The Storyteller.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2074, 28 December 1907, Page 4 (Supplement)

T he Storyteller.

THE WAY TO A WEDDING.

(By Elliott Flower.) The girl who entered the office of the King Midas Mines Company wits certainly pretty anti apparently timid. She looked from Apworth at one desk to Raydon at the other, as if uncertain to which she should speak. Apworth was the first on his feet, but liny don was the nearer, and tho result of this combination was that they bumped into each other. “She's mine,” whispered Apworth. “I saw her first,” retorted Raydou.^4 There being no opiHirtunity for argument, Apworth endeavored to secure possession of th.e field by sweeping Kaydon into the background with outstretched arm, . whereupon It aydon ducked under tTie arm and slip]M\l in a]tead of his partner.

“Wimi-t- can 1 do for you, ma'am:-'” asked Kay don, with a smile and a bow. “Won't you take a chair, miss?” put in Apworth, motioning a clinii beside his desk. “1 don’t know Whom I want t< see,” she returned, doubtfully. “I’m looking for some information about tho King Midas mines.”

Now it was the most natural thing in the world that a woman who called at tho olKco of the King Midas Mines Company should bo seeking information about'the King Midas mines but it sometimes happened that people called for the purpose of saying things that reflected upon the integrity of tho promotors of this wonderful company. Wherefore i occurred to Apworth and Raydoi. that they might be courting trouble and there was a moment of hesitation on tho part of each, neither earin; to bo calk'd upon to make an nr pleasant and difficult explanation. But slio smiled at them so confidently and cheerfully .that their doubt; quickly vanished. Surely this wa no one who had been caught by their alluring advertisements and was seeling the tangible profit ? “I shall be gf'ad to tell you til’ about them,” caul Apworth, agai’ proffering the chair by his desk.

“What would you like to know?” asked Raydon. She seemed in no hurry to answei this question, hut smiling her thank;--, accepted the chair that Apworth of fered. Kaydon immediately dragged Iris desk chair across the room and eat down near her. while Apworth seated himself at his desk. Still sh 1 did not enter upon any explanation of the particular purpose of her vi; - it, merely smiling upon each in.tnni, and then glancing about the office with mild curiosity.

It might have occurred to an observing person that it was rather a small office for the headquarters of so pretentious a concern as the King Midas Mines Company. The furniture was show}’, but- the office was decidedly small. Either Apworth or Kaydon, if asked, would have cheerfully explained that they purposely reduced office! expenses to the minimum in order that their vast dapital might be expended wholly .upon the development of their mines. They might also have explained, with more truth, that they preferred to do business by mail, and a great deal of maid can be handled in a small space. But this was not an explanation that they cared to make, and their caller gave them no opportunity to volunteer tho other. She may have thought the office rather small for a big company, but her face showed no more t-lian the natural curios ity and wonder of one who found herself for the first time in those mysterious realms where fortunes are made in a minute. > Apworth recalled her a tent ion to the business of the moment by intimating again that he was at her service. “Oh, yes, of course,” she said apologetically; “I suppose I ought to explain my call quickly, without taking lip your valuable time, but I really don’t know how to begin—l’m so unaccustomed to business. Perhaps I’d better tell you who I am, first, although I don’t see how that will do much good, for you probably never heard of me before.” . .

Her eyes pleaded with them both to he patient with her, and they both smiled assuringly. . Her eyes were large am soft and she was small and appealing. Any man would have been glad to smile reassuringly upon such a confiding and helpless beauty. “My name,’’ sho went on, “is Mildred Conover, but that means nothing to you, of course. I’m just telling you, because that seems the right way to begin, business.” It did mean something to them, however, for neither could recall! that any one of that name ever had invested anything in their glorious enterprise. Of course they did not undertake to carry the names of all their victims in their heads, but it was something that “Mildred Conover” awakened no dormant memories. They felt much -easier ofter a quick exchange of glances had assured both that neither recognised the name. As sho seemed to be waiting for something, Apvvorth introduced himself and his partner, “I’m glad to know which is which,” she said, “although I don’t suppose names make much difference in business.”

