The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-03-16

trap. more lLln nalf aware OF the peril.
yet unable to resist the promptings of
their own greediness and the fragrance
Of the bait The typical male investor
is barely worthy of sympathy. but to
women the passion for gold may be
forgiven because they spend it with
such delight upon the things which
they believe to be beautiful
was recalled from such thoughts by
the voice of Harland saying: Pass me
that check book. Adams. like a good
fellow. No, not that oue-the third
from the bottom of the pile. That ac-
count is ovt%lrawn only about couple
of thousand. so little thing like this
won't matter
And he drew me a check for Il hun
dred and fifty. My existence could have
been preserved another day for half
that sum. and | was speechless with
gratitude. Moreover, Harland told me
where ] could get tie check cashed
though it was then after banking hours.
My landlady was sitting on the stoop
when l returned home after dining at Il
club with Harland and Adams The
lady in question is past fifty and has
begun to feel the inllrmites of age. She
carries too much weight and is laden
with many cares, mostly pecuniary. if
one may judge from her conversation.
How are you this evening. Mrs Won
Claim" said | cheerily.
Il never felt better nor had less" she
rnr,liD1 y1-ifl ciu A,,l to 81,
me that this remark had no application
to my account with her. which had
been pilng up for two or three weeks
she gave me very friendly glance
Mrs. Won Claim was Il German by
birth, but she had been in America long
enough TO speak the language almost
like q native except when she was in Il
hurry. She was n woman of Il generous
heart and had done enough in unobtru-
sive charity to insure her rich reward
hereafter unless all our faith is vain
But in the visible affairs Of her daily
life she exercised an amusing parsimo-
ny. When her husband carved steak
for dinner she measured every piece
with her eye and suffered great distress
if lie erred in the direction of libcrality.
The instant that the last person was
"helped' the remainder of the steak
vanished. \ trained servant removed
it with the celebrity of a coniurer
Mrs. Won Claim worried about mon
ey, but l never regarded her as grasp
ing or misery.
Il have some money for you. Mrs.
Won Claim" said l, proudly displaying
the fruits of my honest toll for Har-
land.
"Oh, me, oh. my" said she with an
affectionate glance at the money.
Where did you find so much:"
81 dug it out of a gold mine" I re-
piled
a gold NINE she echoed, with
sigh. Il wish l had one. You own
part of it, eh?''
NO said |. I've been writing
little book for the owners. They are
selling some of the stock in order to
develop the property
With that instinct which makes Il
woman shop when she does not wish
TO buy. Mrs Won Claim asked me about
the price Of this stock. | explained to
her that the par value was dollar a
share and that the present price was
% cents. Then, because my mind was
loaded with the subject | told some
wild tales about the advance in the
value of shares of other mines located
close beside the Golden Galleon and
working in ore which the best experts
pronounced to be indstinguishable
from that of the wonderfully rich de
posits of the G. G.
IN due time my prospectus was
printed, and a very pretty little book
it made, with a Spanish galleon on the
cover. The vessel was in red gold on
a dark green sea lighted by a pale gold
moon. Harland was so pleased with it
that he gave me another job and paid
me literally, throwing in small block
of the stock for good measure. l laugh
ed at the gift of the stock, but Harland
said, you just watt" in a tone that
startled me.
About fortnight later | was waiting
for Harland in his office when mem
Der of his staff approached me and
asked if | had any Golden Galleon
stock. / answered in the affirmative.
The man put his -forefinger into my
waistcoat pocket.
Spout your watch" said he "and
Iuy some more"
| was about to request an eXplana-
ton when Harland entered hurriedly,
as he always did, and the whirlwind
accompanying his progress carried me
along into his private room
Look at this" said he and laid be-
fore me a brief report from Adams,
who was then at the mine 1t was ac-
companied by figures Of assays
"Harland," said l after examining
these documents, sis this story
straight?'
straight as string" he replied.
And | knew that he was telling the
truth.
Il want some stock"
"You can't have it at the old price,
my son." said he with a chuckle; mot
today"
"Oh, yes, 1 can" l reioined. THAT