Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-12
\ TALE OF RED ROSES

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"My my!" sympathized Mrs. Peters,
but there was no particular heartiness
in her tone Jessie looked across at her'
and smiled brightly.
Probably before could get down
there with the money 1t would be all
gone" he complained, with his hand on
the back of his chair.
Maybe we made a mistake CONCEDED
Mrs Peters. buttering one OF the cold
cakes
Aren't you going to finish your break
fast, father?" inquired Jessie, WILING
now that the whole thing was settled,
to help him ease his burden and relax
into the normal.
While I'm losing a business chance
like this?" he demanded. ut isn't too
late yet, Jessie. went to the German
bank the other day, where they carried
our property so long while we were pay
ing for II, and made arrangements that
we could have the money any minute.
They've looked up the title, and the pa
pers are at the bank right now, all ready
for us to Sign"
Maybe the stocks all gone" Mrs.
Peters only half hopefully suggested.
We'll find out" he returned, snatching
his hat Come on"'
Mrs. Peters looked down in dismay at
her faded and mended wrapper, which
had once cost 9S cents.
I'm not dressed" she protested
That's oil right" he complmented her.
You're dressed good enough for me, and
it's nobody elses business"
Father, she simply cant go that way,
insisted Jessie.
"She can put on her long coat" he re-
minded them. Nobody can tell what
you have on underneath
shed know, though" retorted Jessie
Come on, mother, I'll help you dress"
BE ready in five minutes. then" di-
rected little Henry, looking at his watch
in fever of impatience. as he realized
what golden opportunities were slipping
away, minute by minute. The other little
Henry Peterses of the city had beaten
him to the gold mines, and he was most
unhappy
In Is minutes. Mrs. Peters, with red
eyes, came out of the bedroom. but little
Henry did not notice that she had been
crying. He opened the door and darted
out. There was a car in the next block
Mrs. Peters stopped on the step and took
longing farewell of the place. She
loved 1t, weatherboard by weatherboard,
even to the fancy little cement triangle
In the gable with a queer pattern OF
atrociously colored broken glass,
Hurry up! called Henry, from the
gate. do you want to miss this carp
The car in question was crowded so full
NIlth IL sttlltu W DulBt, anu lldll IL DlOth
behind 1t was another one only half filled.
Nevertheless, little Henry crowded his
wife on the first one and watched the
fare register click in a satisfaction so
profound that It neutralized his discom-
fort The conductor, when he took little
Henry's fare, passed by a man who had
got on at the same corner. and Henry
wedged out after him to tell him about 1t.
That nickel went to make up his per
cent. and his increase in stock
They arrived at the bank 10 minutes too
early. and waited outside the iron gate
until It opened. In a trembling hand,
Mrs. Peters signed her name in the places
pointed out to her. and went home in
daze. but little Henry, richer by $4,000 in
his bank book. jammed his hat on the
back of his head and hurried over to tho
office of the street car company.
Am I too late to take up any of that
new stock?" he eagerly demanded
"By half an hour" the stock clerk told
him, with the necessary insolence of a
man who, unaided, has accomplished a
huge financial operation. You want to
wake up early to grab traction stock"
Little Henry was miserable.
ut serves me right he groaned. "Who
took 1t all?"
Mail orders. mostly" the stock clerk
condescended to explain. Were about
5000 oversubscribed."
Quite crestfallen, little Henry turned
away. AS he went through the outer
office. Hunt followed him.
"I beg your pardon" said Hunt, smiling
pleasantly. Did you wish to buy some
stock?"
-Four thousand" answered Henry,
with renewed hope.
-Four thousand" repeated Hunt
"Um! 1 think I can get
you that much"
THANK you!" returned Henry CRATE
fully. "Can you get 1t right away?"
"At about O'clock" promised Hunt,
looking cautiously back toward the main
office "Give me your address and I'll
send II around to you"
Eagerly and thankfully, little Henry
wrote down his address. and Hunt, ex-
planning that the stock was to be secured
from a man who was hard up for money,
cautioned little Henry to say nothing
about it. and glded back into the main
office, leaving the odor of extract of hello
troupe in his wake.
At . o'clock little Henry received his
10 shares from one John Tucker and gave
hIs $1,000 in exchange At approximately
tbe same hour. clerks OF John Tucker de-
Iivered stock to a widow who gave her in
5urance money for 1t, boy who had
fallen heir to enough to see him through
college, a bricklayer who had worked all
his life to save 5000, and a number OF
other members of the little Henry Peters
class, This was the Sledge stock which
had been voted by Attorney John Tucker,
and 1t brought 800 per share In cash.
Jessie Peters and Dicky Reynolds came
nto little Henrys place of business immG-
Iiately after Henry had secured his Ions
coveted stock. and found him In the hap
oiest possible state of mind.
Hello, Dicky," he hailed young Rey-