The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-22
/. A Born
Spectator
By EUNICE BLAKE

tried to do so. I'm afraid I'll have to
give up trying to live with you"
James Martin looked very lugubriouS.
United for any kind Of drudgery, he
had not found way of making llv-
ing without 1t. He had been a soldier
and conspicuous for bravery. but it Is
notorious that q man especially built
for war is not likely to be fitted for
anything else. When Jim had mar
ried he had just made $4,000 on real
estate deal which he had put through
on paper-that Is, without any cash.
Before he could strike another such bit
of luck his profit was all gone.
We'll. Betsy" he said, you married
man untitled for the ordinary hum
drum of life, and you must take your
medicine. I'll go out and hunt for
something to do, but If | find anything
1t won't last very long I'll probably
be discharged within n few weeks"
Not If you attend to business, keep
close mouth and don't try to advise
your employer"
Il won't If | don't see him making
mistakes. in which case Ill probably
throw your advice to the Winds
jim Martin found a position with u
man named Summers doing u coBserv-
alive business on small capital. Jim
had been with him but a month when
he told him how he could make lot
of money by the investment of q very
little capital.
Il didn't hire you to tell me how TO
run my business" said Summers and.
drawing a check for his salary due, dis
charged him.
Jim was walking home cursing him
self for fool when he encountered a
red flag at the door Of a warehouse
Having a fellow feeling with red flags
which usually denote forced sales, he
went in and learned that stock of
copper was to be sold for n man who
had gone under financially. The bid
ding was just beginning. A man sided
up to Jim and, slipping ten dollar
bill into his hand, whispered TO him to
raise the last bid. Jim did as request
ed and was relieved by hearing the
man who had paid him raise his bid
But the rise in the bids was very
slow. The great European war had
just broken out. and it occurred to Jim,
who was familiar with Il soldiers re-
quirements. that copper entered into
the composition of ammunition and
If the war lasted long enough the stock
of the worlds >opper would be used
up. He had no idea OF buying this
stock, for he had nothing to buy 1t
with, but somehow he could not resist
the temptation to go on bidding But
the excitement of the contest got the
better of him, and he suddenly awoke
to the fact that 100000 worth of cop
per had been knocked down to him.
He had reached the price copper was
selling at in the open market, and no
one had any use for this lot ut any
higher figure. The buyer was at once
called upon for 10 per cent of the price
to be paid.
Jim was equal to the occasion. TAX.
ing one of his principal competitors by
the sleeve, he said: you wanted this
copper; so did l. don't know why you
wanted 1t, but | have been soldier,
and. knowing the necessity for cop
per in the manufacture of ammunition
and considering the amount of ammu-
milton that will be required by the com
batants, | believe copper Is going up.
Within II few weeks or u few months
this stock will be worth a great deal
more than 1t is today. If you'll pay
the 10 per cent required to carry 1t
I'll take you in for 20 per cent OF the
profits"
Wait minute till ! get the last quo
tation," said the man. land I'll let you
know"
The last quotation was a quarter of
a cent higher than the price Jim was
to pay. MAKE 1t half the profits"
said the capitalist ''and I'll go you"
Jim assented. The man paid the mar
gin on the copper. and before the bal
ance was to be paid copper had risen
half cent pound.
Meanwhile Jim had gathered Stats
tics as to the copper on hand and the
amount likely to be required. Orders
for ammunition were beginning to
come from abroad, and copper kept 60
ing up. jim convinced his partner
that the price must continue to rise,
and the latter consented to hold on.
One day after the war had been 60
Ing on for nearly year the copper
was sold, and Jim pOcketed what was
for him a small fortune. He and his
wife had, on the strength of Jlm's cop
per holdings, been able TO borrow
enough to keep them. and now they
were in fine fettle.
"My dear" said Jim, "as | told you
a year ago, you married man untitled
for the ordinary humdrum of life
They say you can't make a silk purse
out of a sOw's ear, but In this case
a Spectator has been made out Of a
fool"
Il expect you're right, JIM" was
the reply. you were not born for a
drudge. A drudge may always be able
to make a living, but he is not likely |
to get rich. A genius is pretty sure
to get a good many kicks. but If he
finds his vocation and an opportunity |
at the same time he will surely lift |
himself far beyond his fellows"
Jim Martin met his old employer. |
Summers, on the street the other day, |
and Summers asked him II he knew
Of good thing in which to invest some !