Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-07-14

That was all. II you failed In that
peculiar test-eccentric enough 1t was
the millions were to be equally d.
vided among the several charities
mentioned in the will, and l need not
inform you that ! was empowered to
see that the tests would be made
without collision or connivance OF
the parties"
The heirs were fretting in their
seats, and some Of them were avn
ing with disgust. But the elderly gen.
tleman only smiled.
did you find such a p son? Why,
no, you didn't! Wonderful, wasn't
It? Wonderful as a story Of h magi-
cal east, or Of the Saracens under
the Caliphs! Surely, you thought to
yourselves. it were an easy task to
find someone who would decline q
gift of a paltry one hundred dollars
when offered! But was 1t? All. no,
my friends. Indeed, it var necessary
to tell you hat 1t would be useless to
offer the money to vast numbers OF
pessons whose professions would
prompt them to take it without ques-
ton. I warned you that 1t would be
a vast. of your time and wealth to
make the offer of such a gift to re-
ligious workers Of any kind, to per-
sons engaged in the ~dispensation OF
charity, to lawyers. doctors, retail
business men of any line whatsoever,
or that innumerable mass of Pc
sons to whom one hundred dollars IL
a fortune. I will give you credit for
having seen the point with very little
reflection. You saw it, but you doubt
ed. And you subsequently lost a hum
dred by rendering It to a rich physi-
clan, whom none Of you had previous
ly met, and who pocketed the coin on
the spot on the possibility that 1t was
a fee he had forgotten"
The elderly gentleman paused again
and grinned with the grim humor OF
the thing. His hearers shifted In
their seats, shufled their feet. and
grunted.
"For thirty years." he continued,
my profession has been that of or
ganizer and superintendent of chart
ties of various kinds. know the
game of money from bit to britchin.
l knew what I was doing when gave
you that warning, and I was the only
one among you that was not surprised
when the richest banker In town
laughed at you when he took 1t, and
informed you that although he didn't
know why you were giving 1t. 1t was
a part OF his business never to turn
money away from his door. Has the
banker returned to ask you to en-
tighten him on your iltie Joke? Not
yet. And believe me, my friends, you
will never hear from him again."
The elderly gentleman drew from
his pocket a small account book.
ut is probable" he went on. that
1 will probate the will tomorrow.
There is very little more to do. In
this book l have a record of the five
hundred offers you have made and
the five hundred acceptances of The
gift. While we are here n the home
your cousin built for himself, and
which, l am sorry to say, will proba-
bly, soon be converted into an annex
Of the Home Tor the incapable. / wish
to call your attention to a few Of
these peculiar a~cceptances. The EN-
peror of Germany acknowledges the
receipt If your gift and begs you to
explain to him why you have sent it.
Baron Rothschild informs o that he
will give the money to the poor He
brews Of London. The treasurer OF
the United States keeps Is without
comment, on the theory, l presume,
that you were paying a debt of con
science to the nation. The chairman
of the Bank of England writes to ask
you to what account he will credit
the sum. The Chinese ambassador
him as to the purpose of the remit
lance. The president of the United
States tells you he cannot recall on
the moment the transaction you prob.
ably have in mind in sending him
the money, but that you
know your business. A great metro.
politan newspaper owner writes to
you that he has entered you name
on his books for a twenty years sub
scription, and is publishing an edi.
torial on the incident. But why 60
on? Not a man Of them but took
the money!"
LIZ lcchSi az - " lie
glasses and once again he smiled that
grin Of grimness.
Having failed in these most prom.
Using cases-having failed in every
case we tried,-we met here this
evening to finish the game and say
goodbye. 1t was a LADY, do no
chide her; it is no part of my duty
to criticize methods-suggested the
last and most practical plan Of all.
Dangerous? Yes. Bold? Yes. But
promising. Her plan was to pick up
a tramp-the worst we could find
and lure him with the promise Of lux.
ury and ease. Give him, she argued
everything that money could buy
everything? Well, yes, everything
and perhaps-but you have seen how
1t Jared"
They we're muttering and grumbling
again and the speaker held up his
hand.
I'VE have five minutes left" he
said, land you u remember that
the game is not lost until the hour
He had not refused the money when
I recalled him from the ditch. but
neither had he accepted it. He has
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