Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-15


way. J., believe the widow would
Il come in"
Mr.. Jarvis Osgood- "Osgood * Short,
Banking and Farmers Loans" as per
gilt inscription on the plate glass window
closed his ledger with a bang and looked
at his partner across the office Tail
and stopped. in Mr.. OsEood fiery red hair
was associated with a cold eye which
abundantly advertised the fact that the
warmth of feeling popularity attributed
TO his colors was here entirely lacking
and as he leaned back in his chair. frown-
ing his lean fingers weaved in and out IN
a manner that always suggested surgeon
practice to those unhappy debtors upon
whom he held financial post-mortem eX-
aminations He was gnawing his thin
mustache. too-a sign Of unusual irri-
tation.
Il called around there today" he went
on. still ADDRESSING the partner, who was
short and gross as he himself was thin
and long, but I got the usual David
thought this, and David thought that. and
David believed t'other' II he we're only
out OF the way"
Hes not" Mr.. Short laconically an
swered-
mo, he's not. and 1 suppose it is foolish
20 think of It"
The Rubber Craze.
Frowning still. Mr.. Osgood picked up
a pamphlet from a Pile al his elbow and
began. to Idly turn the leaves. Embla-
zoned ''verda Rubber Company in gilt
on its back, It was one Of a thousand
that were pouring. Just then. from the
presses of the country which had been re-
Gently struck by the rubber craze.
Rubber! Rubber! Rubber! The pro
moter's golden tongue was belltng 1t full
and free in Maine woods, swamps of MIS-
souri,, the cotton fields Of the South.
Every state-almost every town--had It's
company; and as Mr. Osgood was par
ticularly early bird with keen eye for
the very earliest worm, he had organized
the first in Mortified, Maine-also the
biggest and best. as he was abundantly
explained in the pamphlet
According 10 this, the company held
5000 acres OF land, choicest on the 18th
mus of Tehuantepec. in the state of Vera
Cruz, one thousand Of which carried two
year-old rubber. also the finest of its
kind
One share Of the oompany's stock rep
resented an acre Of this land, and its
price would be used to clear. plant and
bring It to bearing at six years old, when
the first tapping would repay the share
holder his entire outlay.
A rosy proposition; but there it was,
worked out in plain figures, which never
lie-so many trees to the acre, so much
rubber per tree, at such valuation
all YOU had 10 do was 10 reckon up the
profits.
Never was such an offer! The pamphlet
declared Il in bold type broidered with
letters from eminent citizens, who knew
the firm of Osgood g. Short 20 be of spot
less reputation. and enticingly decorated
with photographs Of our manager, Mr..
Meagher," posed beneath rubber tree.
II was all so complete, compact, such
parcel of truth, that there was nothing
left for the public but TO believe,
"Instalment People.
And II had believed. backing its opinion
so strongly that the firm had been com
PEELED TO move into larger offices and 10
ada two typists 10 the establishment Of
one clerk. which had sufficed for the easy
shaving of farmers.
SO far, however, the investors had all
been "instalment people"-small fry, mere