Cañon City record., 1902-08-28
President EINTERGNEEH'S NISTA..E

copyright 1902 by the s Mcclure
Compauvl
The president Of t-c International
Insurance company was enjoying tue
most peaceful period of II busr mans
everyday life. the half hour after luLch.
when the RENE mbrance OF good
meal is enhanced by the fumes of a 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 MuEEsy. the
! office boy. tremblcd with apprehension
as he knocked softly at the door OF the
presidents office ere the prescribed
thirty minutes had passed. The usu-
ally placid 'row of the president durk.
ened as he growled:
Come in
! please. sir" said Muggsy apollo
getically. de gentleman who give me
dis note said IT was most Important.
sir and dat no one else but you
would do.
The president took the carefully
dress carelessly: "Silas Wintergreen.
Esq. Most important and absolutely
private"
'H'm"' muttered the president as
Muggsy rctreated to discreet dis
tance. "'Most important and absolutely
private What the deucer'
The contents, however. proved more
extraordinary than the address.
Mr.. Silas Wintergreen:
Sir-If you will spare me five minutes
OF your time. I will give you some very
important informal ton which involves the
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 Ly Il small, thin, pre-
matUroly gray haired individual. whose
deep set black eyes ,roved anxiously
about the room. Muggsy respectfully
made his absence conspicuous.
"Mr. Wintergreen." said the stranger.
my name is Button-Adam Button. SIR
l aman old patron Of your company and
now carry $4,000 insurance with you"
Mr.. Wintergreen unbent considera.
bly, and coughed polite response.
The stranger continued: II am in the
employ Of Bonds & Co., with whom
you are no doubt acquainted. am
their confidential man and handle all
of their out of town business" More
unbending on the part OF the president
and still friendlier cough
"Some time ago." said the stranger,
II was induced to speculate little
with my earnings. I won. and. ns Is
the invariable rule. tried the game OF
chance again. This time l won more
Then received what l believed to be
a sure tip on the market. So sure was
l that appropriated-borro 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 re-
volving chair What did this man
want-an embezzler. thicf-what
could he want OF the president of the
International Insurance compnnyr
MIR. Wintergreen." continued the
stranger my life is worth S75.O1O TO
your company. Should | 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 MIR. Winter
green. If | 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. | cannot stand this. would
rather meet death thousand times In
thousand forms. | had already con
cluded TO make an end of my miserable
existence when | thought of plan.
Should | die your company pays SI5.-
600; should | live your company pays
nothing"
Adam Button paused. He mopped
his moist brow with his handkerchief
Well" said the president in a cold
tone-"wellF'
well" replied Adam Button. II
have a proposition to make your com
pany. If you will pay me $4,000. |
will give up my policy to you. If not,
will kill myself today and your com
pany will lose $4,000"
The president deliberated some time.
Presently an amused smile covered his
smooth shaven features as he replied.
my dear fellow. that's the best hold
up game ever heard of. Do you think
was born yesterday? Not on your
life"
Two red spots burned on the stran-
gers cheeks. Before God, Mr.. Win
tergreen. | am telling the truth. It's
my only chance. For the love of mercy,
believe that | am serious"
"Oh, tommyrot"' replied Mr.. Silas
Wintergreen as he turned his back on
the trembling stranger. Get out, Hey,
Muggsy!'
Muggsy appeared and. taking his
cue from wave of the presidents
hand. ushered the stranger from the