The river press., 1903-05-13

SHE HESITATINGLY ASKED.
that may reach heaven. l thank you
from the bottom of my heart for bring
ing my attention to this book"
''Then you will put your name down
for it," she asked.
'"Twice over, If you wish, and will
take great pleasure in calling the at
tention of my friends to it. Poor old
mother! Poor old broken up home!"
The major turned away as if to con-
ceal the tears in his eyes, and the can
vasscr decided that she had stumbled
upon II soft thing. TIC emotion of the
GRAND rrOnulrr WAS SO deep that it
WAS sixty seconds before lie turned to
her and said:
My dear woman, perhaps you did
not know what good fortune awaited
you when you knocked at my door.
Let me say to you that am promot
er of enterprises and an originator Of
trusts. co,urrrS and s;lurczes In the
last year | have promoted no less than
sixteen different enterprises, each with
capital Of millions, and the seven
teenth is now in hand and almost
ready for launching"
"You-yoU are not J. Pierpont Nor
gan?" she hesitatingly asked.
mot exactly, ma'am. am only the
man who gives him hints and backs
him up With cash. tell you this in
confidence and ask that it go no fur
ther'
II won't say anything, Of course
Will you put your name down for the
boolx?'
'With the greatest chccrfulness But
before doing SO let me ask you a q,lcs.
ton. DO you know anything about
rabbitsY'
II had one once for a pet"
''Capital rnpital!" exclaimed the ma
jor. Il had an idea you knew all about
rabbits but wasn't sure. You are in
deed the woman | want and must
have. Have you any objections to
earning $1o.oG0 Il ycar?"
"Mcrcy on me- no." gaspcd the wo,
man as she turned pale.
"Thrn consider yourself engaged ut
that salary. Let me explain. You
have heard of the Great Sahara deS.
ert?"
II think So"
ut Is a great waste covering 24S,-
100000 acres Of land At the present
time it does not produce one cents
worth to the acre The land is too
sterile to grow anything Thousands
Of deep thinking men have wrcstled
with tho nrnIlnb, and rivnr IN in do
spair, and it has been left to me to
find a way out. have found it. The
Great Sahara shall be made a gold
mine"
''Dcar me, how wonderful! And you
will take my book?'
II will take your book. shall today
file articles Of Incorporation Of the
Great Sahara Desert Improvement
company l shall be president, Of
course, while YOU will be secretary
Your salary, as stated. shall he 100000
a year. and if You want money to buy
& sealskin sack or Il pair of diamond
earrings ri draw YOU 4 chrcK this
minute. | W"S Iookin. for n wo.l!Hn
who knew all about rAb|1ijS. and, 10.
hav" found her."
'Eut-but | can't realize it, rrplir,'
the canvasst.r as she looked around l.,
81 helpless way, you cant mr;rn tllai
alI to get $lnDin II y"nr:'
"Trn thousand. my dear woman
$4,000 Il year. Ny idea is to stock !!
Great Snllnr;, with American rabbits
shall send over 5000 this year. NeX,
year the 5000 will have become 7I,nOG
In two years there will be half Il mil
lion In five years | shall be able t.
sell 100000 skins a year at % cent:
apiece. The cost of keeping the ra!.
bits will be nothing. The cost of Kill
ing and skinning will be cent eacs
Nineteen cents clear profit on cvcrt
skin. No gold mine will produce sue
an income. Madam. let us congrutl
late each other and shake hands on it.
at is wonderfully wonderful" Will