The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-12
The Ji1ndandy
Auto Company
! 1t Made Good In the
) Nick of Time
By F. A. mitchell

<~~<~<~~~%~~%~~>~~~~~~~~~<
Julian Stafford was an example of
the ups and downs of life. Born with
silver spoon In his mouth, he never
knew during his childhood and youth
what 1t was to want for anything. In
stead OF having to go to work when
he was boy. like many other children.
he was associating with companions
Of his own age, both boys and girls,
whose parents were well to do, and
the kind Of cravat he wore or the
cut Of his coat was Of infinitely more
importance to him than the money re-
quired to pay for such articles. In
deed, he had only to order them. When
the bills came In to his father they
were paid, and Julian did not even
know Of the fact.
However. this happy period ended.
About the time Julian came Of age
his father lost a good deal of money.
Julian went to work and earned
enough for his necessities, which were
not great. But a better period was in
store for him.
Money is like quicksilver. So long
as quicksilver Is incased in a tight re-
ceptacle. with the top screwed down,
1t won't get away from you. But the
moment the volatile metal finds place
to break through, no matter how small,
there ia no holding on to 1t.
When we have plenty of money,
when we are making money, its value
seems negligible. But when 1t has
once broken away from US it is like
the quicksilver-it is mighty hard to
pick it up again.
At twenty-five Julian Stafford was,
to speak figuratively. in bed OF roses.
He had inherited $4,000 from an aunt.
For several years the country had been
under the depressing influence OF a
commercial panic, and all sorts of
property could be bought for q song.
At the time Julian received his inner
itance change had begun to come
over monetary affairs, and he was ad-
vised, instead Of investing his money
at safe and simple interest, to buy
something with It. It didn't make
much difference what he bought. Ev-
erything would for some years to come
be increasing in value, and he would
be able to sell his property for more
than he had given for 1t.
Securities seemed to Julian to be the
simplest form for such speculate and
he bought $4,000 worth Of railroad
shares. The stock market soon boom
ed. and he sold out. making, as he con-
sidered II, 30 per cent profit In six
months. That was at the rate Of dou-
bling his money In a year. At 8 per
cent interest 1t would require twenty
years to do that.
Julian sold out Just before the wave
Of speculation broke. and after it broke
what he had sold could be bought
again for what he had paid for 1t be-
fore. This time, instead Of combining
himself to what securities his money
would buy, he bought on a margin.
Instead of buying $4,000 worth Of Sc
curites he bought 100000 worth.
Again the market doomed. Every day
for several days Julian was making
twice as much as his aunt had left
him.
At this time life to Stafford was fill
ed with delight. In addition to max
ing a fortune every day he was en-
gagged to the dearest girl In the world.
They had expected to live on a thou
sand year in an apartment Of four
rooms, none Of which was much big
ger than large closet Julian figured
up one night and found that he could
sell ont his stocks and have an income
Of $4,000. derived from gilt edge prop
erty. They could live in a stone front
house.
One day when the market was Jump
ing half point or SO on the ticker
with every recorded sale Julian, who
was standing over it and making a
thousand dollars with every point, felt
tap ON his shoulder. Turning, there
he saw Erskine, former schoolmate.
"Hello, Jim!"
Hello, Julianl How are you making
out?"
Julian very excitedly confided in his
friend that he was getting rich SO fast
that he couldn't keep track of his
funds.
LET me have $500, won't you, Ju.
lian7 I've got a chance to 60 into q
deal that / think there's millions in.
There's just one share on the ground
floor left, and 1 can get it dirt cheap.
I'll take you In for half Of It"
Julian was making money SO fast
that he didn't want any more profits
for himself. He was well disposed
toward Erskine, and what was $500 to
him, since he had made ten times that
within an hour? He gave Jim an or,
der on his broker for $500, and Jim
received the amount before leaving the
Office.
That was n very exciting day for
Julian-in fact, the most exciting day
OF his life. He made more money In
that one day than in all the time OF
his speculations Just before the clos
ing Of the market there was a peculiar
shakiness. 1t was the trembling Of the
wave before 1t breaks. The 'bears,'
who were watching their opportunity
the next morning put out report that
one Of the biggest banking concerns in
Wall street was In trouble. Then com
inenced the tremble.
: 1t was the old story with Julian. He