Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1917-05-10
LEARNING TO SPECULATEI
BY S. J. PHILLIPS.

ulatec In stocks and bonds and shares
and notes, and almost always made
money at 1t. Ever since Edith was six
teen years old-and she had come to
be twenty now-she had heard her
father talk of his business until she
was fairly forced to take an interest
In 1t. Finally she became so interest
ed that she read of finance in the daily
papers. She often thought she read
of opportunities In which she might
have invested few hundred dollars
and have made great gains.
Miss Edith got liberal supply OF
pin money from her father, and when
he had made lucky strike he pre-
sented her with Il tifty-dollar bill. She
decided to save up as much money as
she could and try her luck In the stock
market. Her father would laugh at
her If he knew her plan. So she kept
1t a secret. When the time came at
last and 'she had five hundred dollars
laid by she went quietly to brokers'
office to make an investment. The
broker was fatherly-looking man, and,
being told that 1t was her first specua-
ton, he said he would pick her out
something that would be sure to win
out.
The Wild Goose Silver Mine had
been plodding along with its stock at
g. but there was something coming.
He was not at liberty to tell just what,
but he was sure the stock would take
| ak, fI..
fit of 1t. She would not make hatful
of money by only investing her five
hundred dollars. but she would be
learning how to speculate. For five
hundred dollars he would sell her Il
bond, and she could take it home and
anyone until the jump had taken place.
1t looked very simple and very good
to Miss Edith, and she put down her
money and went away with the bond.
Two weeks thereafter she heard two
men in a subway train talking about
the Wild Goose Silver mine. They said
1t was one of the biggest swindles ever
worked off on the public, and that it
was on the point of collapse that
: would be known through the papers in
few days.
The girls first impulse was to go to
her father about it, but her second was
not to do so. Her first move was to
buy horsewhip, and her next was to
call on the broker again. If he re-
fused to return her money, she would
; lay the lash on him.
When Miss Edith made her call 1t
(. was about the noon hour, and she en-
tered the brokers' Office to find him
busy with figures at table which
brought his back to the door, At sight
z of the individual who had cajoled her
: into parting with her savings, a sud
, den wave of indignation swept over
: her, and she drew the horsewhip from
] under her cloak and began to lay 1t
over his back. OF course the victim
was surprised He rose to his feet and
Z faced around, and, behold, 1t was, not
4 the broker. 1t was young man, a
young man who had also bought a
bond of the Wild Goose Silver COM
pany. He had also discovered that he
|
! raise fuss about it, OF course there
' were apologies, and the two were talk
r ing very amicably together when the
broker arrived from his lunch.
. Young Mr.. Henderson talked
= straight from the shoulder, and when
/! he paused for breath, Miss Edith did
n some talking that was almost as en-
phatic The broker saw the horse,
whip, and he saw the young man re-
move his coat and spit on his hands
and he quietly said
Every well, my children-very well
{ will give you both checks for your
: money. assure you that you are en-
q tirely mistaken in me, and are doing
a very foolish thing, but we will lei
i all that CO.
\ 1t was two weeks later when Mr.
! Henderson called, and his call wa'
made just after the girls father hat
been asked:
q Father, what stock would you ad
/ wise anyone to invest in just now?"
"Why, the Wild Goose Silver Min
iLS SCSno " NC q 6Dou eiAiht
d just now" was his reply.
"How much of good thing?"
''You could have seen by the paper
II this morning that it had jumped to 10
J. and was still soaring. l think | shall
n go down and buy big block of it."
Mr.. Henderson had called to brea
= the news to Miss Edith. They con
l. doled and consoled each other, but
= was too late. The young man had bee
hOrsewhipped and both together ha
been deprived of making smart littl
Le profit.
~ Mr. Henderson made third ca
soon. 1t was partly to tell Miss Edit
that the Wild Goose was flying highe
e and higher, and partly to get bette
" acquainted with her. 1t seemed
good time to tell her father all abou
&c it and the story was told. He laughe
L uproariously and then said:
J. "Why. the broker you went to Is on
of the most honest of the lot. 70
- couldn't get him to cheat any of hi
l. customers"
1T Then, after some more talk the spec
ulator went on to say:
Young man, ! suppose | shall hav
d to be father-in-law some day, but
,e want to say to you, right here nov