The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-08-15
How Jake Won the
Judges Daughter
By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright, 1905. by Frank 81. Sweet
By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright, 1905, by Frank H. Sweet

lie schools and then by reading all the
useful books he could obtain. 1t was
in a public school, before she was
thought ready to send away to a pri-
vate institution for young ladies', that
he first met Edith Potter That was
before either of them understood the
Importance of social position.
Jake was good at boat building and
good at many other things which the
village people who looked down upon
his family did not know This morn
ing he was at his workbench In a
small building he had erected near a
lake when he heard the sound of car
riage wheels, followed presently by
firm, ponderous footsteps coming
around the end of the cabin Looking
up, he saw Judge Potter approaching.
How do you do, Jake?" the Judge
said, advancing with gracious cordial
ity. always at work, it seems.
Thought likely I would find you here.
| want to have talk with you"
Jake looked at him with questioning
curiosity. 1t was Judge Potter, GER
tainly, but why had be brought his
social equality voice along? He had
never wasted that upon him before
What a trim looking lot of boats
you have here, Jake" the judge went
on, without waiting for Jake to speak,
"but never mind explaining about
them, though. What l am here about
is the steamer line. Would you mind
going over some of the main points
again?"
Jake stared, then laughed a little
CURLY.
"Whats the user he said. when
went to you about the matter was in
the first callow enthusiasm of the idea
and did not realize the FOOLS quest
was on. Suppose we dismiss the
subject altogether. l haven't money
enough to get the invention patented,
much less to start steamboat line"
The judge picked up shaving with
the point of his cane and twirled 1t
complacently.
Sometimes an idea is worth more
than capital" he observed, but with an
odd look in his eyes. Let me see.
think you said hundred thousandT
"Yes," Jake found himself saying,
with reluctant eagerness. MY idea
was stock company capitalized at
000O0-that is, hundred shares at
$1,000 each. We should He paused
abruptly and, in sudden revulsion of
feeling, took up hammer as though
to resume work But excuse me for
allowing myself to be carried away,
Judge. I've thought over the scheme
until 1t has grown very real and per-
sonal. It's sure thing if one can go
into it. l can't Even the few hun
dred / had saved were sunk In my rail-
road survey down the shore"
The judge smiled indulgently.
That's all right, jake" he said
Profitable enterprises usually have
combination of brains and capital. We
are ready to furnish the capital. In
brief. will take thirty shares and my
brother and a friend fifteen shares
each. That will give us a controlling
vote Then I'm sure Lawyer Blake
and three or four others will take from
five to ten each. There will be no diff
flculty in floating the stock"
Jake dropped his hammer.
do you really mean," he asked
huskily, that you intend to go into this
thing?"
"Of course" Then a little hurriedly.
Il was rather-abrupt with you before
because-because | make 1t a business
rule never to go into anything without
ample time for deliberation. Under
standf Come to my house at 3 o'clock
this afternoon and we will fix up the
papers. You will be superintendent
and general manager"
"Wait a moment, judge" cried Jake
as the visitor moved toward the door.
"How do you dare toto trust me? l
have heard you say that all of my
name were-well, thieves"
"Oh, tut, tut. boy! That was in
moment Of petulance. AS to trusting
you," an enigmatical smile twitching
the corners of his mouth, remember /
have known you good many years.
And-er-I am really glad to be asso-
ciated with the name' With that the
judge turned away, chuckling and MUIR
muring to himself, Il do believe the
boy has not seen the paper yet"
Ten minutes later as Jake was me
chanically putting his tools away he
heard other footsteps coming around
the cabin, this time light. nervous and
hurried Turning, he found himself
face to face with Lawyer Blake.
"Good morning, Jake Didn't 1 see
Judge Potter leaving here just now?
hope 1t wasn't about the boat scheme l
was considering"
Yves, 1t was just that" Jake answer
ed dryly; "about the boat scheme you
refused to consider. He has arranged
for shares enough to assure Its sue
cess"
The lawyers countenance fell.
TOO bad, too bad, too bad" he NUT
tered. II had thought the matter over
and decided upon that very thing my
self. Well, If It's too late l suppose
there is still the railroad scheme%
YES" family.
well" more briskly, II will under
take capitalizing that. then. Come to
my office this afternoon and we will
arrange the details. We will need you
for general oversight of the business,
of course"
An hour later he was in the postof-
fee, still dazed and bewildered. His
two or three letters were read and
slipped into his pocket, then he opened
the county paper. Almost the first
paragraph was one with the startling
headlines:
Coming Home With Millions of Gold
Mr.. John Allsbrook, uncle of our es-
teemed fellow citizen, Mr.. Jake Ais
brook, is probably on his way home
with a ton or more of gold. We no.
tice the name and his great success in
a current Klondike paper"
Jake crumpled the paper contemptu-
ously. That explained the whole
wretched business Five minutes later
he was in the presence of Judge Pot
ter
There has been a mistake" he be-
gan grimly my Uncle John is not
The judge interrupted him blandly.
1t never occurred to him that there
might be a mistake.
ooh, tut, tut, boy l see you have
the paper. l hope you don't think a
man of my position is Influenced by
thing like that Three o'clock, remem-
Der. And Oh. yes, we are going to
have few friends in this evening and
we wish you to join us. Mrs. Potter
and Edith both desire it,"
Jake murmured something and al
lowed the Judge to bow him from the
room. This was more stupendous than
all the rest. He could grasp the mag
nitude of few thousand dollars. but
an invitation to the inner circle of so
cial life, into the very heart Of the
social fortress, was incomprehensible