The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-11-02

whats that? What do you meanY-,
What say. There is an established
concern which will, upon application,
tor a liberal purchase Of stock. ar
range any kind of adventure you:
wish" Il
"What7" George drew in his legs
and sat up. what sort Of q Jolly IL
this?"
"You put your finger upon the one
great obstacle. No one will believe
that such concern exists. Yet It is
fact. And why not?"
because 1t wouldn't be real: It
would be going to the moon a la
Coney Island"
Wrong, absolutely wrong. II /
told you that am . stockholder In
this company. and that the adventure
Of the Yhiordes rug was arranged for
my special benefit. what would you
eayf''
"say?" George turned . serious
countenancs toward the adventurer.
'Why. the whole thing IL absurd on
the face Of it. As Joke. it might go;
but as genuine affair, utterly impos-
sible."
mo" quietly. II admit that Il
sounds absurd, yes; but ten years ago
they'd have locked up. as insane.
man who said that he could fly. But
think Of last summer at Paris, at
Rheims, at Frankfort; the Continental
air was full of dying-machines. Bah!
It's pretty difficult to impress the av-
erage mind with something new. Why
shouldn't we cater to the poetic. the
romantic side Of man? We've con-
Germs for everything else. The fact
is. mediocrity Ia always standing be-
hind the corner with brickbats for
the initiative. Believe me or not, Mr..
Jones, but this company exists. The
proof is that you have the rug and I
have the scars"
But in these prosaio times!" muir
INJURED George, still skeptical.
"Prosaic times!" shifted Ryanne.
There's one Of your brickbats. They
swung it at the head Of the first print
er. Prosaic times! My friend, this
Is the most romantic and bewildering
age humanity has yet seen. There's
more romance and adventure going
about on wheels and steelbottoms
than ever there was in the days Of
Drake and the Spanish galleons.
There's an adventure lurking round the
nearest corner-romance, too. What
this organization does Is to direct you;
after that you have to shift for your
| self. But, like flrst-rate physical in
structor, they never map out more
than man can do. They gave me
the rug. Your bones, on such quest,
would have been bleaching upon the
banks Of the Tigris."
What the deuce is this company
called?" George was enjoying the con.
versation immensely.
'"The United Romance and Adven.
ture company, Ltd, Of London, Paris.
and New York"
"Have you any of the company's
paper with you7" George repressed
his laughter because Ryanne's face
was serious enough.
Unfortunately, no. But If you will
give me your bankers address I'll be
pleased to forward you the prospeo.
tus."
"Knauth, Nachod and Kuhne. ]
am shortly leaving for home. Better
send it to New York. I say, suppose
q chap buys an adventure that is not
up to the mark; can be return It OF
exchange 1t for another?"
"No. It's all chance. you know,
The rules of the game are steel
bound. We find you an adventure;
I It's up to you to make good"
But, once more suppose chap gets
little too rough game. and doesn't
turn up for his dividends; what then p
"1n that event." answered Ryanne
sadly, "the stock reverts to the gen
eral fund"
George lay back in his chair and le,
go his laughter. "You are mighty
good company, Mr.. Ryanne."
"Well, we'll; we'll say nothing mors
about it. But a moment gone you
spoke as If you were game for an q
ploit.'
II still am. But II I knew the ad'
venture was prearranged. ~ you say
and I was up against wall. there
would be the inclination to cable the
firm for more instructions"
Ryanne himself laughed this time
That's a good idea. I don't believe
the company ever thought Of such 4
contingency. But repeat. our bust
ness is to give you the kickoff. Aftel
that you have to fight for your OWL
downs"
"The stock isn't listed?" again
laughing.
Scarcely. Ono man tells another
as I tell you, and so on"
you send me the prospectus. I'm
rather curious to have. . look at It. >
+, II certainly shall do so" replied
Ryanne, with gravity unassumed
"Ah! Here come Mrs. Chedsoye and
her dauxhter II YOU don't mind III