The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-09-03
For Sale for
$1,000
By r. RAY BAKER.

tG 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
IL was no great surprise TO b,
turned down by Christine Wenslow
but it was u bitter disappointment.
Frankly Casper Hopkins had ad
mitted repeatedly to himself tina
there was no reason why the mos
beautiful girl in Waterford should
look on him with favor. There wer,
handsome suitOrs who lowered abou
her threshold, and when the COOS
looks had been distributed Casper
must have been absent, for he was
a very plain-loOking young man
There were athletes who aspired tC
her hand, and In physical dimensions
and strength, Casper. made poor
showing, for he was rather runty
looking specimen of manhood. There
were rich mems sons who wooed the
fair maiden, and here again Casper
did not shine, for his future was
wrapped up in a shoe store In which
he expected to buy an interest some
time soon.
But he had hoped against hope,
and now his heart was broken. Hav-
Ing received the fatal answer, he
turned from Christine and slowly.
with eyes downcast, approached the
door of her home, which he vowed
he never would darken again once
he stepped out into the dark world.
Casper"
Her voice arrested him as he was
turning the knob.
Christine sat on a davenport. in a
detected posture, looking at him with
lack-luster eyes.
VIII you come here, Casper" she
said. Il will explain some things to
you. / intended keeping it from
you, but i. feel 1t is due you. You
have been very nice to me-"
He sat on the davenport beside her.
Il will not mince words" she told
him. speaking rapidly. 1.-The fact is,
Casper, am about to offer myself
for sale"
"fou-you-" Casper suffered
unable TO believe his ears.
Il am about to offer myself for
sale," she repeated. Casper, 1 do
not wish to appear conceited, but
there are several young men who
wish me to marry them, and shall
accept one-for one thousand dollars
cash. I need the money. Father. YOU
know. Is In the hospital. and the only
thing that will save his life is an OBJ
Grafton that will cost the amount I
have mentioned. 1t will not be the
hrst time such plan has been used.
L read In the newspapers recently
about a New York girl who made a
similar offer, with a similar purpose
In view, and that gave me the idea.
The only assets we have are some
worthless mining stock, this home
which father has always lived In, and
and me. l am going to sell myself.
Goodby."
Casper went out, walking In
trance Of misery. 1t was Sunday,
and his services were not required
at the shoe store where he was en-
ployed; so he set out for a long
walk in the woods. He scarcely knew
where he wandered, his thoughts
we're SO busy. His dream was shat
tered, his heart broken, and he cared
little what happened. To think of
the girl he worshiped becoming the
bride Of a man she did not love-
for one thousand dollarsl
BY the time Casper had walked
three hours there was different
light I'm his eyes, expressive of
combination of determination and
desperation.
With hurried steps he made his
way to the house where he roomed
and boarded. From a drawer of his
dresser he brought a bank book,
which he opened. Seated. ON the edge
of the bed, he stared at an array of
figures, smiling grimly.
"She's going to sell herself for
thousand dollars" he unused. "very
well, / will buy her myself. i love
her and / have just as much right
to her as any Of those rich men,"
Tears threatened In Casper's eyes.
1t had taken him three years to save
that thousand, and a great deal of
pinching and scraping. He had in
mind the purchase Of an interest In
the shoe store where he worked, and
he had put of asking Christine to
marry him until he had accumulated
the necessary amount to 20 into
business. Now, II he married Chris |
tine according to her own terms, II |
would mean starting all over again.
But Casper's mind was made up. He
wanted Christine. even If he had to
buy her.
But Casper felt he would be unequal
to the task Of appearing In person to |
bid for Christine. So the next morn
ing, before he went to work, he penned |
4 brief note. He carried this to work
with him, and when the bank was
opened he drew out his funds and I'M
1ediately transferred them to a check.
ng account Then he wrote a check
'or e thousand dollars and inclesed II