The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-08-08

was received a week SINCE"
"Give it to me-" said Walter, eagerly.
He took the letter, and recognized at
once in the address Clement Shaw's ir-
regular handwriting. Cut off, as he had
been for over month. from all COM
munication with former friends, he grasp
ed the letter with sensation of JOY, and
hurried back to his room to read it quiet
~, and without risk of interruption.
The letter ran as follows:
my Dear Young Friend-I have just
received your letter asking me to write
you at Columbus. / am glad to obtain
your address, as l have a matter Of inn
portance to speak of. First, however, let
me congratulate you on the success you
have met with as book agent. 1t is not
business to which I should advise you
to devote yourself permanently; but l
have no doubt that the experience which
you acquire, and the necessary contact
into which it brings you with different
classes of people, will do you good, while
the new scenes which it brings before
your eyes will crafty the natural love
of adventure which you share in common
with those Of your age. When you set
out, had amisgivings as to your success,
admit. 1t was certainly an arduous
undertaking for a boy of fifteen; but
you have already demonstrated that you
are able to paddle your own canoe, and
l shall hereafter feel confident OF your
success in life, so far at least as relates
to earning your living. That you may
also be successful in building up good
character, and taking an honorable posi-
ton among your fellow-men, earnestly
hope.
Il now come to the business upon which
I wish to speak to you.
You will remember that man named
James Wall was prominently identified
with the Great Metropolitan Mining Com
pany, by which your poor father lost his
fortune. Indeed, this Wall, who is
plausible sort of fellow, was the one who
induced him to embark in this disastrous
speculation. l suspect he has feathered
his own nest pretty web already, and
that he intends to do so still more. l
was surprised to hear from him some
ten days since. l will not copy the let
ter, but send you the substance of it. He
reports that in winding up the affairs Of
the company there is a prospect of real
izing two per cent for the stockholders,
which, as your father owned q thousand
shares, would yield two thousand dollars.
1t may be some time. he adds, before the
dividend will be declared and paid. He
processes a willingness, however to pay
two thousand dollars cash for transfer
of your fathers claims upon the COM
pany.
Now, two thousand dollars are not
to be despised; but my impression is that
such a man as James Wall would never
have made such an offer if he had not
expected the assets would amount to
considerably more than two per cent. l
am unwilling to close with the offer until
l know more about the affairs of the
company. Here it has struck me that
you can be of assistance. This Wall lives
in a town named Portville, in Wiscon-
sin, on the shore of Lake Superior. I
would suggest that you change your name,
go at once to Portville, and find out
what you can. / can give you no in
but must trust to your own
native shrewdness, in which l feel sure
you are not deficient. If it should be
necessary to give UP your present bust
ness, do so without hesitation, since the
other business is of more Importance. I
will write Mr.. Wall that I have his offer
under consideration. If you need money,
draw upon me.
II hear that Joshua Drummond has
run away from home, carrying away con-
siderable money belonging to his father.
The latter appears to lament the loss Of
his money more than of his son.
81 remain your sincere friend,
3. ''CLEMENT SHAW
This letter gave Walter much food 70.
reflection. He determined to give up his
book agency, and leave as soon as pos
sible for Portville. 1t was encouraging
to think that, in any event, he was likely
to realize two thousand dollars from the
mining shares, which he had looked upon
as valueIess. Besides, he felt there was
every reason to hope they would prove
even more valuable.
Three days later, having closed his &C
counts as agent, he started for Portville.
He had made q new start in life, and
this unexpected money would prove a
stepping stone to new ambitions. His
future proved his courage and integrity,
with his motto always, Strong and
Steady"
Walter found cheap boarding house
and gave his name as Carl Walters. He
at once made inquiries about James Wall.
He found out that Wall was regarded as
a shrewd speculator and was associated
with several men of dubious business rep
utation in various copper and iron min
ing enterprises.
The man had an Office employing sew
eral clerks, who sent out considerable
advertising matter offering shares of stock
to investors at a distance Walter man
aged to get employment in the Office.
Within Eve days he had learned all thu
ms and outs Of the business; In ten he
was ready to make move in his own in
terests.
The stock for which Shaw had been
offered two thousand dollars he di,cvv-
cred was really worth ten thousand dol
lars.
Walter hired lawyer. When be left
Portville he carried with him check for
a small fortune.
Stapleton was his destination. Walter
l. -