The Washington times., 1931-08-25


In his office, for instance,
practically all Of the employees
subscribed to the various base
ball and number pools. But
not Steve. He was a little too
smart to gamble. He merely
acted as an agent and received
his commission every week.
You can't lose on sure thing
unless it's a woman.
And so it went in other direc-
tions. Everything that Steve
touched brought him some sort
of a profit. Before long he
was recognized as a very
shrewd man by his fellow
workers. Unfortunately, how
ever, there was somebody else
who thought he was pretty
clever. And that was Steve.
himself.
Our friend began to gaze
upon himself in the mirror and
nod approvingly. He knew he
wasn't much to look at, but
he told himself that Shrewd-
ness more than made up for
lack of beauty. And when a
~homely guy can convince him
self of that he's pretty close to
heaven.
Since he had no vices and
didn't seem to be getting any
Of the ordinary pleasures out
Of life, people often wondered
just why Steve wanted so much
money in the bank. A semi
friend once asked him about
that. And Steve, strangely
enough, was frank in his reply
for once.
His Ambition
ct have an ambition" he as
serted. "All my life, I've been
working for it. And some day,
I'm going to get it. I want a
home Of my own.
"I don't want a big place, Of
course. That would cost too
much money. Just a little
place that could support on
my income. Then I would
have something to live for and
enjoy. What more could a man
ask?"
AS usually holds true in such
cases, Steve loved a woman
who was quite different from
himself. She wasn't a particu-
larly bad damsel, but she was
by no means averse to taking
a drink and grabbing a bit Of
so-called fun whenever the op.
portunity presented itself. She
wasn't in love with Steve, but
she was growing older than
she liked to admit. And il
Steve would have asked her
she would readily have taken
the plunge for better or fol
worse.
But Steve, although in love
was unwilling to go over the
brink. He reached the edge
many times, but when HI
thought Of the added expense
that a wife might mean, he fel
back 20 PAGES. And the day.
turned into months; the month.
into years.
Attains the Goal
On a certain date we fine
Steve with sufficient funds t,
purchase the one thing tha'
meant so much to him-a homI
Of his own. After a long, albei
pleaSureable search, he final!
picked the home he. wanted
There was but one drawback
What's that? Yes, you've
guessed it. A little too much
money.
:. At the office the next day
Steve finally hit upon a plan
, Didn't everybody know he wal
Shrewd and clever? Yes, sir
Steve knew it, himself. Th(
plan he conceived would not
only bring him the home at 6
more reasonable price, but il
would give him a wife as well
Could anyone ask for more
I think so-but for the pur
poses of this story, let's say no
At his very next opportunity
Steve visited the real estate
dealer. The dealer was more
than the ordinary agent, for HI
was the moving spirit in a de
velopment in which Stew
wished to locate. All Of which
Steve knew very well.
''Mr. JONES'" said the wis
man, "I have a proposition t,
make to you."
The real estate man nodded
Fine" he returned affably
I'm always interested in propc
sitions. What's yours?"
"I can't buy the home I ha'
in mind" replied Steve swiftly
"The price is just a littl