Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-26
A STORY FOR SPARE MOMENTS
The Business Asset

| service to you, sir?" he inquired of the
| father.
"Are you Mr.. Fletcher" questioned the
| little man.
mo, but this is his office"
Ezra Fletcher, the honest broker?" OBJ.
| served the visitor.
Where did you get that? It's true. but
| you are a stranger, and"
I'm David Moore, from Colorado" an.
| nounced the little man. II lived where Tom
Ward used to live, one of Fletchers Gus.
toners, who sold his ranch for him and
| got him out of the clutches of some real es-
! tate sharks"
II remember" nodded Ward.
And charged the poor fellow a mere trhe
for all of his good work"
Seeing he was poor, yes. Why not!
That's Mr.. Fletcher's way"
II understand that" replied the West.
| erner promptly. "and I've come to put my
belongings into his hands for sale. You
| see, since my wife died Nancy and me are
lonely, away out there. I've got a thous.
and-acre ranch and five hundred acres of
| timber. I'm ready to sacrifice for the
ready cash. for l want to settle down in
the city here, where Nancy can enjoy civ
ilizaton,"
Because, you see," put in the irrepress-
! ible Nancy, drolly I'm uncivlized"
Ward directed full admiring glance at
her which she could not mistake, and she
flushed delciously. His ardent eyes said
plainly, you are the sweetest wild prairie
rose and you know I think So"
Ward expla the absence of Fletcher
whom he termed my partner" for reasons
of business policy. Then the little man un-
folded his plans. Ward analyzed them with
interest Moore was shrewd. but outspoken
He bluntly stated that he would take ten
thousand dollars for the timber lot"
But it's worth twenty" insisted Ward
"Then taxa off your jacket and make
the difference for yourself" advised his
client. won't you sort of get Nancy and
me located somewhere respectable till we
get our money and our bearings?"
Delightful task John Ward passed
some time with the interesting couple, dom.
telling them in a comfortable family hotel
directing them generally. and within the
week selling the timber tract at an advance
that gave him $4,000 commission
He asked Moore for a thirty-days' optiou
on the ranch at his own figure. readily
granted. Then the excited, big-hearted fell
low had two sole objects In life-to prepare
vast surprise for Fletcher and to win
the love of the enchanting little creature
who had brought sunshine and ambition
into his life.
1t was at the end of two weeks that
Ward received letter from Fletcher. The
latter was coming back to sell out his few
office traps, return to Moundville and settle
down into a clerkshp position. Ward met
him at the train when it arrived in the
city.
Moved the office since you went away.
he reported.
What was that for?"
Business demands" responded Ward
coolly Look there" and he pointed to the
second story of a central business building,
across the plate-glass windows of which
was the name in great gold letters:
FLETCHER & Company. Brokers'"
"See here p gasped Fletcher
"No, see there" and Ward proudly ex-
hiblted a bank book showing $4,000 in the
name of his self-constituted firm. Luck
has come our way, Mr.. Fletcher and what
brought It was what told you were valua-
BILE assets--honesty and ability"
There was a double wedding. Ezra
Fletcher went back to Moundville but only
to wed and bring back his charming iancee
70 the city, where Ward and happy hearted
(. >Ioxcv l6oors were awaiting than s. !. ~.