The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-06
PQrtnerS--A Short Story
By Owen Oliver

People think I'm NO end of Johnny.
but I'm not. once did 9 very clever
thing. l admit that she made me:
but some fellows never do a clever
thing at all. Nobody could make
them.
To begin with myself I'm Lord
Charles Manson. and I'm pretty well
on. The governor tied my money up
till was twenty-five. When a fellow
gets as old as that he begins to grow
sensible. II he's ever going to be.
Hawke and Solomon thought wasn't.
They may have had some grounds
for their suspicion. When they show
ed the draft prospectus of the Royal
Iceland Gold Mining Company, Limit
ed" ! don't mind owning that I
thought 1t was a really good thing.
The prospectus said 1t was. and print
looks SO convincing.
Him. said. Il suppose the shares
will all be snapped up! Pom my word,
l."
MY dear fellow" said Hawke. IF
you would like
''Of course should" I said.
Then leave it to me-"
We'll see you through" said Solo,
mon. How many shares do you
want!'
Well" said. II couldn't draw more
than $4,000 without letting old Vance
know, and he's sure to go to my moth
err and make a fuss" Vance is our So
licitor. so I can't have more than
$4,000" They we're $500 apiece.
my dear boy" said Solly, ''you
shall have them. In a month they'll
be up to $40 and then you can sell
out"
Afterwards they altered the pros
pectus bit. and put me in as chair
man. l didn't see the use; but they
explained 1t was on account of my be-
ing a lord and we'll known as a crick-
eter
81 can't make speeches." I pointed
out, cor do much of the management"
Not at ALL" Hawke promised. Sol
ly and are the managing directors.
OF course we shall be glad of your ad-
vice at all times"
What shall do first Them l
asked.
1.-THE chairman ought to have a
voice in the concern"
"Oh-er - certainly" said Hawke.
Come round the Offices with us this
afternoon and see the staff. Perhaps
you can suggest some improvements"
We went to the Offices accordingly.
When we entered the clerks room.
Hawke said: This is Lord Charles
Manson, our chairman" They all
stood up. 1t made me feel deuced
awkward.
Then we went into another room,
lady in very neat blouse. She had
one of those pretty Irish faces-half in
nocent, half saucy-and she made
dainty little bow.
This is Miss Reilly, our typist,"
they said.
pray. don't let me disturb you,"
said. Its ERA very fine day?" 1t
was beastly day, as matter of fact.
1T is finer than 1t was" she assent
ed.
miss Reilly does her work admira-
bly," Hawke Informed me.
Then" said, Il hope she's well
paid"
Certainly" said Hawke, certainly"
"What-er-salary does Miss Reilly
get?" demanded.
'Umphw said Hawke. Il think"
He looked at Solomon.
WELL" said Solomon. for the mo-
ment-"
do you mind me asking you, Miss
Reilly"
Certainly not. my lord. $500
week."
Really" said firmly. This seems
q matter in which some improvement
might be made"
OF course" said Hawke 'of
course. I'd no idea that is was so lit
tie"
Shall we say s7.OOy' Solomon asked
me.
Ten dollars" suggested.
81 will instruct the cashier at
once" Hawke promised. You will al
ways find his lordship ready to appre-
ciate good work, Miss Reilly"
She looked so pleased. and thanked
me so prettily, that I was sorry had
mt said q couple of hundred.
One afternoon I was having a stroll
in the park before dinner, when she
happened to come along.
May I have a few words with you,
my lord!" she asked.
"As many as you like said.
81 don't think you are aware" she
said at last, that your company is
only q paper one:"
why" l calculated, "the prospec-
tus-" She laughed SO suddenly that I
laughed too.
The prospectus! Surely you don't
believe that?-
asked her. to sit down.
Il suppose you mean there isn't
much gold:'
There isn't any gold. There never
will be any gold. The company is a
mere device to get the money of fool
ish people. OF course. you probably
won't believe me: but"
mo one could help believing YOU"
I assured her. No one could. But I
thought Hawke and Solomon were too
sharp"
They are. Much too sharp. They