Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-01-22
+ JOHN ALDEN'S INSURANCE i
+ +



a truly honorable and reliable man.
have not been unmindful Of your faith
full services, nor am | indisposed to
reward them. | am getting old; | am
now eighty four years of age, and
In the ordinary course of events,
cannot live much longer. Since my
dear son died | have been entirely
alone in the world. What | want to
say Is this: | wish to give you full
charge of the store; l will take you
into partnership. and You can have
one-half of the profits. All l ask is
that you take me into your family, for
| am weary of living alone. When
die | shall leave you all | possess, in
Guiding an insurance on my life of
twenty thousand dollars Does that
suit you?"
Mr.. Alden, who knew his clerk WELL
was not surprised that he did not
speak; it was, indeed and he knew it,
most ailuring prospect Josiah was
so stunned that he could not speak
coherently. Through his mind rushed
always pinched and calculated to make
both ends meet; the continual whirl
about money. which had become so
much of second nature that he
scarcely noticed it. but which, in his
retrospective glance, under the bright
illumination of this magnificent offer,
weighed on his spirits like a pail.
What! He an equal partner in the
firm He an equal sharer in the profits
He the heir of Mr.. Alden, 1t seemed
incredible.
well, Josiah, what say your"
He reused himself and said:
Il don't know what to say, the of
fer is so unexpected and undeserved.
| have never done more than my duty,
and why you should be so generous
do not know really l do not know
what to say or do"
There is nothing you need say, Jo-
siah, and but one thing to do-allow
me 10 have my own way. My decision
is not u thing OF the moment; have
thought of ii long and often. The store
thousand dollars year-still it has
enabled me to lay UP snug fortune,
and to place upon my life an insur-
ance of twenty thousand dollars
Josiah listened to the old mans talk
only with external application; he un-
derstood what was said, but each word
conjurcd up II picture. At first his
mind did not wander beyond the year
ly Income of two thousand dollars; this
sum, i'll contrast with his beggarly
fifteen dollars II week. seemed mex
haustible. lie thought of the many
things he could do now. Maria. his
wife. should have silk dress. and
should rest from the labor which had
been wearing her out. Martha, his
oldest daughter. should have the wish
of her life granted, and should study
music. Alfred should go TO college;
the other children should have their
dresses when they grew up-and he
oh, he would get new coat
With such roseate pictures did the
two thousand dollars fill his thoughts;
but when he allowed his mind to con
template the time when he should pos
sess Mr.. Alden's entire fortune. ii af-
fected him as Il flash of lightning does
the eye.
We'll, Josiah" said Mr.. Alden. "let
us go and have the partnership papers
drawn up; then. as ii is your birth
day, you can take a holiday, some
thing you have not had in many
years"
Just as you say. sir" said Josiah.
meekly.
Soon the business was transacted,
Josiah signing all the papers in Il
dazed manner. unconscious of their
contents. Then he FASTENED home for
he was anxious to contide TO some one
the JOY that filled his heart; and to
whom more properly than to her who