Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-03-02
AN uNABrsED nosopoI1sr.

looked with Indifferent glance at
the man pointed out. have found the
richest man almost as numerous as
the oldest inhaDitant, and not more
interesting.
VERY peculiar, remarked my friend
as If to arouse my curiosity. But my
| interest was too languid to prompt
| question.
Has an absolute monopoly in his
line" continued the friend.
Yes" said idly; they all have"
Follows business never heard OF
before" continued the friend.
What" / asked, my interest at last
aroused.
Lending money to people who
l never pay their debts" replied my
, friend.
This was interesting indeed, and
began to ask questions.
mo" said my friend, he IS not
bothered by too many applicants, Tor
1t is known that he never lends cent
to a man who asks him.
"He actually hints for the right. o:
rather the %TcEg kind. He never
lends to a man whose credit is good
for a dollars worth Of -four or roast
OF meat. He never lends to a man
who owes less than FIVE hundred DOL
lars, He never takes e1y security ne
ONLY charges six per cent. and mas
not sued a man for twenty years
That certainly was q man worm
knowing. Here was something new
under the sun, When urged Tor more
information my friend suggested mad
better talk with him myself
After very cordial greeting we TOOK
chairs in the library facing each other
the richest man in Carthage and l.
your friend was speaking of you
Yesterday" he said With frank smile
And l am glad you came"
A light and almost boyish interest
and enthusiasm in his eye gave me
very pleasant sensa ion.
1T is about this strange business OF
YOURS" I rejoined. Il wanted to kno"
about it"
"All right" he said. TASK what you
will"
There was neither egotism nor reti'
cence in his tone.
as it really true that you leno
money to people who have no creolt!
YES" he said.
without any security"
"Only their notes"
do they ever pay it?"
Certainly" and he laughed heartily
How do you manage to collect"
lust wait for them to come around
and SETTLE" he replied in a matter
of-fact way.
They don't apply to you for the
money!" l asked.
mo not If they get any. always
apply to them"
"How do you manage it,"
Well, / begin with the Commercial
reports. When find a mans credit
, Ss.aa begin TO get interested. ! make
further inquiries, and If l find hi:
credit hopeless. l visit his town. Il
the banks, the merchants. and the
town In general tell ne he Is no gooC
for any do3t, t1cn consider him ell
giblc for q loan.
And you got your money!" asked
in establishment.
IN twenty years I have lost less
than three p2r cent. Pretty good aver
age, isr't it"
"Solcudid," I sad. but why II
thunder doa't you explain? Don't yor
see I'm completely befuddled?"
He laughed lightly Then his face
changed to kindly robustness.
perhaps if tell you of my first
loan you will understand.
Il inherited thirty thousand when a
youngster of twcnty-six, and to cele'
brate my thankfulness decided to use
one thousand of it in helping some
poor devil who was down on his luck.
well, sir. you know I hunted over Z
month before l found my man. / was
anxious to get the biggest possible
dividends of happiness out Of that
thousand. walked the streets at night
I visited the tenements, the hospitals
even the jails found plenty Of fel
lows who would have fallen on my
neck and wept with gratitude for the
thousand, but they did not fill the
bill. Came nearly giving it to jenkins
but discovered he gambled l knew II
would last him about three nights, and
then he would be down on the same
old luck.
II felt moved TO help Drake, but
Drake loved the flowing bowl. and ]
could sec thirty tirplers around the
bar hilariously helping Drake break
that thousand So l passed Drake"
found my nan By accident and 1t
wac In a justice court. a young fel.
low about my own aEe was oeir5 sued
for a suit Of clothes. re made 20 de-
! tense. Acknowledged TIC tili AID too:
advs-::se OF tic cTeditc.'a Law.
--o-a eo.-,o c@eI iioNa fl TINT