The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-01-16
! A SHORT CUT.
BY j. L. HARBOUR.

the longest list made from the
letters in its 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 i'll"
Frank said at length; IF get it, I'll
have as much as you would earn in 40
weeksl"
YES, if you get it," Albert repeated.
81 have as good a 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
week, anyhow. A fellow who keeps
his eyes open is bound to see chances to
make a big stake"
did you know that one of the part
rers 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 thati I'll bet you I'll get rich in
half the time!"
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 lee, 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
pGthy, he listlessly took up the evening
paper. The column headed business
Chances" caught his eye. He read;
WANTED.-An energetic young man as
oflce manager. by a firm introducing new
commodity. Liberal salary, ard for
bright young fellow with plenty of push,
prospect CT partnership. Successful appli-
cart must make small deposit. Apply be-
tween enc and six p. m. at 61S street,
Room 20.
frank read the advertisement a Sec
end time. Its fattering suggestions
took effect.
That means mel" he said. lib
eral salary'-mu5t be more than dollar
a day, sure. And a chance of partner
shipl Guess I'll look this thing up!"
The Pratts lived in a 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 a man to ask
advice of anybody. Besides, he expect
ed to treat them to a pleasant surprise.
Perhaps" he thought, 'I'll be able
to come back and tell EN- I've got posi-
/ tion at SIS week. Wouldn't that slow
coach Al Rose open his eyesI''
No. G1S was an old building near the
water front, once used as factory and
now only partially occupied. There
was TO elevator. AS Frank toiled up to
the fourth floor he passed youth of his
own age, who was humming a 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 4 corner of the building. 1t was
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, 90
back and tell them the matter is in our
attorneys hands. We've had more
bother about that trifing account of
$7CO than
He stopped all at once, stared hard at
Frank for a moment, and then laughed.
BEG pardon" he said. 81 mistooll
you for the confidential clerk of some
people who owe MS a little bill. What
can 1 do for you?"
81 came to see about your advertise
ment in last nights Courier" Frank
answered.
''Oh, yes. Sit down" -
HAS the place been taken YETI"
"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.
eve 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 fill the
bill?"
I'm sure of it," Frank said, conf
IDENTIFY.
The man went on to explain that his
firm was introducing a fertilizer-"en-
dorsed by the United States expert
ment stations''-which was already
popular and profitable. Twenty of so
stock companies, all controlled by the
firm, had been formed TO push the sale
of the fertilizer, each company work
| ing in n definite territory. Capitalists
were after the stoek-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
well, but it was full of the sound of
money, and the man who told it was a
glib and impressive talker. Finally he
said:
"Our factory is in Bridgeport. Our
city Offices will be in the Commercial
| building. This hole"-he swept his
hand contemptuously around the room
-"serves me for few days, while I'm
arranging matters that leave me no
/ time to be bothered by people who want