The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-25
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A QUEER Co. =
INVESTMENT.

Reckless people usually expect either
people to he reckless Billy expected
this They are usually generous and
expect their friends to be generous.
Such was the case with Billy
One night he was sitting in a gam
bling house when man stepped up to
him and handed him a letter from one
John Ripley The letter stated that
the man, Peter Stevenson. wanted
some money with which to engage in
q speculative pursuit. Ripley would
furnish part of the amount il Moreton
would put up the remaining part The
two who furnished the capital were to
be interested in the results of Steven
sons speculation.
Moreton read the IetteC and without
looking up at Stevenson showed teD
dollars WORTH of chips on to the faro
board before him. saying. III th9
wins I'll go Fou" There were win
nings for awhile: then the pile was re-
duced Il nd added to for an hour, wheO
The $40 had grown TO $3.50.
"That'l do" said Stevenson. j Gao
get on with that"
Moretdn passed $40 o. err % him an0
without taking an acknowledgment az
any kind went on with his game. Ste
venson departed. and Billy MoretoD
forgot all about the transaction.
The next thing Billy did was to TALL
in love It not only happened that he
fell in love when the tide had turned
against him. nut his girl had the good
sense to act upon the fact that he was
one of those men who know nothing
of the value of money till there is no
chance for them to get any. She told
Billy that she loved him. but unless he
changed his nature, which was 1mpos-
sible. she would not think of bringing
untold misery upon him, her and I'M
born children by marrying him
Billy was not absolutely worthless.
Indeed. all he needed was some one to
manage his cash for him. He prom
ised Helen Hartshorne that If she
would marry him he would turn ev-
cry cent he made over to her for keep
ing and spending Helen weakened
Billy followed up the advantage and
won her.
From that day there was great
change in Billy Moreton. He scraped
together a little cash borrowed from
friends he had loaned money to or
money repaid by them and went into
business for himself His wife was
his cashier and attended to the entire
finances Billy managed the trade
part Of the business. and very good
business man he made A little one
was born to the pair. and this tended
to steady Billy.
1t is hard to stamp out a natural
Weakness In other words. bray
fool in a mortar and he is still fool"
One day a friend of Billy's came to
him to ask Il favor. He had note
for $4,000 coming due and would be
lust little short" at the time. He
could easily tide over the interval If
Billy would indorse a renewal Of the
note. Billy struggled with himself.
He knew if he asked his wife's con-
currence 1t would not be given. For
the moment his old weakness return
ed, and before he realized what he
had done he had put his name on the
paper
The man for whom he had Endorsed
failed to pay the note. and Billy was
notified. Within a few days sheriff
would walk into his premises, both
business and home. and Billy and his
family would walk out.
On the evening he received this in
forma ton his wife had gone home ear
". At O'Clock he locked up his little
store and walked slowly toward his
home in doubt whether to commit sui
eide or tell his wife that he had acted
without her concurrence and had
ruined himself. her and their little
kid. AS he was crossing a street he
saw an acquaintance directing
stranger toward him. The stranger
approached him and said:
"Mr. Moreton. I believer
That's my name"
civilian d. Moreton?"
you're right again"
'You may not remember 1t, but
three years ago you advanced me
some money for
Pm not advancing money any more
What I've done has ruined me. You
must excuse me-"
And Billy walked on. The stranger
followed. Under the broad rim of his
hat his eyes shone with a peculiar
light.
You wouldn't grub stake man.
would you. while he is hunting up a
gold mine?"
mo. l wouldn't. Among the many
asinine transactions of my life l am
happy to say l never was fool enough
for that. You can't get a cent out Of
me, for l haven't got it to give even
II l would So long,
would you mind giving me re-
ceipt for S17,O0O:'
"What $17.OOO% Billy looked up.
puzzled.
The stranger took pile Of notes
from his pockets. handed them to