Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1915-03-04
IT'S LUCKY NUMBER
BY MARY GARLAND KNIGHT.

his beloved nephew" the latter felt
like the richest man in the world
He diI not start out oa a mad
spendthrift riot. That was not his
natural pace. He had missed real
home life since his parents died two
months previously Young Templeton
quietly set out to find a wife He was
not after style, money or position
Some sweet humble little woman who
could appreciate comfortable home
was his ideal.
There seems TO be none such In
Elsdene," he decided, after every for
tunehunting girl in the county had
set her cap at him.
Business is what you want to think
OF, old boy" declared his lawyer. a
young man who was really loyal to
his interests.
Willis considered many business
propositions. Then came a wonderful
chance to increase his few thousands
to million, according to Vance Traf-
ton
This latter was cousin. He had
been a scapegrace in his youth. Later
Willis had heard he had figured as
promoter and Spectator He had ap-
peared at Elsdene about a month after
his succession to the fortune. Willis
had been pestered TO death with mean,
INDECENT and really deserving rela-
tiVes. He had more or less got rid OF
most or them according to their de-
serts. When Trafton appeared, II was
an enjoyable relief to Willis to find
someone who was not scheming to
beg or borrow OF him.
I'm north closing a big deal" re-
ported the fashionably dressed rela-
tive who bore all the earmarks OF
permanent prosperity. Went to Flor
ida ten years ago, bought one thou
sand acres OF swamp land at two dol
lars an acre. We've sold 1t all out at
twenty and I'm trying to buy a tract
from a man In the city. You'd ought
to see how we've made the wilderness
blossom as the rose. Think of it.
ninety thousand pineapples this
years crop, some OF them weighing as
much as nine pounds Juicy, mellow
/ WIN lOh w NOAlt DdNh Will Dio hIu
see real climate, Willis"
by degrees the willy, specious Traf-
ton worked on Willis until the latter
was actually anxious to buy an inter
est in the wonderful proposition. 1t
was finally agreed that he should in
vest eight thousand dollars for a one
fourth share In the new land about
to be opened up.
I'll go to the city and arrange to
get the deeds for the land" announced
Trafton In the meantime I'll have
a choice half dozen OF our pineaprles
shipped to you, just to show you what
magnificent fruit we raise"
In day or two along came a crate
directed to Willis. AS he opened it,
wrapped In tissue paper were half
dozen pineapples Certainly they were
superior and standard More than ever
in love with the proposition, the elated
Willis was about to hasten to dlstrib-
ute the luscious fruit among his
friends and possibly influence other
investors to so into the enterprise,
when he noticed neat-looking card
III VIC bpANpih VI NHt italt
Beside It lay an unstamped letter
It was simply directed to Miss
Landon" The card read Acme
Fruit Co" and gave an address in
, the city. At one end was the writ
ten notation; Packed by No. AZ"
1T doesn't square up right, decided
Willis, and straightway started for the
city.
He found out where the fruit COM
pany named had its warehouse 1t
was q busy place devoted to the spe-
cialty OF packing fine tropical fruits.
Willis saw tho manager He was
soon convinced that the crate of pine
apples had been shipped to him on
casual order two days before.
They came from Florids?" inquired
Willis.
"Oh. no. We get all our primes from
Central America" was the amazing
declaration.
And who was No ~? All. yes-one
Of their fruit packers. Miss Landon
by name. Could she be seen for
Willis had opened the letter to find
hA''hN ~ NhAhhAAAth al bAti VI Ul1TTldE6
from one Richard Martin"
: Miss Laudon was not at work. Ad-
dress-yes, such and such number on
a certain street Thitker Willis pro-
ceeded
A goodnatured old lady was In
charge. She invited Willis In. say.
ing that Miss Landon would soon be
home.
Certainly the refined homelike air
OF the delightful little fat was sooth-
ing. Willis fingered. Miss Landon ar
rived
Bluntly he told her the whole story.
He handed her the letter. He was
sorry, as her bright gentle face grew
upon him. that she had lover.
oh. dear!" she cried as she re-
ceived the missiye i've wondered |
where I ever lost IT, II must have
l fallen from my pocket into the crata |