“Sometimes they do,” remarked It ay don, for the men? pleasure of having her turn her eyes on him. , “Do they?” she queried. “I don’t know. Anyhow, it seems move proper for us to know one another, and I feel as if I could fc.-.Ck more freely. I wanted to ask you about this King Midas stock.” “What in particular do you want to Know?” inquired Apworth. “Is it a real mine?” she asked, eo innocently and frankly that it was impossible to take offence. “Three of them,” replied Apworth, “The company has a group of three mines.” “I’m so glad,” sho said. “You see, I don’t know anything about these things, and somebody told me it wlas like throwing money away to invest in these mining -schemes. They said most of the cheap-stock companies didn’t have anything but holes in the ground.” Apworth. and Itaydon wen? troubled again, but ;n another way. They were satisfied that she had come to invest, but, strangely enough, they

did not want, her money. This was something new in their experience, hut she Was so trustful and so innocent and so pretty that they were actually ashamed to take advantage of her. But what could they do? They had to defend tlio'r minis: they could not admit the truth, or give her any warning, without jeopardizing the whole scheme. The exigencies of “business” compelled them to play tho game with her to far as verbal representations were concerned, precisely as they playd it with all others. Apworth. with some hesitation, laid a small map on the extension slide of the desk. Usually he undertook (his demonstration with enthusiasm. Init 'lnc was reluctant now. “Let me show you tho location of our mines,” lie Said. “Xow, here,” pointing with a. letter-opener, “.is the Breakneck mine, which has already struck a voin of fabulous richness; and here is the Lone Horse mine, which is worth sixteen millions today.” “And those are your mines?” she asked. “No,” he answered. “Certainty not,” put in Kaydon “Our mines are much more valuable. You see our experts have demonstrated that the Breakneck aud the Lone Horse veins come together just -where our midlo shaft is bein "sunk, so in t-liat mine alone we have something that is worth as much as tho Breakneck and Lone Horse put together. The nwo have two others, one on each vein.’ ’ “Isn’t that lovely!” she exclaimed with enthusiasm. “Then your stock must 1)0 really worth more than you ask for it.” “Of course,” returned Apworth. “Wo’vc got a big tiling, but we have to sell some of the stock low to raise money for development-.’ ’ “I didn’t know,” slio remarked, thoughtfully. “Some people said that stock of a mine that was really worth anything didn’t- have to he sold at ten cents a share.” “It- doesn't,” asserted Apworth, “and the temptation is to divide the stock up into hundred dollar shares, but that, bars out the small investors. There are enough mines for the chance to tho man with only a little rich now. so we decided to give a money. That’s why we issued dollar shares. It isn't fair that all tlie good things should be for the wealthy.” “Of course, not,” she agreed. “It was awfully good of you.” “And we began tho sale at ten cents,” aded Raydon, “to encourage buying. They’re up to twenty-five now.”

“And yon really think they’re a good investment at that price?”- she queried. The promoters winced. They seldom made sex distinctions, caring little whence the money came, but jt seemed such a very brutal thing to swindle this girl. Either one of them would have much preferred-her continued acquaintance to her money. But how could they discredit their own stock ?

“Oh, excellent,’ Apworth, at the same time touching a button under bis desk that rang a bell in the telephone closet. Raydon, understanding the ruse, hastened to the closet, from which he presently called, .“.Somebody wants to speak to you, Tom,” whereupon Apworth joined him. It. was not a brilliant device, but it frequently served to give tlmio impromptu conferences at critical moments.

