Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-02
The STORY Teller.
A Wall Street Story
(Original.l

deter him from disposition TO Keep
Mary's little fortune. The day she
came of age he said to her:
MARY, the money your father left
you is now due you. But what are you
going to do with it? You can't live
on the interest of so little, and you
know nothing about investments. You
had better leave it in my hands. |
will invest it for you and may be able
to increase It."
Mary, who had every confidence In
her uncle, acted on his suggestion.
Zebulon did not invite the orphan to
share his home. On the contrary, he
told her that she had better earn her
living by sewing, and Mary consented
to this also. The willy Zebulon took
her receipt for the $500, which the law
required him TO pay over to her, and
Mary's future was we'll laid out for
drudgery.
Mary was doing some sewing In the
house of q Mrs. Peabody, who took a
fancy to her, and while talking with
her one day learned that she was the
possessor Of fortune Of $500 In the
hands Of her uncle, for which she had
no receipt. Her criticisms on Mary's
loose way Of doing business frightened
the girl, and she wrote her uncle to let
her know how the money was invested.
Zebulon upon receipt Of the let
ter looked over the list Of railroad
stocks and, noting one Of the most
worthless, wrote Mary that her money
was invested in the common stock OF
the road. This was very sharp of the
old scoundrel, for If he told her that 1t
was invested in good stock she might
claim the security.
Mary showed his reply to Mrs. Pea.
body, and the lady showed it to her
husband. His advice was for Mary to
ask lrer uncle how many shares be had
purchased. This Mary did and received
reply that he had purchased ten
shares Of L par value of $500. This
reply was also shown to Mary's ad'
wiser.
"My dear" said Mr.. Peabody, tell
Mary to write him that her money IL
sufficient to purchase large number
Of its shares, which are now selling
very low. and request him to buy all
that can be bought on Margin II
Mary makes IL loss. | will make 1t good
TO her."
Mary's next letter to her uncle was
Il surprise to him. He knew that some
one was advising her and thought he
saw In the advice given way for him
to report his money lost. The stock IN
question had made slight advance IN
price. In the fluctuations common IN
these stocks it would doubtless soon
fall a few points, which would wipe
out Mary's fortune entirely. He there
fore wrote her that he had bought 1000
shares at 20 on per cent margin. II
the price of the stock should fall one
point. the legacy would be wiped out
Mary showed the letter to MIR. Pea
body, who told her to keep it in safe
place.
The day after its receipt there was
an advance of two points In the stock.
Then 1t fell off one point, fluctuating
slightly for a few weeks, when the
matter was forgotten by Mary, and II
Zebulon Walker had not forgotten it he
thought very little Of 1t, feeling sure
that sooner or later there would be a
panic on the market and the 5000
would disappear as claim against
him and be added to his personal bank
account.
Two years passed. Mary had fallen
in love with young man who, though
industrious, was as poor as she. He
had a position which paid him SIS a
week and urged Mary to marry him.
She consented, provided they could
furnish few rooms. Then she thought
of her $500 and made up her mind to
write her uncle, asking him to send her
the money, or what there was left OF
it, If any. She did 80 and by return
mail received a check for the $500,
with interest at per cent for two
years, and receipt for her to sign.
Mary was delighted. She signed the
receipt, inclosed it in q letter to her
uncle and went out to post it. On the
way she thought Of the stock that had
been purchased with Mr.. Peabody's
advice. Then it occurred to her to go
to Mr.. Peabody, since he had been
kind to her. and tell him what had oc-
Cured. 1t was shortly before dinner.
and she found him at home.
Mr.. Peabody had for long while
been very busy man. He was an at
torney for corporations, and corpora
tlons had had great deal for him to
do. When Mary came in, he had for
gotten her. She recalled the transac-
ton in stocks, whereupon light broke
in on his memory. Mary showed him
her uncle's check and the receipt she
had signed.
"Huve you the letter notifying you
of the purchase Of the stock% he ask
ed.
"Yes."
Without reply he tore the receipt in
pieces, then took out u pencil and be-
gan to make calculation.
MARY" he said presently, "you are
worth $4,000"
"Wh-a-tT
Il sold my stock today in the road
your money is invested in at 6S. Your
thousand shares at that price would
bring $34,SOO, but the interest would
not be less than $500. You are in
luck"
The next day Mrs. Peabody went to
Zebulon Walker as Mary's attorney
and in few days got an accounting.
"My dear" said Mr.. Peabody to her
husband, chow could you have advised