The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-22

would call him Napoleon of finance.
The boy did not rush things. He
couldn't shoot. and he could not man.
age boat Therefore. Miss Oracle
took pity on him and acted as pilot.
She thought it bit strange that
duck-hunter didn't know one species
from another and that when he fired
at bird he shut both eyes. but she
didn't try to reason it out. 1t might
be his first season, and he would i'm
prove as time went on.
John Hamilton had said that his son
would make muddle of things. and
the young man did not disappont him.
After week there was no more both
ering the ducls. They sailed or walk
ed and talked, and the few women at
the Bay shook their heads and said it
was the duty of some one to warn the
girl. At the end of two weeks young
Hamilton wrote to his father in Chi.
cagO that the prospects looked good,
and that two more weeks would prob
ably close the DEAL
but he don't write what they hold
the land att" exclaimed the father as
he tossed the letter aside. Hell mud.
die it If there is chance to. Two 9TH
er lumber firms after that land, and
Walter seems to be picking buckle
berries along the shore. l ought to
have had more sense than to send
him down there"
Miss Oracle had received a good
education in Chicago school. She
had gone back to the woods BECAUSE
her mother had died and her old father
had been left alone. but she was no
longer Of the people there. It was
when the month was up that Walter
told her Of his love and confessed his
errand there. Her righteousness was
complete when she hung her head and
whispered:
"But you see-you see-if we get
get married you won't have to pay
$40 an acre for the land!"
II see. DEAR" was the reply" but
it's going to sell for a hundred"
"My stars, but who will buy at that
price!"
my father!"
"But-but-"
HE doesn't think much Of my busl.
ness brains. dear. He said I'd come
down here and muddle things. I want
to show him that can carry through
little land deal all by myself"
Three days later they we're married
by the only minister for miles around,
and the ceremony was hardly over
when two agents for Chicago lumber
firms appeared. They wanted that
hardwood timber. They wanted it for
$40 an observation-disclosures any
old price up to the hundred. At the
end Of day one Of them went to 1920.
Then young Hamilton walked twelve
miles to reach a telephone and inform
his father of the situation. That faith
err danced up and down at the far end
of the wire as he shouted:
you've made a muddle Of things!
Why didn't I send cabbage.head in.
stead Of you! Can you hold the land
until can get there?"
Il can at 1925, l think"
"You can 60 ten better than that.
Market almost bare of hardwood and
prices soaring"
When the father landed at the dock
he found his son there with his chest
swelled out and looking very import.
ant.
well. did you hold the land?"
Surely. father"
"How did you manage it,"
"Fell In love with and married tho
girl that owned every stick of It,"
"What! 1t didn't cost you any
thing"
Not a dollar. and I've got the mic.
est little wife in three states besides."
"But-but-."
ooh. that's all right. father. I'll
either sell to you at $40 an acre or
the firm of Hamilton & Son will work
the timber up in partnership"
Two hours later. after doing consid.
cradle thinking. the father laid his
hand on the sons head and whisp.
cred:
walter. you've got 'em!"
He meant brains.