Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-17
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Financier of New York.
1Original.l

1
wished to become engaged was at
hand, and he had not the wherewithal
to buy present. Algernon was one
of those fellows who are always seek
ing to gain time. In other words, he
was what is called financially shin
| ner." Having Il note to pay in the
bank today, he would draw with three
days grace on Milwaukee. The draft
| he would meet with another on ST.
| Paul. BY the time he had chased his
Indebtedness around Il circle by way
Of San Francisco, New Orleans and
Charleston it was quite possible that
some real funds tied up somewhere
would be released and he would make
| a bona tide payment. At present every
cent he had in the world was deposited
with his brokers as II margin on GER
tain stocks he had bought. The market
had gone down Il few points, but a
boom was confidently looked for, and
he was hSlding on with IL tight grip.
His only fear was that his brokers
would call for more margin.
Passing IL china shop, he resolved to
look in, buy II present for the lady,
Miss Gaudalet. give draft in pay
ment and chase il over the continent
till the expected boom had come and
he should have plenty of money. En-
| tering the shop, he heard the proprietor
scolding Il luckless porter who was
sweeping up the fragments of a china
statuette.
Pardon me-" said the dealer. My
porter has just broken Il five hundred
dollar piece of china. one of the love
| Hest things l had in my store"
An idea seized upon Algernon.
what will you take for the frag-
ments?" he asked.
Nothing. You are welcome to
them.
"Will you send them"
Certainly"
Algernon wrote ELISE Gaudalet, -
Central Park West" on a piece of pa
per and gave it to the dealer, asking
him to have every scrap boxed and
sent to the address.
"Do YOU hcarI" said the dealer to
the porter. do as the gentleman says.
Don't leave out Il single piece"
Algernon left the store in Il comfort
able frame of mind. The box Will be
opened tomorrow. l will keep away
for Il week, mt the end of which time l
will call and learn that my gift has
been broken in transit. BY that time
we shall have Il better market and
can get money from my broker with
which to send another statuettc."
But unfortunately the coal miners of
the country took il into their heads to
strike. and the market instead of going
higher went lower. \ week passed.
and Algernon found himself under the
necessity of duplicating the broken
present. being at the same time in des-
pcrate financial straits. Entering his
club one afternoon, he took his mail
from his box and observed Miss eau
dalets familiar handwriting on one of
the letters Tearing off the envelope,
he read:
NV Dear Mr. withers-why have you
not before this given me an opportunity
to thank you for your beautiful present!
II is the handsomest gift i received. DO
come and see II on it's pedestal The man
who brought it was very careless ana
dropped the box In the hall But fortu-
nately 1 found every part perfect. Sin
cerely, ELISE GAUDALEI.
To say that Mr.. Withers was aston
ished by no means expresses his sensa-
tons Had volcano opened in the
center of the club swimming tank he
could not have been more thunder
struck. Calling u cab, he rode to -
Central Park West and called for Miss
GaudaIet He was ushered into the
dra wing room. and there In bay Win
dow on marble pedestal was the stat
ne. In a few moments Miss Gaudalet
came in and poured forth her warmest
thanks.
Isn't it beautiful?" she exclaimed.
I'm glad you fancy it," stammered
withers
And to think" she said, changing
her tone TO one of complaint, that you
should have kept away all this time!'
Algernon looked into her eyes and
saw or thought he saw tears. He
turned and took her hand.
Have you really missed me"
An hour later he left the house en-
gagged. He concluded that the stupid
porter had delivered the perfect stat
uette by mistake, and as he had not
ordered it he could expect ample time
to pay for it, During the next few
days he expected with each mail to
receive a notification OF the error, but
none came. Then stocks advanced, |
and he sold out with a handsome prof
it and sent a check for the statuette. |
1t was returned with Il note stating |
that there had been no mistake.
Something had gone wrong. Alger- |
non puzzled his brain for awhile, then |
concluded to sound his fiancee with
view TO an explanation.
ELISE" he said one evening, "there
is a mystery about the statuette l sent |
you for your last birthday"
What is it?'
"Why, you said the porter dropped
it in the hall-and-are you sure IT
wasn't broken?"
Elise burst into n laugh and, throw
ing her arms about her lover, said:
"Ynn sfnnidi Did Won sIlnnoSe l |