“What .lire we going to do?” demanded Apworth. “This is to much like talcing pennies from babies.” “What can we do?” retorted Raydon. “Wo’vo got to play the game or quit.” “Wo might tell her the allotment of twenty-five-cent stock is exhausted,” suggested Apworth. - “Won’t do,” objected Raydon. “I want to keep that smile of hers; I want to so her again; I don’t want her to go away in a huff.” “Same her,” returned Apworth. They glared at each other for a moment, but realised that this was no timo for a row. “Besides,” added Raydon, “that would look so good to her that she’d want sorno at thirty or thirty-five or fifty. I don’t want to take her money, but wo can’t back away from it.” “Allright,’ ’agreed Apworth. “I’ll find a way to give it back to her later.” “No you won’t,” declared Raydon, “I’m going to be the good fairy myself.” They glared-at one another again; but >it was impossible to settle this detail in the brief time at their disposal, so they .left it unsettled and returned to the girl. It was evident, however, that there were going to bo limitations to partnership action so far as dt related to Mies Mildred Conover. “You were asking about King Midas as an investment,” said Apworth, resuming the conversation at the point where the bell had interrupted them. “There never was a better. It will go to thirty within a-month and to fifty within six months.” “Above par in a year,” put in Itaydon. “Anybody who can get it at teweny-fivo is in luck.” “I’m so gfad,” laughed the girl happily. “I like to put down these dismal peoplo who are always warning you against the things that look good. Some of them said there wasn’t any real price for stock of this k iiul because there wasn’t any real market l'o rib. But thatls absurd, of course.” “Ridiculous,” agreed Apworth. “’People .are crying for it,” declared Itaydon. “We could see twice the allotment made for generalluup the ujS'.otment made for tho general public.” ' I’m so glad,” said the girl again, ■’because that makes it certain you’ll be glad to take urine.” Itaydon tried to say something, but In- equal to only an inarticulatr gurglo. Apworth, in two attempts, had but littlo better success.

“lake yours 1” he repeated, bewildered by the unexpectedness of tho proposition.

“Yes,” she said, confidently. “It’s such a good investment that you’ll be pj’ad to get it, and I need tho money.”

“Why—why, we’re selling, not

buying,” explained Apworth an much tribulation.

you can .yell this,” she returned, cheerfully, l . “Then you won’t have to disappoint so many people who are crying for it. And you can mage some money' on it yourselves, too, when it goes up." “No,” said Apworth, recovering his wits, and speaking with that air of a man who was determined to bo magnanimous, “that would not ho fair, and you would blame us for taking advantage of you later. Wo cannot let you sacrifice any of tlio profit- that- will bo yours.” “Oh, I’ll bo quito satisfied,” slio insisted. “These shares only cost ten, and there will be plenty of profit at twenty-five. I wouldn’t troublo you, only I’m such a- little booby in business that I don’t know where else to olfor them, and I really must sell them. I’m not unreasonable), either; I’m glad to have you mako all the profit you can, for I know that’s your business. But you must take them —for mo.” Thero was such a protty little plea in this that it brought tho culmination to a plan which Kaydon liad boon considering while his partner talked. He would buy that stock himself—there could ho only a littlo of it-—and thus would earn her gratitude, and leave Apworth hopelessly behind in the raco for her favor.” “How much have you?” ho asked. Ho received a smile that would have made him happy in tho contemplation of throwing away as much as 100 dollars or oven 200 dollars.

“Fifty thousand shares,” she roplied. Again what Raydon intended to say died ayny in a gurgle. " Fifty thousand shares represented 5000 dollars at ten conts, and 12,500 at twenty-five cents. He could not understand how she had so many, for tliore had been only a few “suckers” wbo had got up into the thousands. But slio was smiling at him hopefully. “I’m afraid we can’t do anything,” he said, regretfully. “You seo, we’re engaged in a selling'campaign, and to reverse our plan, even in this one case, would upset- our system.” “Isn’t that too bad!” she sighed. “And those lforrid sceptical people said the real test of a price was ability to sell at that price—that there was no real profit when thero was no market—that a mere statement in the advertising didn’t make a price.” It was all said most innocently, but the promoters squirmed. It is so hard to explain where tlie profit is to tho investor who wants it and can’t- get it, especially when you are advertising a price that shows a profit. “But thero is a market,” argued Apworth, weakly. “Stock is being sold at twenty-five right along.” “Where?” slio asked quickly, and had them both floundering. It was sold to “suckers” from tlioir office, and nowhere else. “Of course,” she went on, brightening, “you can tell me where to sel'.l it. I hadn’t thought of that. You know all •about the market, and I don’t know anything. Where shall I offer it?”

“Whey—er—it’s a mere matter offinding investeros,” explained Apworth. “I—er don’t think of any at this moment, but they’re easily found.”

