San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-14

| to East Bridgeport and pointed out
his real estate.
At luncheon he was delighted when
Lavinia, in answer to Barnum's ques
ton about her drive, said: 1T was
very pleasant; it seems us if you and
Tom Thumb own about ell of Bridge
port"
The general returned to Barnum':
house for dinner. and he brought his
mother along. She did not yet know
that her son intended matrimony, but
she wa sdelighted with Lavinia War
she was delighted with Lavinia War
eral asked for an invitation TO spend
the night at Lindencroft, Barnum''
new Bridgeport residence. II intend,
he explained, ito asked her to marry
me before the commodore arrives"
After dinner Lavinia and Gen. Tom
Thumb played Backgammon. At!
O'Clock Barnum yawned ostentatiously
and said he would li,ae TO retire, but
that some one must wait up for the
commodore. Gen. Tom Thumb volun.
teered. If Miss Warren will remain
Also" Lavinia explained that she was
used to late hours, and the two dwarfs
waited for the third.
The Barnum family retired. except
ing two young girls, who had been
told of the situation, and who were
interested in its denolement. They
took up positions on the hall stairway,
where they could watch and listen in
darkness. 1t is to their curiosity
that we are indebted, via Barnum,
for the detailed report of what hap
pened that evening.
A Smart Little Rich Man.
Backgammon grew tiresome, and
the general finally suggested that they
had had enough. Then were few
minutes of meditative silence. Then
the general drew from his small. inside
coat pocket large, much-folded paper,
and. handing it to Lavinia, he asked
her IL she knew what that was.
1T is an insurance policy" she
said. II see you keep your property
insured"
But the beauty OF it is" said the
general with cunning smile, lit is
not my property. And yet l get the
benefit of the insurance in case OF
fire." He unfolded the large insurance
policy. and the two little heads bent
over its wide expanse.
You will see." the general demon
strated, shat this is the property of
Mr.. Williams. But here, you will no
tice, it reads. Loss, if any. payable to
Charles $. Stratton. as his interest
may appear The fact is, l loaned
Mr.. Williams three thousand dollars.
took mortgage on his house. and
made him insure it for my benefit. In
this way. you see, get my interest,
and he has to pay the taxes" he
wound up triumphantly.
THAT is very wise way, should
think" Lavinia said.
THAT is the way / did all my bust
ness" the general answered, and he
returned the large insurance policy to
his pocket. "You seee, 1 never lend
any of my money without taking bond
and mortgage securities. then / never
have any trouble with taxes: my prin-
cipal is secure, and / receive my in
terest regularly
Thus any one, and especially la
vinia, could see what smart little.
rich man be was. This exposition.
and the romantic morning drive
around the real estate. made his point.
Wont You BE Lonesome?"
He drew his chair closer. $50 you
are going to Europe soon." he said.
although the fact was well known to
both of them.
yes" Lavinia answered. "Mr.
Barnum intends to take me over in a
couple of months"
"You will find it very pleasant, :"
Tom Thumb said. II have been there
twice: in fact. have spent six years
abroad. aud l like the old countries
very r1uch.'
Il hope / shall like the trip. and
I expect l SHALL said Lavinia. "Mr.
Barnum says shall visit all the prin-
cipal cities. and he has no doubt |
will be invited to appear before the
Queen of England, the Emperor and
Empress of France. the King of Prus-
STA, the Emperor of Austria. and at
the courts of any other countries we
NAV visit. Oh, / shall like that; it
will be so new to me-"
"Yes. il will be verv interesting. in
deed. / have visited most of the
crowned heads.- said the small man
Of the world. "But don't you thinl;
You'll be lonesome in strange coun-
try?" he asked anxiously. Lavinia