The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-10
NO MORE CHANCES
By WILLIAM H. 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 devoted admirer
of Miss Sally Mannering. But it was
this admiration that bothered him.
If cd only get enough of the stuff
together" he said to himself, I'd pop
the question. But hang it, I'm afraid
/ 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 it. Small
sums never counted with him. He
was invariably casting them upon the
waters Of fortune, as q fisherman
casts q worm to catch fish. But
Henry's bait always left the hook, and
he never got anything in return.
However, 1t was winter, and Henry
was hit pretty hard, and he spent q
good many evenings at the home Of
Miss Mannerng. He was clerking it.
and he said to himself that he would
lay aside aflittle money-all he could
spare. 81 Hopkins was building lit
tie mite Of 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 Stunned 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 it. Henry Couse
had always made fair wages he was
a good worker; he was clever lad;
yet never in his life before had he
possessed the sum of $50.
what l ought to do" Henry's bet
ter judgment told him, us to take
this to Sally and let her keep it 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. 1t 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 trifling 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 part-a part only
of deskroom, in dingy corner of |
a dingy building. He was not a |
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 a living and good one-with |
the drinks thrown in.
For Mr.. Atkinson had system; a |
sure one-for him. The whole thing |
was very simple. When his advertise
ment had brought in enough five-dol. |
lar bills to pay for itself, and to make
1t worth Mr.. Atkinsons while to 20
to work, Mr.. Atkinson would sit |
down and write two sets of letters.
These letters would relate to GER
tain stock or commodity. say X, Y.
& 2. Mr.. Atkinson would advise his
western customers to buy X, Y. & 2.
and would advise his eastern custom.
ers to sell it. The result was palp-
able. II there was any movement
whatever in x, Y. & e., just onehalf
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 Atkin.
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 it down to a good firm
he knew of In the city. Just as soon
as Mr.. Atkinson responded.
Usually when he made up his mind |
to 1t, 1t did not take Mr. Atkinson long
to answer his correspondence. His |
advice would consist OF two or three
words only: Buy SO and so, or sell
SO and so. But on a Hateful day his
correspondence was heavier than
usual and he had selected a long