The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1926-06-18
Her Birthday
Present
BY H. IRVING KING
lCopyright.)

THE town was a New England
1 community Of about 5000 in
habitants. The principal man In the
town was Jacob Fullerton whose
wealth had assumed such proportions
as to cause his fellow townsmen to
ask each other, "How much do you
suppose old Jake is wuth. anyhow
Jacobs daughter, Madeline, was fair
to look upon and, though now ap-
preaching the age Of twenty-six, was
still unmarried. Whereat people won
dered. The answer was that she was
In love with Harold Faringtonl and
her father would not hear of her
marrying that young man. Harold
would not hear. Of her marrying him,
either-he was poor.
Madeline would have eloped with
him; but he had a horror of being
considered fortune-hunter and, more
than all, considered that he had no
right to take the girl he loved from
the wealth and luxury with which
she was now surrounded to share his
present privations.
Harold's father had been obsessed
with the idea that nature had in
tended him for a great fnancier-
whereas nature had intended him
for no such thing. The result Of this
little misunderstanding was that, af-
ter divesting himself of an inherited
fortune, Farington senior had died
Of worry and chagrin, leaving his son
with an education and a profession
and naught else besides. So Harold
had set out to practice law in his
native town. But SO far the two older
lawyers there had seemed sufficient
for the needs of the town.
Into Harold's little office walked
one day Jacob Fullerton, beaming
with smiles. Harold could hardly
have been more surprised had the
] soldiers and sailors monument in the
| square casually dropped in on him.
For year Jacobs only recognition
Of the young lawyer had been a scowl
and nod "Well, Harold my boy"
said the man Of money; "how's busi-
ness?"
Not very good, Mr.. Fullerton" re-
I piled Harold; "the people of this COM
munity don't seem, as yet, to ap-
preciate my legal ability"
Hum" said Jacob well, you can
afford to wait awhile Your father,
am sorry to say, was not very good
judge Of values; but he doubtless left
you some securities upon which you
can realize until you get establishedT
II regret to say, SIR" returned
Harold, that, as far as I can find
out, none Of the securities left me
by my father is of the slightest
value"
''Too bad, too bad" sympathizet
Jacob. "That sort of thing Is rather
In my line. you know-perhaps
might pick out some of them fol
which market might be made. Well
good day. Haven't seen you at the
house for long time. Madeline was
speaking of you only yesterday. Come
up to dinner tonight. It's her birth
day." And he went out leaving Harold
in state Of pure bewilderment Wha1
was up? Was 1t possible that among
that assortment of financial junk
slowed away In an old trunk there
was something of value after all
something that Jacob wanted? Ye
how could that be? Harolds dubious
holdings had been pronounced worth
less.
He was still wondering when the
Office door opened to admit another
visitor-this time stranger. Tht
stranger looked all business and i'm
mediately proceeded to business. "Mr
Harold Farington I presume?" in
quired the stranger Harold assented
Your father, the late Marcellus Far
ington," went on the unknown, twas
possessed Of 1000 shares in the Val
pedras Live Stock company. ARID
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for cattl'
raising-attempt a failure Well, some
rich men with money to fool away
New Yorkers-think that, by expend
ing a million or so-artiicial irriga
tion-they may, In about twent.
years from now, be able to make thu
property pay. At present worthless
Give you five dollars share for YOU
stock. What do you say?"
Let you know tomorrow after
noon," replied Harold. And that wa
the best the stranger could get ou
Of him.
AS soon as the unknown had de
parted Harold called long-distanc'
and talked with former classmat,
of his, now in a Wall street Office
asking him what he knew abou
valpedras. That night after Dime
Jacob took Harold into the librar.
and broached the question Of stock
and bonds.
Before we 90 into that matter,
said Harold, II wish to ask you 70
the hand of your daughter"
why, why, my dear boy!" crie'
Jacob, "you are not In any financia
condition to marry; especially wit
girl brought up as my daughte
has been."
"Oh, yes I am." replied Harold
II am the owner Of 1000 shares o
the valpedras company. Oil has beel
discovered on the land-and ! am
rich man"
"And you knew 1t when / was talk
ing to you this morning" roare
Jacob
"No." replied Harold, II learne
] 1t over the telephone about an hou
later"
"Humph." said Jacob, "that stocl
Of yours Is worth half million