The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1919-07-26
Elsa S
Fortune
copyright. 1919. b, Western Newspaper usioa.I
BY VICTOR REDcLlFFR

you to accept this as slight token
Of my appreciation Of your services"
Baird 4 Co. were going out Of busl-
ness and Elsa had been assisting the
head OF the house dIsposing of the pa
pers In his desk. He had laid aside
nm Oblong envelope. from which he
drew two Notwithstanding documents.
"These are two shares OF stock In
the Aetna Coal company" proceeded
Mr.. Baird. Their pnr value is one
hundred dollars ench. hut ! do not
know their sale price. However. the
company has paid five per cent divi-
dends regularly"
Elsn's pretty eyes showed her mp
probation of the unexpected gift. Mr..
Baird signed the transfer blank and
she felt quite opulent.
Sand now for II month OF real vncn.
toni" jmbilnted Elsa. luxuriousiy,
packed her belongings Mt her boarding
honse that evening and the next morn
Ing took train for Yorkton. the home
OF her nearest living relative, Aunt
Nornh Bliss
Two weeks later Morton Drake. a
city broker. was hailed on the street
by boyish young fellow who had
hurried his steps to Overtnke him.
"Oh. Mr. Drake!" spoke Ned Wal
lron n trlne brenthlessly. 1--WE hur-
rIed after You to give you sure tip.
You got me my place and ! want to
try and do something for you. There's
II big deal going on with the Aetna
Coal company. My sister works there
and she says there's going to be n
merger and they're buying In aIl the
stock they can get Mt any price
nsked."
"Thank you. Ned" replied Drake.
''Thnt may be worth something to
me-"
Drake was young business man.
but profoundly expert In brokerage
tactics. When he got back to the Of.
flee he looked mp the list Of the stock
holders of the Aetna Coal company.
outside of officers md directors In
control he found only about hnif
dozen scattered holders OF the sccurl.
ties OF the company. Out of these.
| phoncd or wired to. all hut one replied
| thnt they had recently sold their
stock. From John Bnird. listed NJ
holding two shares. n brief letter an
nounced that the same had been trnns-
ferred and were In the possession OF
Miss Elsa Norris. Yorkton.
Then Ned came to Drake with some
| decidedly Important Information. II
was to the effect that ench Of the rival
| factions in the Actnn Coal company
was struinIng every nerve to secure
| a nJority of the stock. Drake In.
vcstignted for himself. He lost no
time :ifter that In getting down to
| Yorkton He never forgot the twelve
hours he spent there: he never tcnsed
| after that to cherish In the picture
gallery of his soul the sweetest fnce
| he had ever seen. Elsa received him
ENORMOUSLY. her aunt with courtesy
and welcome.
81 hive been told that you hold two
| hundred dollars OF the stock Of the
Aetnn Coal company" he stnted his
| mission.
"Yes. two shares" nssented Elsn.
"Afr. Baird so Informed me and
| am prepared TO offer you five hundred
| dollnrs for the securities" and Aunt
Norah barely suppressed shrek Of
| amnzeIncnt and Elsa cried out. "Oh.
that will Just pay on your mortgage.
| denr Aunt Nornh!"
Drake counted out the amount he
| lind named. Elsn. feemng herself
| fortunate beyond belief. was so happy
| spirited she could scarcely contain
IA In tnI r.
| er OF opuIence to ten. Just after the
| mcnl n storm came up. Both Aunt
| and niece did their utmost to enter.
| tnin their visitor and the hours glihcd
away nll too swiftly for the city man.
| fascinated by the simple joys OF that
| humble but hospitnble home.
81 hope we shall see you again"
| spoke Aunt Norah. ms. the storm over.
| Drake arose to take his departure for
his hotel. and Elsa's bright eyes mute
| Iy bur cxprcssivcly echoed the implied
invitation.
Morton Drnke did not rest very well
| that night--for reasons. Every time
| he thought OF Elsa Norris he expert
enced maynard impulse to make her
u certain confession.
Miss Norris" he said. ms Elsn cnme
| to the door" here Is n receipt ] neg
| lccted to give you"
"why. whit Is III" asked Elsn In
surprise.
"weli, you see. hcing n broker.
| while l have paid you for that stock.
hive an inklIng that II may sell for
more money, and In all fairness to II
| client who trusts me wish you to
have the benefit Of whatever may
come OF H." Morton Drake wns not
wrong In his surInisc. Those two
shares OF stock were the only ones ont
standing whic4, could swing the major
ity MS ts voting power In the coal corn
,u,, nn Enov hpv n hnrpuin n nd