Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-16
DAILY SHORT STORY
President Wintergreen's Mistake
Copyright. 1902. by the s. S. Mcclure

Companyl
The president of the International
Insurance company was enjoying the
most peaceful period of Il busy mans
everyday life. the half hour after lunch.
when the remembrance of good
meal is enhanced by the fumes of fra
grant Havana. There was an unwrit-
ten law in the offices of the company
that under no circumstances should
the president be disturbed for thirty
minutes after returning from lunch.
Small wonder that Muggsy, the
office boy, trembled with apprehension
as he knocked softly at the door of the
presidents office ere the prescribed
thirty minutes had passed. The usu-
ally placid brow of the president dark
ened as he growled:
Come in"
please, SIR" said Muggsy apollo
getically, "de gentleman who give Inc
dis note said it was most important,
sir, and dat no one else but you
would do"
The president took the carefully
sealed envelope and scanned the adj
dress carelessly: "Silas Wintergreen.
Esq. Most important and absolutely
private"
HIM" muttered the president as
Muggsy retreated to a discreet dis
lance. Most important and absolutely
private What the deuce"
The contents. however. proved more
extraordinary than the address.
Mr.. Sias wintergreen:
Sir-If you will spare me five minutes
of your time. 1 will give you some very
saving for your company of many thou
sands of dollars. Yours respectfully.
ADAM BUTTON.
"Tell him to come in" said the presi-
dent Muggsy retired and soon reap
peared, followed by n small, thin. pre-
maturely gray haired individual. whose
deep set black eyes roved anxlously
about the room. Muggsy respectfully
made his absence conspicuous.
"Mr. Wintergreen," said the stranger.
"my name is Button-Adam Button, sir.
aman old patron of yoHr company and
now carry SO, 900 insurance with you"
Mr.. Wintergreen unbent considera-
bly, and coughed a polite response.
The stranger continued: 'I am in the
employ of Bonds &c Co, with whom
you are no doubt acquainted. 1 am
of their out of town business" More
unbending on the part of the president
and still friendlier cough
"Some time ago." said the stranger,
81 was induced to speculate n little
with my earnings. won, and, as is
the inYariable rule, 1 tried the game of
chance dgain. This time 1 won more.
Then received what I believed to be
a sure tip on the market. So sure WAS
l that / appropria is the
term then gave 1.-THE sum of $4,000
belonging to my employers. Suffice to
say that lost everything"
Silas Wintergreen stiffened in his res
volving chair. What did this man
could he want of the president of the
international Insurance company?
"Mr. Wintergreen," continued the
stranger, my life is worth $4,000 to
your company. Should 1 die tonight
either accidentally or by suicide your
company would have to pay my heirs
$4,000 in gold" The president sat
bolt upright in his chair. "AIr. Winter
green, If 1 cannot make good my en-
bezzlement by tomorrow at this time
am a ruined man. My employers will
discover the theft. and | will be sent
to jail. 1 cannot stand this. l would
rather meet death thousand times in
q Thousand forms. 1 had already con-
Guided to make an end of my miserable
existence when l thought of plan.
should ] die your company pays $751;