The Irish standard., 1914-01-03
NO : MORE i CHANCES
By WILLIAM II. OSBORNE.

Young Henry Couse was just like
other people-only more so. Deeply
imbedded in his nature was strong
desire constantly to get something
for nothing. He did not gamble, but
he kept wary eye upon the lottery
and upon the markets. He had anoth-
er trait. He was a devoted admirer
Of Miss Sally Mannering. But it was
this admiration that bothered him.
If cd only get enough of the stun
together" he said to himself, I'd pop
the question. But hang it, I'm afraid
I never will"
There was one thing that young
Couse did not understand. That was,
that the great way to make money
anywhere today. is to save 1t. Small
sums never counted with him. He
was invariably casting them upon the
waters Of fortune, as a fisherman
casts a worm to catch q fish. But
Henry's bait always left the hook. and
he never got anything in return.
However, it was winter, and Henry
was hit pretty hard, and he spent
good many evenings at the home Of
Miss Mannering. He was clerking 1t.
and he said to himself that he would
lay aside little money-all he could
spare. 81 Hopkins was building lit
tie mite Of a house up on the hill
building 1t to let, and Henry hoped
against hope that somehow he could
scrape up his courage and propose to
Miss Sally: and that he could scrape
up enough money by spring at least
to set up with Miss Sally in that lit
tie house. So he summed the news
papers and all the literature contain
Ing alluring offers in the shape Of
small investments; and showed the
lottery way back in his mind. and
only thought about Miss Sally and the
house.
Time passed. He amassed finally
the just and full sum Of $50. Fifty
dollars. Think Of 1t. Henry Couse
had always made fair wages; he was
a good worker; he was a clever lad;
yet never In his life before had he
possessed the sum of $50.
What I ought to do" Henry's bet
ter judgment told him. lis to take
this to Sally and let her keep 1t for
me. That's Just the thing to do.
But" Well. Henry didn't. And he
didn't because instead of thinking
merely Of renting Sis little house. he
took to building-castles in the air.
One day a newspaper advertisement
caught his eye. It was headed by the
words Fifty Dollars" It was signed
by A. Augustus Atkinson. The adver-
tisement was very frank and clear
and plain. It stated without any
reservation that Mr. Atkinson, large
stock broker. had inside information
on three or four of the active stocks;
that he knew positively what would
happen; that he had never made mis-
takes and that he had just made a
small fortune for one Of his clients
who had taken his advice and had in.
vested only SIS. Mr.. Atkinson stated
clearly that he would not accept or.
ders; that he would merely furnish
Information for the trihing sum Of five
dollars per week, and that his client
or customer must invest his money
through the ordinary channels. He
stated this, said Mr.. Atkinson. to
show his good faith.
Down in the city Mr.. A. Augustus
Atkinson occupied a part-a part only
of deskroom, in dingy corner Of
dingy building. He was not q
broker and never had been a broker.
He knew something less about the
stock market than did Diana Of Mad.
ison square. But nevertheless he
made living and good one-with
the drinks thrown In.
For Mr.. Atkinson had a system; a
sure one-for him. The whole thing
was very simple. When his advertise.
ment had brought in enough tlve-dol.
lar bills to pay for itself, and to make
It worth Mr.. Atkinson's while to go
to work, Mr.. Atkinson would sit
down and write two sets Of letters.
These letters would relate to Ger.
tain stock or commodity, say K, z.
& z. Mr.. Atkinson would advise his
western customers to buy x, Y. & z.
and would advise his eastern custom:
ers to sell it. The result was palp-
able. II there was any movement
whatever in x, Y. & T., Just oneha!f
of his customers won, and the other
half lost. The half that won would
naturally tell all their friends about
the advice and five.dollar bills would
pour In upon Mr.. A. Augustus Akin
son.
Young Couse grubbed away until
he had saved up $55. Then he wrote
to Mr.. Atkinson and enclosed a five.
dollar bill. He stood ready with the
$50 to send 1t down to a good firm
he knew of in the city. just as soon
az Mr.. Atkinson responded.
Usually when he made up his mind
to it, 1t did not take Mr.. Atkinson long
to answer his correspondence. His
advice would consist Of two or three
words only: Buy 30 and so. or, sell
30 and so. But on q fateful day hil
correspondence was heavier than
usual and he had selected q long
named stock. It was stock that had
been remarkably active in the last
few days. Everybory will recall it,
name-The Universal Confederated
American Metallic Consolidation. This
was known on change as the "Ucs
Mick" The long name wearied Mr.
Couse, and when he was half through
with his list, he stopped. He had ad
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