Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-02-08
MARY WALKERS
LITTLE LEGACY
How a Sharp Scoundre| Was
Brought to Book.

Mary Walker anne Of age in 1898.
which had been left in trust for her
to Zebulon Walker. her fathers broth
er. Zebulon was Il skinf1int, and the
fact that he was very rich did not
deter him from a disposition to keep
Mary's little fortune. The day she
came Of age he said to her:
MARY, the money your father left
you is now due you. But what are you
going to do with it? You can't live
on the interest of SO little, and you
know nothing about investments. You
had better leave it in my hands. /
will invest it for you and may be able
to increase it,
Mary. who had every confidence in
her uncle. acted on his suggestion.
Zebulon did not invite the orphan to
share his home. On the contrary. he
told her that she had better earn her
living by sewing, and Mary consented
to this also. The willy Zebulon took
her receipt for the $500. which the law
required him to pay v to her.
Mary was doing some sewing in the
house of a Mrs. Peabody, who took a
fancy to her and while talking with
her n day learned that she was the
possessor Of a fortune of $500 in the
hands Of her uncle. for which she had
no receipt. Her criticisms or Mary's
loose way Of doing business frightened
the girl. anG she wrote her uncle to let
her know how the money was invested.
Zebulon upon receipt of the letter
looked over the list Of railroad stocks
and. noting n of the most worthless.
wrote Mary that her money was in
vested in the common stock Of the
road. This was very sharp of the old
s%coundrel, for if he told her that it
was invested in a good stock she might
claim the security.
Mary showed his reply to Mrs. Pea
body. and the lady showed it to her
husband. His advice was for Mary to
ask her uncle how many shares he
had purchased. This Mary did and
received a reply that he had purchased
ten shares Of a par value of $500.
This reply was also shown to Mary's
adviser.
MY dear" said Mr.. Peabody. tell
Mary to write him that her money is
sufficient to purchase a large number
Of it's shares. which are now selling
very low. and request him to buy all
that can be bought on a Margin If
Mary makes a loss l will make it good"
Mary's next letter to her uncle was
n was advising her and thought he
saw in the advice given y way for
him to report his money lost. The
stock in question had made a slight
advance in price. In the fluctuations
common in these stocks it would
doubtless soon fall a few points.
which would wipe out Mary's fortune
entirely. Hc therefore wrote her that
he had bought 1000 shares at 20 ON 5
per cent margin. If the price of the
stock should fall one point the legacy
would he wiped out. Mary showed the
letter to Mr.. Peabody. who told her to
keep it in a safe place.
4uC udS d1Icl l(S lcCclpI LltIe WIS
an advance Of two points in the stock.
Then it fell off one point. %1uctuating
slightly for Il few weeks. when the
matter was forgotten by Mary. and if
Zebulon Walker had not forgotten it
he thought very little Of it.. feeling
sure that sooner or later there would
be a panic on the market and the $500
would disappear as a claim against
him and be added to his bank account.
Two years passed. Mary had fallen
in love with a young man who. though
industrious. was as poor as she. He
had a position which paid him $50 Il
week and urged Mary to marry him.
She consented. provided they could fur
nish Il few rooms. Then she thought
Of her $500 and made up her mind to
write her uncle. asking him to send her
the money or what there was left Of
1t, if any. She did SO and by return
mail received a check for the $500.
with interest at 6 per CEN for two
years and a receipt for her to sign.
Mary was delighted. She signed the
receipt. inclosed it in a letter to her
uncle and went out to post it. On the
way she thought of the stock that had
been purchased with Mr.. P%eabody's
advice. Then it occurred to her to go
to Mr.. Peabody. since he had been
kind to her. and tell him what had oc-
Cured. 1t was shortly before dinner.
and she found hin at home.
Mr. Peabody had for q long while
been Il very busy He was an at
torney for corporations. When Mary
came in he had forgotten her. She re-
called the transaction in stocks. where
upon 4 light broke in on his memory.
Mary showed him her uncle's check
and the receipt she had signed.
"Have you the letter notifying you Of
the purchase of the stock?" he asked.
YES"
Without rnn1y no tOro tho receiDt in