Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-07-14
By. M. QUAD

president of the mine was on the COW
or. He had the look Of q foxy swim
dler, but his vanity was stronger than
his prudence. Aunt Mary held her
breath for five minutes over the star
Ting promises made in the book and
then sent on 500. When she received
her stock certificate it looked so nice
that she forwarded $500 more of her
cash. When all the fools in the coun.
try that could raise money had been
gathered in and the swindlers had
made fortunes the postal authorities
stepped in.
1t so happened that two or three Of
the swindled were after the president
of the Blue Jacket so closely that he
thought it better to go into the coun-
try for awhile than to take steamer to
Europe. which is the usual way. Aunt
Mary read Of the affair in the papers:
She had been robbed Of her $500. 1t
hurt her to lose the money. but it hurt
her to have been taken in and done
for. The worst of the matter was
that she had advised others to grab a
good thing. and. Of course. she would
be held responsible. She was gritting
her teeth and wishing she could get
her paws" on the rascals when a
stranger knocked at her door. 1t was
a summer day. If she took summer
boarders. and if she had none at the
time he would like to come for cou-
pie of weeks. He was business
man from the city whose nerves had
been shattered by too close applica-
ton.
Aunt Mary took long look at the
man and invited him in. She took
another long look at him and made
him low rate and added that he
could depend on fresh eggs and un-
watered milk. At the dinner table she
scanned his face for the first time.
He said be was connected with a
Bible publishing house. but she didn't
quite believe him. After dinner MIR.
Coles. as the stranger called himself,
sauntered about. He inspected the
wagon shed. the barn and the milk
house and finally came to the smoke
house. AS he was peeping in he was
given push and the door slammed
and locked on him. 1t was Aunt Mary
who had done the business. When she
had her man fast. she brought out a
chair and sat down by the door.
II want to know what this means?'
was shouted ut her from inside. ~:
why, you are locked In the smoke
house." was the reply.
But what for?''
$50 that / can have~a talk with you
II you wasn't locked in you might run
away as soon as began to say things.
And. too. want you where the CON-
stable can find you when he arrives.
how does the Blue Jacket silver mine
come along these days?" she asked.
II know. nothing about it. i told you
1 was in the Biblesnne
Have you got Bible In the suit
case?"
mo"
You ought to carry one with you:
Are you still dealing In ground door
silver stocks?'
my good woman. you are making
terrible mistake and one that may
cost you every cent you are worth. In
the name Of the law l demand that
you unlock this door,
'Shoo. now. but what a hurry you
are in: | don't expect the constable
for an hour yet. How much Doodle
did you get away with? 1s'pose there'n
be a reward offered for you. and in
that way I'll get my $500 back"
Look here. woman" said the man
inside. Its as have told you. You
are mistaking me for some one else.
Perhaps you are not to blame, but
don't carry things too far. know
nothing OF your $500. but if you will
let me out III give you that much
money to go on. have importantsen-
gagements."
what are Bibles selling at now?"
quietly asked Aunt Mary in reply.
The man began to yell for help and
kept it up for ten minutes. Then he
saw it was no use and hoarsely asked:
"Woman, what do you want?"
II want my money back and $500 for
my worry"
"You shall have it,
II want $50 for the people around
here who invested on my advice and
S25 extra for each one"
"You shall have it." ...
The strapping hired man was beckon-
ed to come nearer, and when the
.->l-1ho ,,co donr moo nrnno6 IN <ooi>
the Bible man by the collar and led
him to his bedroe pm and saw him count
out the money for Aunt Martha and
then escorted him to the highway. -.
about specializing. said the wom-
an as she sat with the money I'm her
hand-''no. l guess not any more. !
think TlPatick to taters and corn. The
next swindler might not come this
way" J.. -