The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-05-15
The Speculator.
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war, peStlence or famine. Tney can
never do the drudgery necessary to
small beginning. Give one of them
the assurance that by working in a
humdrum field for few years he may
secure not only competence. but for
tune, and he will not be able to bring
himself to suffer the restraint and en-
dure the steady labor required. But he
will thrive under adversely.
Bushnell Bugbee was one Of this
kind. He had been given splendid
opportunity by an uncle to work up
from subordinate position to succeed
his uncle, who was childless, In the
management OF the business. He
proved himself incompetent, only dis
tinguEhing himself once, when the
store caught fire. Then his was the
only cool head about the premises, and
he saved the place from destruction.
IfS uncle finally discharged him, and
he drifted, doing nothing till, when at
the lowest ebb, he married. He said
he thought marriage would settle him.
Perhaps better statement of the case
would be that the condition of mar
ried man with no income would create
conditions under which he could act.
At any rate 1t did.
He had hundred dollars at the time
Of his marriage, and he proceeded to
lose that at game of faro. Then one
morning when he and his wife had
nothing in the house for breakfast he
started out to find some means of bet
tering his condition. Strolling along a
street aimlessly with his hands in his
pockets, he came to stone front dwell
ing, from the stoop of Which protruded
a red flag, denoting an auction. There
Is something in this symbol when hung
from such a place denoting trouble.
Ten to one those who have lived in the
house died or failed in business or met
with some calamity to render the sale
necessary. Possibly it was some such
thought that led Bugbee to enter. he
found splendid house with fine furni-
ture of an olden type that was to be
sold under the hammer. He looked the
property over with the critical eye of
one who was considering whether 1t
was good enough for him.
A crowd was gathering, and present
ly the auctIoneer mounted table and
called for bid. Some one started with
an offer of $4,000, which was not half
the value of the property. The bidding
was spirited till $4,000 was reached,
when all but two bidders dropped out.
One of these seemed determined to se
cure what was evidently a bargain.
and the other after yying with him
till the figure of $4,000 was reached
gave up the contest and withdrew.
at this juncture Bushnell Bugbee
felt stiff piece of paper slipped into
his hand, and downward glance told
him 1t was bank bill. At the same
time man standing next to him whis-
lpered to him to bid against the win
ner. Bugbee. who was getting hungry
| for his breakfast, obeyed. He raised
the other bidder to $3S,500 and, seeing
him about to weaken, looked around
for the man who had employed him
for a dummy. He was nowhere to be
seen. When he turned again he saw
his opponent leaving the room, and the
auctioneer called to him:
what name, slrY'
There was not the slightest culver In
the successful bidders voice as he an
swered, Bushnell Bugbee."
"All right. want check for 10 per
cent of the purchase. or $3,S50."
at that moment man came hurry
ing into the room to learn that the sale
was over and the property knocked
down. He got his information from
the auctioneer, and Bugbee saw the
latter point In his direction. Before he
could remark upon the auctiopeers re-
quest for check the disappointed man
approached him and requested to see
him in another room.
"Do you wish this property for your
own use or as a speculationr asked
the late conner.
81 would prefer to live in it." replied
Bugbee truthfully.
at belonged to my father. My broth
er lived in 1t, but speculated in stocks
and lost all his money. returned
this morning to find the old homestead
was about to be sold. l have made
money on the Pacific coast and don't
want to see the house or furniture go
out of the family. Please name a
sum that you will take for your bar
gain"
Nothing would induce me to stand
| in a mans way to recover the home
Of his ancestors" said Bugbee. "If
you will name sum you consider
this home worth to you, will accept
it."
''This is indeed generosity" said the
other. "T have not asked what you
paid for it, but had been here in time
would certainly not have stopped
bidding under $4,000. will cheerful
ly give you that price for 1t and thank
you very much"
1.-THE favor is mine" replied Bugbee.
"in the opportunity to restore ones
home to him. Your check for 81, 500
, i is all you are Indebted to me-"
The man drew a cheok book from his
pocketbook, wrote a check for the
amount and handed it to Bugbee and
then drew another for $3S,500, which
he gave the auctieneer. Pressing Bug
bees hand gratefully, he left the house
Mr.. Bugbee has since become I'M
mensely rich. They say in the stock
market that he is a bird Of Ill omen
for he never appears there unless
stocks are being thrown over like fur
niture out of burning building. AT
such times a beautiful smile plays
about his lips in grim contrast with the
agitation about him. and he gives or
ders to buy in such quantities as to
warrant his being taken for lunatic,
After the storm has passed he has
made another fortune.