
strive. Leave all that to me. don't
want you to work too hard. Just be
Your own natural self. That's what
want you to be. Don't strive, l beg OF
you, and don't worry about anything
Wen have a good time together, you and
L. and-you can begin in the morning II
you are ready"
was too dumfounded to say more
!he next morning l reported prompt!
LOT duty half fearing that Leonard
Hardman would prove to have been
creature Of my dreams instead of
Genefcent reality. He was a little late
Mlen he came, he shook my hand cor
oaLy and said he was delighted to Sc
me.
What shall l do frst?" l asked.
DO! Oh, that's so. Let me see
a - 'HS hlst lnluB we Will uO 10 W tS"'
me morning papers carefully, all abou
real estate sales, the stock market, tn
market reports and the political news
Ureat things, these newspapers, don
you think?'
gave him quite at length my opinio
newspapers and how they ought to b
.un' and he was deeply interested an
egreed with me in everything. He wa
man Of fine discernment in many re