Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-07-08
A DEAL. I'M
WHEAT
Copyright, 1904, by Daily story Pub. Co.,
BY J. c. PLUMMER


T HERE was a financial crisis in the
! home of Capt. Soloman PEBBLES.
The butcher and the grocer each had
menaced the unfortunate mariner with
legal proceedings if their accounts were
not settled forthwith and the furni-
ture man limited strongly at removing
the parlor suite if the balance owed
thereon was not paid, dire threat,
which, if accomplished, so Mrs. Pee
bles said, would forever disturb her
rest in the grave. Added to this Mrs.
and Miss PEBBLES were without proper
attire to appear before their neighbors
without feeling of deep humiliation,
81 can't understand it." said Mrs.
PEBBLES, for the hundredth time, why
you can't make money. There's Capt.
Lanyard, not as good sailor as you
and yet he lives fine"
Capt PEBBLES, who had been beating
the DEVILS tattoo on the table during
this address, flung his hat on his head
said something which caused his wife
to elevate her hands aloft, and left
the house
Luck and Capt PEBBLES did not get
on together. Always a careful master
and latterly an over-careful one, he
was constantly having accidents. From
sticking on a bar to fouling a wharf
his craft was always paying damages
or expenses until shipowners dropped
him He was too old and fat for a
mate, and it would have been folly to
work for foremost wages with his
family Hence the Strengthened condi.
ton of the PEBBLES family at present
One thing. amid all his troubles
Capt. PEBBLES had kept intact this
! home Purchased in installments, the
fruits of hard toll and prvation, he
regarded it as a refuge for him and
his family that should never be
touched and yet when he left the house
! he had resolved to sacrifice it.
81 will lend you $500 on your house
PEBBLES" said John Simms capitalist
land what's more you sign the mort
! gage and | won't require your wife's
signature, nor will | record 1t until
necessary, You pay up your debts as
you agree and pay up the mortgage as
you can"
With the money in his pocket and
trouble in his heart, PEBBLES walked
homeward, feeling as does a sailor
when he abandons his ship. His home
was gone, he could never repay the
mortgage under the present frown oil
| fortune.
At the street corner he met Capt
Lanyard
"Hello, PEBBLES" said he, you look
as if you had been dismasted in a
squall."
However reticent man may be
about his own troubles sometimes they
gall him so that it is a relief to talk
of them and PEBBLES told Lanyard the
whole story.
"Whew!" said Lanyard, that's
tough. Why don't you make some
money!"
But how" asked PEBBLES
"Spellilate," replied Lanyard THE
times gone by when a man can make
any money sailing schooners for wages
| and gratuities l wouldn't be master
| of any ship built and I have money in
bank and in my pocket. Now, | never
! met a belated craft on the sea that
did not have provisions and spare spars
! to give her and I'll help you, PEBBLES
| Buy wheat"
Wheat" calculated PEBBLES
There was a curbstone broker in
/ New York who thought himself lucky
! if he had a bloater for his Sunday din
ner He went to Chicago and he's made
forth and as I did him a favor or
/ two when he was poor. he gives me
some tips and they never go wrong.
/ Here's a letter from him SAYING buy
wheat. September wheat The gov
eminent report Will be out next week
| and it has leaked. II will show dam
aged condition and wheat viii go up
/ five or ten cents with q Jump There
you are, buy September wheat"
! i've only 5000" said PEBBLES.
"Plenty," said Lanyard. buy 5000
/ bushels, put up your 5000 and when it
/ goes up to where yuu'n have $3.50 profit
sci! her ont. It's as easy as heaving
& loe."
pose it goes down."
at won't go down. This fellow is
never wrong Pm going buy 1000
bushels Sec Coma5oca AID tell him
/ sent you"
| PEBBLES walked on thinking deeply.
This was the secret Of LQryard's pros
perity, Why shouldn't he do as well.
He heard himself hailed and saw Jo-
siah Boggs, a shipowner, reckoning
to him. PEBBLES" said Boggs, I've