Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-05-09
VILE AND WIT
WIN A WIFE.


to your making Helen your wife
The speaker was Henry Norcross,
one of the millionaire manipulators
OF finance in New York. and the
scene was in his private Office. The
only other person present was Carl
Lorraine, for some years the conf
Dental secretary Of Mr.. Norcross and
now a sutton for the hand of his en-
ployer's only daughter.
NO, Carl, l do not think Il can
give my consent" continued the bro
ker But sit down and we will talk.
It over Now why should ! give my
daughter to your"
The question was unexpected and
was capable of but one answer.
We'll. sir, / love Helen and she
says she returns my affection. but
will only marry with her fathers
consent"
Good girl" chuckled the old
man.
Il think" continued Carl. ':that
my habits are good, and the chief OBJ
lection / can see is my lack of
wealth. am certain that have en-
deayored TO be faithful to my
duties
After a moments pause, Mr.. Nor
cross said: Carl, am going to ex-
plain more fully how feel about
this matter. When was your age !
had no more money than YOU have.
and / lacked the education that has
been given you. AS you say. you arc
faithful and of good habits, but
want more than that TO- my daugh-
ter. ! have money enough. and when
/ die II will all go to Helen. For Hell
ems husband | want a man who viii
be able to handle this property wise
! ~. have made my money by
my wits, while you arc to-day no bet
ter off than you was three years ago,
except from the meager amount you
have saved from the liberal salary /
| allow you. / have seen this feeling
growing between you and Helen, and
have hoped to see you wake up.
canrot consent to an engagement,
but will make an agreement with
you. If within the next three months
you succeed in making thousand
| dollars by the shrewd use of your
wits, will consent to your marriage
| to Helen"
Noting the young mans look of
Encouragement at this, the old man
continued: do you remember how
last week made $4,000 from my
brother by learning that he had sold
short on c. and O., then buying up
all / could find on the market and
selling TO him at a large advapce3
He is my brother, and IL he was in
trouble my money is his, but In q
business transaction will catch him
If possible. Keep your eyes open and
your wits on the alert, and | sine
rerely wish you success.
Ten weeks of the three months
had gone by and the one thousand
dollars seemed as far away as ever.
Mr.. Norcross was In his office. pre-
| pairing to attend an important meet
ing of the S. and M. railroad. He
had stepped into brick vault that
had been built in the rear of his of
fee In order to get a bundle of pa
| pers that would give him control of
| the railroad and permit him to die
tate its policy to his own advan-
| tage, of course.
Just as he stepped inside the vault,
a gust of wind swung the door to and
the spring lock held it fast. A small
barred window prevented any posi-
bility of suffocations, and In a half
laughing tone the broker called for
Carl to open the door.
A daring thought came to the
yong man and he rose to the occa-
sior
I'm afraid l have forgotten the
coordination" he said. What the old
man said was to the point, but pro-
fame. When he quieted off a trifle,
the young man said: Il think a
check for thousand might set my
wits to working
Again the violent language flowed
through the little window, until the
young man reminded Mr.. Norcross
that the board meeting would be
called in twenty minutes. After a
pause, question fioated through the
window. Shall | put the name of
Carl Loaine on that check?"
"If you please" was the polite re-
Ply. The check fiuttered out through
the window and in moment the
door was opened.
Furious at the trick, Mr. Norcross
stopped long enough to say, THAT
was rascality, not the exercise of
your wits"
"One moment" replied the young
man Speaking of wits, you forget
that a key is hanging inside the
vault, to be used in just such an
emergency as this. | presume your
wits failed to work promptly this
time"
As the humor of the situation
dawned on the irate broker. he
smiled grimly. and in spite of his
great haste, he paused long enough
to say, You'll do. | think you will
find Helen at home this evening"