The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1910-02-21
SMOOTH PROMOTER
DAzES MINOTERS
BUSINESS MEN HOLD cERTtFI-
Gates OF STOCK IN lATTolR
PRoJEcT-GiRL, IN CASE.

Minot, N. D., Feb. 21.-Minot is lust
recovering firm the visit of a Rufus
Wallingford, the genial promoter of
curren fiction. Unlike Rufus Of story
fame this Rufus stepped over the
chalk line of masterful strategy, and
his work at times showed traces of low
cunning not characteristic of his illus
trious prototype. 7
| His sudden disappearance has left an
aching void I'm certain sections of the
city, and several citizens who scrib-
1sed their nariies on the back of w. H.
Bells PAPER would like to see his face
once more I
III. Bell Chicago" is the way
the register at the Leland hotel sums
up the little commercial drama that
has been holding down the boards at
Minot for the last two months. The
only consolation his new friends have
Is large picture in soft sepia tints
on file at the local photographers.
Bell came to Minot about two months
ago, bubbling over with enthusiasm
His enthusiasm was characteristic of
the progressive spirit of the "windy
city" but q little too progressive in
its tendencies for that of Minot, the
magic city,
"The magic city, was the SYNONYM
that llIred Bell to it's borders. His an
pearance was surely magic, but his
disappearance was no less magic than
his arrival within these gates.
His Modus operandi.
He came obsessed with the idea Of
assisting in that noble cause Of lower
ing the high cost OF meat products and
singled out the Farmers Equity So
ciety as the soil In which to inculcate
his principles This was not virgin
soil, however. for the Farmers Equity |
society has been buying carloads of |
dried fruits, oranges and machinery.
They figured that saving i'm prunes |
of over s cents a pound was made |
this way, and why net lane on the |
juicy porterhouse and force a reduction /
there? The scheme was a novel one.
Bell said that he represented the
Chicago Stock Yards and Transfer Co,
which was a large independent yard,
limiting investment to each section at
$4,000. The fact of the company's
exiStence~ewill soon be determined by
the. holders of the crisp certificates of
stock This stock yard was to stand
in the same salutary position to the
farmer as the -talked-of terminal
elevators at Duluth and other primary
markets. Here the farmer could ship
his stock at a minimum of loss and a
maximum of profit, and incidentally
the soaring prices OF Iaeat would be
lowered.
The plan took well, and it is said
that considerable stock was subscribed
Bell did not work the Equity society
as body, but individually. He found
1t was easier.
Wins Love of a Minot Belle.
The irony of Bells industrial promo
tions, however, was delightfully."- re-
lieved by few touches Of tender ro-
nance. 1t may all end in his securing
one of the bellies of Minot as his bride
that is, IL he acts honorably. While
here he won the affections OF one of
Minot's most estimable society girls,
for Bell was as potent In love as in
business.
His attentions were accepted. Hon
orabie at all times, he secured the con-
sent of her parents and forthwith be-
took himself to a local photographers
gallery and there had the gentle lines .
of mis- face and torso reproduced In
The softest shades at the command Of
The genial artist. The next logical visit
was the jewelers., where he purchased
/ large sparkling diamond In pay
laent lie rendered draft for over 5000
pm Kansas City bank, where he said
le had a deposit of $4,000. He casu-
lily remarked that ne had almost for
hof h. haA eT9e
lis credit, but he Just recalled the fact
and decided to use it to further his
affections.
The ring was delivered to Bell, and
after placing 1t upon the finger of mis- :
lance, he returned to the jeweIer and !
another draft, suggesting
hat that $4,000 had been there so long 4
hat the bank might not recognize him
IS the same Bell. This arrangement :
vas satisfactory and the new draft
vas substituted, and at the same time :
Bell left another draft for $1,I00 that
lmost staggered the jeweler. This was
n payment for sparkling necklace
o be6delivered to the girl as soon as
eturn had been made on the first :
laper.
Bell stated that he had just made
ucl1y strike in mining stock and
leaned up $90,0c0 on deposit with his
roker and that his checking rights
N this would protect all drafts he hadI
rawn locally and all checks whicn
ONE business men had signed or in
orsed with him.
Bell Visited Minneapolis. A
Soon after Bell packed his tent and T
tole away like an Arab In the night. :
ne jewelers. draft came back. For
unately the girls father was induced
, see that the ring was returned and
now glitters behind the grim six- ]
" doors Of the jewelers. vault, ST. +
sntly unfolding It's tale OF lovers /