The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1920-09-10
Rosalind's
Money Makers
BY r. RAY BAKER

TO 1870. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.b
Most of our matrimonial failures
are due TO lack of business ability on
the part Of the husband. In these
dollar-chasing days no sane woman
should consent TO marry a man who is
unable TO prove the possession of
business acumen."
The speaker occupied the platform
In Crabtree Center's town hall. He
was prominent retired banker.
touring the country on a Chautauqua
circuit. Crabtree Center was indulg-
ing In an intellectual fling this sea-
son, and Jealousy directed at the
neighboring village of Potato Springs
was the cause Of IL.
For three years Potato Springs had
supported lecture courses, and now
its leading citizens were Boosting that
the community was the mecca of
culture for all Sand Lake county.
When the wealthy retired farmers
who were spending their declining
years in Crabtree Center heard of this
they became righteously indignant
and Immediately furnished the where
withal to place their community i'm
the arena 10 fight for the blue rib
bon honors.
RoSalind Menthorn. belle of the vii
lage. went home that night with "busi-
ness acumen" ringing in her ears.
She had never thought of the neces-
Sity Of such n qualification when con-
sidering available supply of prospec-
tive husbands.
Only recently she had put her two
most promising knights to the test
of bravery with the understanding
that the one most valiant should have
her. Felix Spriggins, who was 200
pounds heavy. had been victorious
over Josephus Smartlox. 125 pounds
light. I'm this deeds Of valOr" contest.
Rosalind dreamed that night of
business acumen and the next morn
| ing she made Il decision. Bravery was
Il secondary consideration. Next to
moral rectitude business acumen was
what counted.
No sane woman should consent 10
become the wife OF man who could
not prove the possession of such acu-
men. and Rosalind considered herself
sane. Her father was an ideal exam
pie of the perfect husband. and he
owned the bank in which Felix and
Josephus worked.
I'm sorry. Felix" she told her fat
sutton. "but l can't marry you after
all-until you prove you have bust
ness acumen. That lets Josephus in
for another chance"
Felix groaned. Against Josephus he
feared he would stand little show In
n contest of wits. for Josephus was
tricky and Felix was guileless.
JoSephus smiled with confidence
when informed that his cause was not
lost. He felt he could turn the trick.
although he had no idea how TO go
about il.
Luck seemed to be with him. On
the way home that night from Rosa
lind'S dOmicile he came across Slim
Jim Longface. Crabtree Center's Indi-
an relic. who claimed TO be hundred
years old and his bronzed face bore
thousand wrinkles as testimony TO
the veracity of his assertion.
Slim Jim was looking hungrily
through the window Of Happy Hanks
restaurant. where IL roast chicken re-
posed on an island of green things.
"Got quarter?" Jim grunted. ac-
costing Josephus. Had no eats three
days. Been working lumber camp,
hut not paid yet. Ready TO starve.
Got quarter?'
JosephuS was i'm benevolent mood.
! So he produced n coin of the specified
demon nation.
Thanks" said Jim. He started for
the restaurant door, but came back
close To his hencfactor and said In n
low tone:
You keep me from starving. tell
YOU bic secret. Ottawas treasure
buried On old Larkln place Treasure
Is under rock that looks like horses
hcad ne base OF oak tree. the middle
one ne north end OF land Take from
mo. Kid I know. You do me good
turn. Now we square"
IcsephuS turned this Information
over In hls mind as he walked the
remainder of the distance home. The
more hc turned II the better II looked,
lie knew the Ottnwns were supposed
to have buried their treasures In the
ncighhorhood and there were many
pieces OF land TINT rescmbled Stoves
Que % the work of fortune hunters
II was two days later, after the bank
hnd closed In the afternoon. that fe.
| llN SprigglnS called on RoSallnd, dis.
playing face that looked happier
than usual and more rounded thnn
usual. II that wore possible.
"Rosallnd, | win" he announced. II
have proved my business acumen, You
know the old Larkin place was the
only Inheritance from my father.
The land is So poor YOU couldn't raise
lin cans ON II. and it's 81 full OF rock
you couldn't make an excavation for
n house.
Here's where my business acUmen
comes In. Sylvester Gordon came TO
ne today and offered 20 buy the Lar
Rim place. Ordinarily I'd have let him
have IL for fifty dollars, but thought
u this acumen business. and set my