Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

OF a Dank, WIFI Idle he COHCNCNu. 4ulu
him he was in business, selling a novelty for
so cents and deposited enough to start q
checking account. The manager seemed TO
swallow this tale, and after that Ansell went
every day or so to deposit his bag of coins. The
manager was beginning TO get mighty civil and
Ansell was beginning to take this state Of things
as a matter of course--almoSt He could draw
checks now; he had nothing to worry about.
nothing TO do but dip his hand into that
purse
He saw no reason why he should not get
married now SO he asked Marie, and she con-
sentCd and he took his bank book, and went to
see her father. He had it all thought out in
detail. He supposed TO be selling a new
sort Of radio gadget at so cents. That was the
tale And he'd even taken care TO rent a
little Office and to buy couple OF cases Of
this gadget for display.
But the father wasn't satisfied He asked
AnscIl where he advertised.
- oh, one customer leads to another Ansen
said.
And you mean to tell me- said the father,
that you're making $500 week out eff this,
without advertising. without going out of your
ofce?' He began to figure it out That's at
the rate of $50 day You mean to say that's
what you metz?
AT this point Marie took hand. She said
that she knew everything all right, and
that Ansell was young marvel of industry and
a financial genius. And that made him
comfortable.
I'm-spurious' he thought She thinks
I'm making a fortune by sheer pluck and in
telligence.'
Consadine paused moment.
And now" he resumed, I'VE to the
really incredible part of the story I hope
have convinced you that Ansell actually came
into possession of the Fortunatus purse. But
how shall I convince you that it made him
wretched?
Now it is no more thar plattudinous lie
to say that money causes unhappiness. Money
is, in essence, symbol for food and
was ever made unhappy by being well fed.
No. . 1t wasn't the possession of the
money that upset Ansell; it was the way he
had to get it. You'll find that is usually the
trouble
DIR. Raven, you remember, had said that
any could get money who wanted money
more than anything else Ansell had thought
he was one OF these. But apparently he was
not. What he did want exactly 1 can't tell
you. Admiration perhaps or a glow of self
approval. However that was, the wallet made
him miserable. He couldn't explain his money
satisfactorily to any one. People naturally
asked him questions about his business and he
had to keep up highly complicated system CT
lying that was a severe mental strain.
What is more the whole thing was tedious,
boring beyond measure. 1t seemed rank folly
to look for job, when he had this inexhaust-
ible supply yet he was longing for job for
sort CT work where he could see and talk
TO other people, something that needed no ex-
planning. Instead Of that he had to shut him
ssf into that fraudulent little Office for hours
every day, taking coins out of the purse. He
hated it. He began to dread his approaching
marriage, because he almost certain that
Marie would f1nd out his incredible and ridicu-
lous secret.
She always suggesting stopping in at
his office and he had to put her OF on pre-
text another, lest she see him there alone with
no secretary, no clerk. nothing but himself and
his internal wallet. In his desperation he con-
sidered the possibility of hiring q small staff
TO lend plausibility to his business, but it was
out Of the question. He could not conceal from
any employees the fact that there was no
business.
Then morning thought came to him
that like blow. In March he would have
to make out his income tax return. Suppose
his statements were investigated. . :? He
had CHASTITY vision of himself being ques-
toned, stammering guilty, trying to ex-
plain.
"T'HE Office door opened and Marie en-
tered; she had come to Surprise him.
He made hideous attempt TO seem pleased;
he popped the wallet into his pocket and tried
to talk to her. But he saw her eyes wandering
about the bare little ONCE in wonder. No type
writer. no filing cabinet, no staff.
You're not-yery busy Just now are you?'
she asked.
I'm waiting for customer he told her.
"She silent for a moment.
Are you worried about your business, Dick?'
she asked. If you wish you'd tell me-
dear
In the face of her innocent affection and
good faith he grew desperate; he would have
made full confession at that moment but for
the fact that the door opened again and In
came customer, a man who had somehow
heard tales of his gadget and wanted to look
at 1t. Ansell showed him simple one explain
ing and extolling it with feverish eloquence
and the man was pleased that he gave An
sell an order for a gross The girl went away