Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-30
OF DICKS FINANCES.

toF tnt nrhN UNIT ana Uncle bOkepn was
taking advantage of the fact to instill some
good advice into the young scapegrace's
mind.
Don't be extravagant," he said, as he
slipped ive-dollar gold piece into hi.
nephew's hand.
Don't spend your money for candy"
continued Uncle Joseph, cor buy lot oil
useless toys. You'll find your money go
soon enough without that; won't he, Tomg"
Tom, Dicks elder brother, readily re-
| piled;
mo mistake about that, uncle. He won't
bring much back, I'll be bound"
Now, I'll tell you what I'll do" said
Uncle Joseph, Gust to encourage you to he
careful with your cash; whatever sum you
bring back with you, IN double it."
oh, thank you, unclel" exclaimed Dick
seeing himself the future possessor of still
more wealth; for how could he spend five
dollars in three months, when Tom had
| given him two dollars and his Aunt Mary
had presented him with like amount?
There is no doubt, however, that Uncle
Joseph's promise did great deal to check
! undue expenditure on Dicks part. Still,
the money melted away somehow, a great
deal more quickly than he could have be-
lieved possible, and when the weeks had
flown by and only five days more remained
before the holiday began, Dick was more
grieved than astonished to find that his
total assets amounted to one dollar nickel
and a two-cent postage stamp.
THAT isn't much to get doubled" he said
to himself. cts lucky they pay our fare
home for u.s."
AS he was counting his money a boy
named Brand passed by. Brand was older
than Dick, and was reputeI to be singu
larly good hand at a bargain. He had tried
to sell various articles to Dick during the
last few weeks, but hitherto without sue.
cess. But he was now the possessor of a
treasure which raised Dicks envy to high
degree.
This was baseball and bat with which
Its owner had twice made home runs in
school matches. Dicks bat showed signs
of splitting, and he very much wanted a
new one.
''Hullo, Dickw exclaimed Brand. Count
ing over your richest"
Not much of Them" replied Dick, eying
the bat.
That's a pity, for / thought you might
like to buy my bat and ball. Simkin told
me You wanted them"
$50 ] do, but can't afford it,"
GLOW much have you got?' asked Brand,
"Only dollar" was the Responding re.
ply.
"Well, can't let them go under one and
quarter, and that's very cheap. But look
here; give me the dollar now, and I'll trust
you till next term for the quarter. That's
fair enough, isn't it?"
mo, can't do it," said Dick ~ want
to take the money home"
"Take it home? What queer idea!
Can't you get some more given you whei
You get home?"
Dick explained how he was situated.
Brands face lightened considerably When
he heard the difficulty.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" he
asked. Look here. I'll show you the way
to work it, You give me the dollar, and I'll
lend YOU three dollars for you to take back
and get doubled; then you can send me the
three and quarter back, and still have two
seventy-five of your own, as well as the bat
and ball"
Dick hestated. 1t struck him that the
offer, though tempting, had something
about it which was not quite straightfor.
ward. But there was the bat and ball only
waiting for him to take them, and Brand
was eager to persuade him to close the bar.
gain. In few minutes it was all settled,
and Dick was the possessor of the envied
articles
Now that he had so much money in hand,
he could not resist a final visit to the vii.
lage, where he spent so cents more than he
| intended. However, he reached home with
two dollars in his pocket, SO he felt he was
all right.
A shock awaited him. Uncle Joseph had
gone to New York, and would not be back
for week.
He waited couple of days, and then a
letter came from Brand, asking him why he
had not sent the money.
Dick did not like to write and ask him to
wait, so he took the unwise course of not
answering the letter.
He spent the next day or two very un.
easily, and then came the bad news that
Uncle Joseph would not return for another
week. Worse than that, at dinner time a
telegram came for Dick, and Tom naturally
wanted to know who on earth could be tel
egraphing to him.
"It's from Brand" said Dick, who nox
felt frightened, and saw he must make a
confession.
"From Brandt" exclaimed Tom. "Do you
owe him any money!"
"No; but | promised to lend him three
dollars and quarter"
''But you told me you had brought back
two dollars" said Tom. "Send him that
and here's a dollar and quarter to make
it up"
Dick was delighted, and tried to turn the
conversation; but Toms suspicious were
aroused, and he began to ask awkward ques.
tions.
The upshot of it was that Dick had to con.
fess, by degrees, how much he had spent
during the term for one thing and another
Tom mentally calculated the total, and
saw that it was impossible that Dick could
have brought back two dollars. lie began
to look grave.
"I'm afraid there's something wrong,
Dick" he said. whats been going on
Make clean breast of it,"
There was no help for it, and Dick had
to confess the whole truth. As he did, he
saw what dishonest trick he had beer
playing.
"Why, Dick, I should never have be
lieved it of YOU" exclaimed Tom. Don't
you see that you've tried to cheat uncle out
Of his money? And so you told me that you
had promised to lend Brand some money
when really you owe it to him"
"Ths will be lesson for you," said Tom
"Pll put it right now. Give me all the
money you have"
Dick handed it over willingly.
Tom then wrote letter to Brand, whom
| ha lnaty 1yel1 40 ono IF tho naefu &c H.