The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 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 sutton for the hand Of his en-
| ployer's only daughter.
mo, Carl, 1 do not think | can
| give my consent" continued the bro
ker. but sit down and we will talk
| it over. Now why should give my
daughter to you?"
| The question was unexpected and
was capable of but one answer.
'Well, 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. I am certain that have en-
| deavored to be faithful to my
| duties.'
After a moments pause, Mr.. Nor
| cross said: Carl, 1 am going to ex-
! plain more fully how l feel about
this matter. When 1 was your age !
had no more money than you have,
and l lacked the education that has
been given you. AS you say, you are
faithful and of good habits, but l
want more than that TO. my daugh-
| ter. 1 have money enough. and when
! | die it will all go to Helen, For Hell
| ems husband | want man who will
be able to handle this property wise
| ~. | have made my money by
my wits, while you are 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. l have seen this feeling
| growing between you and Helen, and
| have hoped to see you wake up. |
| cannot consent to an engagement,
| but will make an agreement with
| you. If within the next three months
you succeed in making a 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 & a large advance?
He is my brother, and if he was in
| trouble my money is his, but In
business transaction I 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
! flee il order to get bundle of pa
pers that would give him control OF
the railroad and permit him TO die
| tate it's policy-to his own advan-
tage, of course.
Just as he stepped inside the vault
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
| young man and he rose to the occa-
sioE
81 m afraid l have forgotten the
combination" he said. What the old
man said was to the point, but pro-
fame When he quieted off trifie,
the young man said: Il think a
check for a 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 foated through the
| window. tShall | 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 a 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"
Zone 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. l 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. l think you will
find Helen at home this evening""
Hypothesis of Telepathy.