The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-01-31

man in q mlQule west CITY, Sill
open an important-looking envelope
lust handed to him and unfolded the |
crackly letterhead. Across the top or |
the sheet was engraved:
SMITH & BROWN
Bankers a. Brokers
Private Wire Service Between Principal
Cities
Market Letters Furnished
Highest Bank and Commercial Reference
No. -. Broadway. New York
Below was a closely typewriter let
ter starting with friendly 'Dear Mr..
JONES'" Jones leaned back in his chair
and started to read.
An unusual opportunity, 1t seemed,
was being offered to him. New York
brokerage firm was organizing syn
dictate whose purpose was to manipu-
late the grain market and clean up
fortune on wheat To do this in big
way, Smith & Brown were modifying
the capital of hundreds of investors.
The funds secured in this manner,
added to their already immense re-
sources, would enable them to run
away with the market.
|
the letter. thousands of investors
with moderate means wish to share
in the stupendous profits of Wall
street. But what chance have they
against the millions of Rockefeller,
Morgan and Gould? 1t requires money
to make money and our plan is to take
the $50 or 500 of an individual inves-
tor and make it felt, instead of being
mere drop in the bucket"
The letter was quite reassuring. mo
client of ours has ever lost any money"
ii was stated. Had Mr. Jones looked
for il, he would have discovered no
information as to when the business
was established. But he was too alb
, sorbed in the glowing account of the
, system of Jim Smith-that wizard OF
finance-to beat the market 1t de-
yeloped after years of study and eX-
perience, and had netted him millions.
He had astounded veteran spectators
| and Napoleons of finance with his
, marvellous success. Now he was going
TO do the biggest thing of his life. he
p was to give the small investor an OPP
portunity TO enter into deal with
e him. And when the people got together
anything could be accomplished 5OC
n per cent profits were assured!
Z Mr. Jones thoughtfully restored tho
letter to the envelope and decided III
would go over it again that night.
In the quiet of his home he argued
/ the matter out. In the letter 1t wa'
y stated that Smith & Brown courteC
o the most rigid investigation and sug
e gested that prospective clients inquire
of Gum & Bradburn, a commercial
l. agency, as to their standing. MI
't Jones decided such would be a rea
4 sonable test, and accordingly wrote
II letter to Gum < Bradburn, asking 10
III complete information regarding tn
" firm of brokers. The reply was yer
$, favorable. smith & Brown are re
re sponsible and have ample capital. w
ID recommend them without qualifict
IN tion," said the report.
Mr.. Jones sent 500 to become
member of the syndicate.
S The days that followed were full c
anxiety for him. How was the ventur
AT progressing? When would he receiV
the letter apprising him of the on
come?
The news came in an unexpecte
an manner. 1t was In the metropolita
newspaper he received weekly. d
of read:
40 ANOTHER MARKET swINDLE
% Smith a Brown, brokers" collect tho
VI sands from would-be SPECTATORS ana
ne camp.
ar- The thing he feared had happen'
oh to him. He was swindled!
Is A week or so later a letter came
a him from the Society for Protection
Of Investors. 1t stated that II he had hi
use any unfortunate dealings with the
'us scrupulous investment houses they,
be society formed purely for protecti
yer purposes, would look into his case al
In see what could be done. But Mr.. Jon
'ei had become wary through his expe
raj ence with Gum & Bradburn, decidi
that he would stick TO business a
a not mix In with high finance. In Il
de he was very wise, for the Society I
Ing Protection Of Investors was in real
lso backed by the owners Of the defur
am Smith & Brown. It's purpose was
Ital direct Mr.. Jones to their newest W
ay, ture. And the Gum & Bradburn co
md mercIal agency was also backed by
and renowned Jim Smith and his nefario
her associates for purpose that is read
apparent.
ouc Such, in brief, is the composite
by perience of thousands who trust the
war selves to the doubtful mercies OF mr.
OF in the same category of Smith
and Brown. Their appeal is subtle 9
'wn often blinds the shrewdest.