The Washington herald., 1920-05-09
BY o. HENRY

old Instructor. now retired from
business. knew Monty would
stake me TO web money " ! could
show him q ny buxzing round In
the locality. Bill Bassett said all
towns looked alike 10 him as he
worked mainly In the dark 30
we got on the train In Los Perros.
fne little town in the silver
region.
II had an elegant Iittle sure
thing In the way Of q commercial
siungshot that intended TO hit
Bassett behind the ear with.
wasn't going TO take his money
while he was asleep. but I was
going TO leave him with q lottery
ticket that would represent IN ex-
perience TO him st.7Ss-I think
that WAS the amount he had when
we got OF the train
But the FIRST time I hinted 20
him about an investment he turns
on me and disencumbers himself
Of the following terms and ex-
pressions
Brother Peters says he. Il
amt a bad idea 20 go into an en-
terprise Of some kind. a. you suE-
gest. ! think viii. But ~
DO IL will be such a cold propo-
sition that nobody but Robert z
Peary and Charlie Fairbanks will
be able TO sit on the board OF d.
rectors'
II thought you might want 20
turn your money over says l.
II DO says he. frequently.
can't sleep on one side all night
I'll tell you, Brother Peters says
he, I'm going TO start a poker
room. I don't seem 20 care for
the humdrum in swindling. such
as peddline egg-beaters and
working of breakfast food on
Barnum and Bailey for sswdust
to strew in their circus rings.
But the gambling business says
he. from the profitable side Of
the table is a good compromise
between swiping silver spoons
and selling penwipers at a Wal
oorf-Astoria charity bazsr.'
Then says ]. Mr.. Bassett. you
don't care to talk over my little
business proposition
Why stsys he. do you know.
youn can't get a Pasteur Institute
TO start UP within fifty miles Of
where ] live. ! bite so seldom.'
so. Bassett rents a room over
saloon and looks around for
some furniture and chromos. The
same night I went to Monty Sill
VeTs house, and he let me have
$500 on my prospects. Then I
went to the only store in Los Per
ros that sold playing cards and
bought every deck in the house.
The next morning when the store
opened I was there bringing all
the cards back with nc. I said
that my partner that was going
changed his mind: and 7 wanted
TO sell the cards back again. The
storekeeper took EN- at half price.
Yes. ! was seventy-hve donars
loser up TO that time. But while
had the cards that night
marked every one in every deck.
That was labor And then trade
and commerce had their innings.
and the bread / had cast upon the
waters began to come back in the
form OF cottage pudding with
wine sauce.
"'Of course was among the
first to buy chips at Bill Bassett's
game. He had bought the only
cards there was to be had in town
and knew the back Of every one
Of them better than I know the
back Of my head when the bar
two mirrors.
when the game closed I had
the FIVE thousand and a few odd
dollars. and all Bill Bassett had
was the wanderlust and a black
cat he had bought for a mascot.
Bill shook hands with me when I
left.
Brother Peters says he. I
have no business being in busi-
ness i was preordained 10 labor.
When a No. l burglar tries to
make a James out Of his jimmy
he perpetrates an improfundity.
You have a welI-oiled and efiCs-
cious system Of luck at cards
says he. Peace go with you And
I never afterward sees Bill Bss-
sett again"
We'll. Jen." said I. when the
Autolycsn ADVENTURE seemed 20
have divulEed the gist Of his tale.
Il hope you took care Of the
money. That would be a respccta
that is q considerable working
capital IL you should choose some
day to settle down to some sort
of regular business"
Me-" said Jef. virtUously.
You can bet I've taken care of
that hve thousand
He tapped his coat over tho
region Of his chest eNult2ntly.
Gold mining stock" hc cN-
plsined. every cent OF 81 Shares
par value one dollar. Bound 20
go up 500 per cent within 8 year
Non-assessable. The Blue Goph-
er Mine Just discovered IL a
month ago. Better get in your
self IL you've any spare dollars
on hand"
Sometimes" said ]. these
oh. this ones solid as an old
goose" said Jer. Fifty thou.
sand dollars worth Of ore in sight
and 10 per cent monthly earnings
guaranteed"
He drew a long envelope from
his pocket and cast it on the Ia
bic.
Always carry IL with me-" said
he. so the burglar can't corrur
: or the capitalist break in ant
water it"
looked at the beautifully en-
r graved certificate OF stock.
In Colorado. see" said I
And. by the way, JcT. what wa
5 the name OF the little man win
! went to Denver-the one you an,
I Bill met at the stationg-
! ALFRED E. Kicks" said Jcfl
was the toad's designation"
I Il see" said ]. the presiden
|, Of this mining company sign
: himself A. l. Frederick W.
wondering"
Let me see that stock" saIt
Jeff quickly. almost snstchinG i
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