The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1907-05-09
FORTUNE BASED
ON SO CENTS.
The Other Man Loaned His 0p.
portunity and Is Now Look.
ing for a lob.
From the New York sun.

From the New York sun.
Ever meet a man who was absent
when opportunity called the roll?"
asked the man who was wearing his
last years clothes. 81 know a man
who ran away from his opportunity.
"Just what would have happened
to him il he had fingered l don't
know, and he doesn't; but he ran
away and the man who stayed
profted. Heprobably wouldn't have
opened his mouth about the story If
he hadn't read In newspaper Of the
death OF that man.
"The obituary contained the in.
formation that when the man land
ed where he bulls up a fortune he had
tifsy cents in his pocket. The man
who read the death notice simply re-
marked that he had gave the fellow
the hall dollar, or he wouldn't have
had that.
"The two men hit the town on the
same day. They had been travelling
together for weeks. The man who
was staked was penniless when he
and his acquaintance landed. The
acquaintance had little money.
"He offered more to his fellow
traveller, but the latter declined. He
accepted just what he had asked for.
Then the two men started TO seek
work.
"The first place to which they ap-
piled was retail dry goods store.
The merchant said he wanted
young man to make fires, sweep the
floor and dust the counters. The
pay was $3.50 per week.
"The applicant who had the small
sum OF money had the first option.
He refused 1t. The other, who had
borrowed the hall dollar, got the
place. When he drew his first weeks
wages he rendered the loan to his
fellow traveller. The latter declined.
He told the young man to wait un-
til he was better able.
"The transaction remained open
for q year. At the expiration Of that
time the 81 so man had his pay ad.
vanced 100 per cent. He sent his
friend the amount OF the loan with
interest.
"The benefactor was still looking
around. The man with the job Of
iered him place In the store, but it
was refused. There wasn't enough
ready money In the job TO suit him.
Several years latar the $3.50
man was advanced to the place OF
head statesmen. He sent again for
his beneiactor and offered him a
place, but this was also declined. A
few years after this the $3.50 man
was admitted to partnership In the
house, which by this time was the
great retail house OF the young city.
"He made bis quondam friend an
other offer, but she latter was not
ready. The pay was not sufficient.
A little while aiterward the retail
house established a wholesale busi-
ness. 1t was great success.
"The young man who had borrow
ed the half dollar was placed at the
head OF the wholesale concern. Once
more be offered his old beneiactor an
opportunity, but the beneiactor de-
cllned again, and for the same rea.
son.
"The business kept expanding. |
The concern is to-day one Of the big.
gest in the Middle West. When the
$3.50 man died the other day he
was quoted at a million and half.
He had made 1t in twenty-five years.
"The man who told me the story,
who ran away from opportunity, as
he expressed 1t, Is looking for job
in New York-snything that will
give him living, and keep bis body
out OF potter's field when be is
through" /
GA . To7IA.
p a Iha Kind ynu naya lhyayc pouuh,