Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1926-07-02
Her Birthday
Present
BY Fl. IRVING KING
(copyright.)

lTNaE Town was New England
4 community of about 1900 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 with. anyhow"
Jacobs daughter, Madeline, was fair
to look upon and, though now APP
preaching the age of twenty-six, was
still unmarried. Whereat people won.
dered. The answer was that she was
in love with Harold harrington 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 horror of being
i 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.
Harolds father had been obsesscd
with the idea that nature had In.
tended him for a great financier-
whereas nature had intended him
for no such thing. The result of this
little misunderstanding was that. af-
ter divesting himself of FIN inherited
fortune. harrington senior had died
/ nf oh orrrit, Iaa
with an education and n 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, beamng
with smiles. Harold could hardly
have been more surprised had the
soldiers and sailors monument III the
square casually dropped In on him
For year Jacobs only recognition
of the young lawyer had been a scowl
and a nod. well, Harold my boy"
said the man of money; "how's bust
ness?'
Not very good. Mr.. Fullerton" re-
piled Harold; "the people of this com
munity don't seem. MS yet, to APP
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 establishedy"
II regret to say. sir" returned
Harold, that, as far as | can find
out, none of the securities left me
by my father is Of the slightest
value"
TOO bad, too bad" sympathlzed
Jacob. THAT sort of thing is rather
In my line, you know-perhaps
might pick out some OF them for
which market might he 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. What
was up? Was II 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? Yet
how could that be2 Hnrold's dubious
holdings had been pronouneeS worth
less.
He was still wondering when the
office door opened to admit another
visitOr-thls time stranger The
stranger looked all business and i'm
medlately proceeded to business. "Mr
Harold harrington presumed" in
CURED the stranger, Harold assented
''Your father, the late Marcellus Far
lngton," went on the unknown, twas
possessed Of 1000 shares In the Val
pedras Live Stock company. Arid
ELECTROMAGNETIC for cattle
ralsing--attempt failure Well, some
rich men with money to fool away
New Yorkers--thipk that. by expend.
Ing million or so-artiilcial lrriga.
tion-they may, In about twenty
years from now. be able to make the
property pay. At present worthless.
Give you FIVE dollars share for your
stock. What do you say"
Let you know tomorrow after
noon" replied Harold. And that was
the best the stranger could get out
Of him.
As soon as the unknown had de-
parted Harold called iong-dIstance
and talked with a former classmate
Of his, now In a Wall street office,
asking him what he knew about
valpedras. That night after dinner
Jacob took Harold into the library
and preached the question of stocks
and bonds
Before we go into that matter"
said Harold, II wish to ask you for
the hand Of your daughter"
why, why, my dear boy" cried
Jacob. you are not In any financial
condition to marry; especially with
o girl brought up as my daughter