The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-04-14

card. He has wagered that you can
tell what 1t is"
Very promptly the person at the
other end OF the line must have an
swered, for the club manager wrote
down his reply on a piece of paper
and took 1t over to Joel and his
friends. 1t read:
Ten OF spades"
There were EXPLANATIONS of sur
prise, suspicious guesses, theories
No one, however, could tell how the
thing was done. Blandly Joel peck
eted his winnings. He chuckled audi
bly, as he and Ned got out on the
street.
Easy money" he grinned, when
you know how to get it,
Il don't understand" remarked
Ned.
On the quiet. then. have a friend
at the other end of the telephone
We have a card of fifty-two names
corresponding to the cards in a deck
When | phoned him as Randolph, he
knew he was to guess the ten of
spades Brown would have been the
four OF hearts. Smith the seven OF
clubs, and so on. See?"
Ned did see, and also the low grade
OF morals to which Joel had de-
scended. However, many time he
smarted under the rapid advance Joel
made in business He was desiE-
mated as shrewd. live wire. and a.!
that. Ned went slow-but sure. He
could not AFFORD to take Constance
around in an automobile nor send
her five-dollar-a-doZen roses. For all
that she seemed to enjoy a drive in
the old-fashioned phaeton, and the
first wild daisies that Ned walked
miles to discover.
One day Ned. passing through the
stock room of the big wholesale store.
was hailed by Joel.
Il say. Travers." called out the lat
ter. help me trine, will you? Just
get up on that step ladder and throw
down that row of boxes"
There was a great long table and
this was soon piled man high with
the boxes. As Ned got down from the
ladder. his task accomplished. he was
amazed to see Joel jump up on the
Of the heap. He paved over the
boxes. he rolled. he struck out with
his fists. he jumped about the pile
until 1t presented a great mass Of
wreckage.
"Therel" he cried exultantly, that
will do"
For what?" uttered the bewildered
Ned.
why. there's nine hundred gross
OF imported Swiss dress trimmings In
that heap of boxes The season is
past and they're dead stun. I'm 60
ing to put them out as a damaged
Job lot, sell 'em on and get rid of the
truck"
do you think that is wise?" in
terrogated Ned
why not?" challenged Joel.
bristling a trifie at a criticism on his
judgment.
Well" responded Ned "of course
you know all about the selling end
OF the business here. but at the buy.
ing end my point of view is different.
/ have noticed In our foreign CORE
spondence that the head of the firm,
who is in Germany. has written that
there is a hint Of war In which case
prices would go up and shipments
become difficult. He has sent on a
lot of invoices. showing extensive pur
chases, as II in anticipation of a
dearth-"
Nonsense" derided the self-con.
ceited Joel. You don't suppose lit
tie Switzerland is going to war, do
you? Say, / never make a mistake
I'll rid the house of that junk heap
and make a good profit on It,"
Which shrewd selling Joel did.
Then came the news of war and close
on the heels of the announcement the
head OF the firm returned
Two days later the amazing news
went the rounds OF the establishment
that Joel had resigned" Later Ned
got wind of storm.
II appeared that. knowing OF the
surplus Swiss stock on hand. the head
Of the firm had not ordered any new
material The war had closed all i'm
ports. There was little of that espe
cial brand OF goods in the country
and prices had advanced four hun
dred per cent Joel had lost to the
house possible profits of over ten
thousand dollars.
Immediately upon the announce