Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-08-29
THE PROFESSORS SECRET.
By l. B. McCumbe


HOW many of the thousands Of
people who glance over the want
page of a great metropolitan daily
slop TO consider what moves the
various individuals who use the
medium to reach the general public.
II there is another medium where the
thoughts of so varied collection are
grouped together for so short a time
as daily newspaper, it is beyond my
ken.
Being in need of a position and
practically unacquainted in large
city, proceeded to squander my last
cent and began to peruse the male
Help Wanted"
Many attracted my eye, but none
seemed to be what l was looking for.
Again went over the list, marking
those which would consider and
select one from
First one then another was rejected
as being impossible, until at last only
one solitary four-line 'ad" remained.
1t was this:
"WANTED-A young man who has
no home or relatives; stranger pre-
ferred; one who has no computations
to what he does SO long as he is well
paid. Apply in person to w. A. r.,
4576 Evergreen street.
AS before stated, l was stranger,
had no home, no relatives, and COM
punctions-well, that depended-as
had about as much on my person as a
new boz babe, barring the apology
of suit which I wore, and an ap-
petite that was growing more vora-
ciOus as my means grew less.
Slowly rising from the seat in the
park on which | had been sitting,
asked copper" to direct me to the
street.
It was all we'll enough for him to
tell me to take a car, but as l had
not the necessary nickel, must per-
force walk. Not a pleasant outlook
for fellow with an empty stomach
to have a walk of nearly five miles
staring him in the face; but there
was so help for it and started out
The sun had long passed the
meridian when l arrived at the street
and turned up the road, for it was
even a poor resemblance of even a
r0ad-more of a path or lane, and
observed a somewhat antiquated man.
sion in the distance That must
surely be the house for which I was
looking, as none other was in view
YEARLY l walked over the rough
and uneven path and at last found
myself at the door. Seeing or hear
ing NO one about, / gave a timid
knock. Not receiving an answer, 1
repeated it, only somewhat louder
This at last was answered by some
one from within, who called who's
there?"
l replied that l came in answer 70
the advertisement which appeared in
the DAILY Compendium"
After what seemed an interminable
length Of time the door opened and l
was greeted by a scholarly-looking
man. who might have been a profess
sor, of a somewhat aged appearance,
but with eyes that were as sharp and
piercing as the bitter north wind in
mid-winter. Bidding NE enter, | was
ushered into large room directly off
the spacious hall in which | found
myself. Entering the room I was
waved to a seat and took a hasty
glance of my surroundings. Ceilings
that were abnormally high, walls that
were free from all decorations, and
the only furniture was made up of the
two chairs occupied by us and a small
table.
''Well, sir" he at length said, what
are your qualifications for answering
that advertisement"
After giving him a complete ac-
count of myself, I finally paused,
nervously awaiting his decision.
While recounting the narrative of
nv life his eyes seemed to pierce me
through and through, and finally his
teeth came together with click that
caused me to start up; he swiftly
came TO where was sitting and plac-
ing his hand upon my shoulder, said:
ssYou can have the position, provid-
ing that we can agree on terms,
which as as follows: viii give you
$4,000 in gold for one weeks work,
nroyiding you are then alive.
For this you must agree to do my
bidding, with assurances from me,
that nc bodily harm shall be done
YOU. That you will agree and swear
10 keep secret all that you may see
and hear during that time. This is
all can say until you accept my
terms"
"Ten thousand dollars-ten thous-
and dollars" slowly repeated the
words to myself, "fOr one week.
work" Surely this man was making
a lest with me. What could do in
eo short a space Of time that he could
afford to pay me this large sum of
money? "Ten thousand dollars,