The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-25
THE GRAND PROMOTER
still Doing Business at the Same Old
Stand.

office and idly passing the sum of
seventeen cents from one hand to the
other when the door opened and a
small and humble looking man entered
and inquired:
Gould you make it convenient to-
day, major ~
What is it, my friend? I don't re-
member you
Don't you remember that about
six months ago came in here to get
a tooth pulled, thinking it was a dem
tai shop? You kindly informed me
that you didn't pull teeth, and then
you went on to tell me that you had
got up a stock. company to raise arti-
chokes on the desert of Sahara"
Il do have dim remembrance of
some such thing" admitted the major,
who saw there was no cause to fear
the caller.
You figured on profits of at least
$50,OO0,000 year, and you promised
to let me in on the ground floor. Be
fierce looking woman came in and
called you a swindler, and you had to
go out with her.
1T is barely possible; but you were
venient today. What did you mean
by that %
why. would like to go into the
matter again with you. # you have
anything good am ready 10 invest.
No matter what the fierce looking wo-
man said. you have been recommended
to me as an honest, straightforward
man."
Major Crofoot turned pale and swal-
lowed at the lump in his throat. Was
it possible that a sucker had 1eliber-
ately entered his web in search of an
investment and that he was acquiring
a reputation for honesty? 1t did not
seem possible, and yet"
TELL me about the artichokes. ma
jor. said the caller, as he seated him
self.
You on are looking for an invest
Il am. want something that will
pay at least per cent, while be-
lieve you said this Sahara business
would pay three times that. What
ever you say goes with me-
The Major had forgotten what lie he
told about the artichoke business, but
as soon as he could pull himself together
and get control Of his voice he replied:
We'll, we propose to lease one hum
growing of artiehokes. You know an
artichoke grows best in sandy soil. and
needs no water. AS a matter of fact, |
we have already leased the land, and
have got one thousand men at work
planting
It see -.f
I'VE expect to raise the ordinary crop.
This will give US crop of $500, 0o0, 900,
and the articholkes will sell at 81 a
bushel. Take out the cost of seed,
planting, digging and shipping. and we
have 81, 600, 000, 900 left as profit That
will mean dividend of thousand per
cent on the capital stock
Good gracious, Major, but what an
investment" gasped the humble look
ing man as he bounced around in his
chair.
Eyes, pretty fair-pretty fair. Out of
my fourteen different companies think
this will pay the best, though some of
the others will run it rather close"
And it was your own idea ?'
"All my own"
And no one else ever thought of rails
ing artichoSes on Sahara %
Not to my knowledge"
''Weli, you have got a head on you.
you have. You are the sort of man to
invest money with. Just think of a
want to shake hands with you and say
that I was a blasted fool for not COM
ing to you sooner"
The Major shook. He had caught the
biggest sucker of his life, and visions
of broiled lobster for dinner began to
rise up in his brain.
And how much stock can any one
buy?" queried the humble looking man.
We'll, up to 500 900, though we pre-
fer not to sell such large blocks"
II see. You'd rather a person took
ten thousand. That is perfectly cor
stock?''
"The certificates are being engraved,
but I could give you a receipt for
your money, you know, and fill out
the certificates afterwards
ST wouldn't need a receipt from you,
Major. If I handed you $4,000 your
word would be all should want. Let's
see. Let's see. 1t seems to me that
when I was in here you spoke some
thing about my filling one of the Of
fices!''
Yes. I think did. 1 told you that
the position of general manager was
still vacant, and SO it is. The salary is
$4,000 per year. Do you know any
thing about artichokeS? ?"
81 know that they don't grow on
trees
THAT is all that's necessary. The
salary will be doubled after the first
buying pens and ink. I'm almost
ashamed to offer you such a miserable
salary as $4,000 per year, but if
"Oh. I'll take it, Major. I'll take it
no kicker. Indeed, it's more than
kind for you to offer it. Let us shake
hands again
$50 you think you'd like to invest
in this?' asked the Major when they
had shaken.
For sure What 1 was afraid of
was that the stock might be gone be-
fore l could get here this morning.
| Nothing like being lucky If the stock
| had all been sold out L never should
have forgiven myself. thousand
| per cent profit!'
"At least a thousand. my dear man.
And salary of $4,000 as manager
| the first year,"
For the first year only. After that
! it will be doubled"
by George, Major. but you are a
keen one! I don't believe there's an
other f1nancier like you in America
| Let's shake hands again.
The major shook but something like
a doubt began to creep into his mind.
| The humble looking man seemed too
| enthusiastic
when will you be prepared to in
vest?" he asked.
| 'tOh, any time All have to do is to
| draw check. Perhaps we had better