The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-04-24
TheG Promoter
A Stranger Plays Him a Low
Down Trick
~. By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1914. by Associated Lit
erary Press,
By M. QUAD

jor Crofoot's Office door.
A knock. knock, knock.
Come right in"
"I'm looking for the Major Crofoot
that has all sorts of good things. to in
vest in,' said the caller.
."'Then you have come to the right
place. Have a chair"
Thanks. Now, then, l don't wish
to take up your valuable time. Have
you got anything good OF hand? ]
want something perfectly safe that
will return 8 or 10 per cent on the
money"
"My dear sir, l have got half a dozen
of the best things going. When you
speak of 8 or 10 per cent dividends it
makes ME smile. l don't deal In such
small fish. Anything l take hold Of
must pay 80 per cent Or l drop it."
Good Lord!" calculated the caller as
he sat up.
Thirty per cent at least, sir. What
would you say to stocks paying dollar
for dollar?"
but I'm willing 20 take 40 per
cent" replied the man. Gee whiz,
but what man can ask for more thar
that"
Every fair, very fair" loftily replied
the major, but nothing to brag Of.
Being you have come direct to the Of
fee 1 want to pick out something ex-
ira. Let me see. The Universal Glass
Eye company paid 60 per cent divi-
dends two years ago, but last year
dropped down to 30. 1t will he still
less than that this year on account of
hard times. Lots of one eyed people
stick a. patch over the eye and let 1t
go at that. If you'd come in a month
ago 1 could have let you in on the
ground floor Of the Magic Rat and
Mouse Destroyer. The stock went like
wildire, and the last was sold ut 5000.
We figure it will pay 400 per cent div
idends for the next twenty years."
"And l can't get in. Thunder, but
why didn't l know about it! But you
must have something for me-" insisted
the caller in anxious tones.
XI6L luz 6Ccs LIEU A0C sec: AAO" 0O
sentminded l am this morning. Just
as you knocked l was making up the
Incorporation papers for my last and
best scheme. It's one that'll lay over
all others. 1 was saving it to begin
the year on"
Good, good! What is it? By
George, old fellow, IL you put me on to
something good you shan't lose by it"
"You know what delicacies turtle
soup and turtle steak are consideredy"
Il do"
"And you know the high price frogs
legs bringy"
Yes
well, that's the basis of the Great
Western company, just organized. We
are going to rent nine square miles of
Lake st. Clair fats and raise our frogs
and turtles and can them on the spot.
They will be canned in champagne,
and the labels on the cans will be
enough to frame and hang
in any ones parlor. Three turtle
steaks and two dozen frogs legs every
can. Killing and canning take place
every day. We shall control the mar
ket of the world"
What dividends do you figure onY"
".Well last night l vas figuring on a
straight 100 per cent, but this morning
l thought ] ought to make a little al
lowance. Many turtles die Of home
sickness, you know, and a certain per
cent of the frogs are bound to jump
the wire fences and get away. To be
very safe and conservative l have put
the dividends at IS per. cent. I think
that is a rather neat figure, don't you?"
"Great! Great Scott, I've been lend
ing money at 6 per cent"
"How-how much were you thinking |
investing?" asked the major in a
voice that trembled in spite Of himself.
Twenty thousand dollars perhaps"
"And you-you will pay something
down to secure the stOck?".
"a hundred dollars. Here's a check
I'll indorse over to you, and I'll come In
and pay the balance and get
the stock. BY George, but I'm in luck!
Just think Of getting hold Of some
thing paying IS per cent dividends!
Why, my wife will think me crazy
when I tell her about this. You won't
let Morgan buy the whole thing up and
freeze me out, will youY"
mo. You shall have the stock"
"And I'll remember you. Ill buy |
you a pearl pin out of the first divi-
bend. If you want, when you get
started, I'll show you how to catch
frogs for canning. There's a peculiar
way Of getting hold Of them by one
hind leg. Ninety-five per cent! Ican't
help but dwell on it,"
eyes, it's Il good thing" replied the
major as he showed the folded check /
Into his vest pocket in a careless way.
HYou will be in tomorrow"
"Sure, Mike! 1t I was q FrenchmaD
I'd kiss you for luck. hut as I'm not
we'll shake hands and I'll say ia, Ia.
Ninety-6ve per cent!
Whoop!"
When he had gone the major walked
np and down to calm his raging heart.
It didn't seem possible. He lc01dn't
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