“How ” sho persisted. “I’m so ignorant, you know, and you’no so wise.” They looked unhappy rather than wise. “If tho stock is worth twenty-five,” she added, “why can’t I get it?” Such a troublesome question, and one that has worried so many modest investors in cheap stocsks! They were so slow about answering that she had timo for another cheering thought. “I’ll let you have it for twenty,” she said. “Then you can sell it right away for twenty-five, and tkero will ba a nice profit for both of us. That’s fair, and I’m in a hurry for the money. Could you.let mo have it to-day?” “No,” replied Apworth, “I'm afraid not.” “Wo really couldn’t let you mako such .a sacrifice,” explained Itaydon. “It would be unpardonable.” “It seems funny,” she remarked, dolefully, “that stock should be worth what you can’t get for it. I don’t understand it.” They were beginning to lose interest in that captivating smile and those big eyes. Apworth intimated by a look that ho resigned his claim to the girl, but Raylon shook his head. Mero beauty and trustfulness were insufficient compensation for the trouble that went with her, and they were beginning to think that it would bo a great relief to lose her. Raydon even indicated a desire to return to his own desk, but his partner frowed so threateningly that he refrained. “How did you happen to get so much of this stock?” asked Apworth. “Oh, it isn’t mine,” sho replied. She certainly gave them enough surprises to drive away any feeling of ennui. “Then why are you so interested in it?” pursued Apworth. “I want to be married,” she .-answered . “You—er—what?” “I want to be married.” Apworth fof.t like a re,an who suddenly awakens to the, fact that he has oscapcd >a covifiednco game by mcro luck. So did Raydon. “A matrimonial scheme!’ ’exclaimed the latter, puzzled. Tho giri smiled and nodded. “I suppose I might as well tell you the whole story,” she said. “Them you’ll see how important it is. Yhia stock belongs to Tommy.” “Who’s Tommy?” interrupted Apworth. “The man I am going to marry.” “When ?” “When I-scl’l this stock.” "Nothing doing,” remarked Apworth, disgustedly. “I hope- that Tommy -isn’t in a hurry.” “I don’t understand you,” she said, opening her big eyes iVouderingly. “We are going to be married just as soon as I sell this stock—perhaps to-morrow.” Raydon recalled how ready lie bad been to sacrifice 100 or 200 dollars for the benefit of Tommy, and he was oven more disgusted than Apworth. j Ho muttered something about “guess- I ing again.” j \oil Ev‘?, site wont on, without 1 noticing this, “Tommy only had

0000 dollars, and ho wanted to make sonic more before wo were married, so ho bought some of your stock, and then moro and more, until he hud put.nil his money into it. Tommy is a clerk, and ho doesn’t know very much ■about; mines. Then somebody told Slim tlio stock wasn’t any good. That worried him, and lie spoke to me about it. He had tried to sell! a little, just to test it, but nobody would buy, so lie was dreadfully blue. 1 read the advertisements, and I saw right away that it was alright. I told Tommy ho hadn’t gone to the right place. ‘Tommy,’ I said, ‘the men who know about this nro the men who aro printing the advertisements'. If they 1 believe what they say, they’ll be mighty glad to get hold of it, for lit’s going up.’ But Tommy didn’t think so.” “Tommy isn’t all focll,” was tho unspoken comment of Apworth. “Neither did any of tho others wo consulted,” tho girl continued, “and that vexed mo, for I was sure I was right. Anybory could reason that ant. If tlio stock was worth twenty five, and going up, you’ll bo glad of this ebanoo to supply the peoplo who aro crying for it. So I made Tommy give me tho stock, and hero I am. Our 'immediate marriage depends on it, for it's all tlio cap'till we’ve got.” The promoters looked at each other solemnly. It was such an ingenuous, frank statement that they almost forgot their personal. disappointment and vexation, and were rather sorry, for her. But not for Tommy. “Too much luck for Tommy,”-re-marked Apworth. “Ho’ll have to wait.” “No wedding presents for Tommy,” added Raydon. “He doesn’t deserve them.” “You mean you won’t either take tho stock or tell mo whore I can soll .it?” queried the girl, again opening those big eyes very wide. “AA’e can’t,” explained Apworth; “it’s quite ‘impossible at tho present timo. I can’t explain to you so that you would understand, but the condition of the market is peculiar just now. Perhaps in a month or “You’re quite sure?” she queried, disappointedly. “Oh, positive,” replied Apworth.

“AVell,” she sighed resignedly, “I’ll leave you my card, so you can send for mo if you happen to decide that you want this stock. You might, you 'know. People do change tlieir minds in buisness, don’t they?” Without waiting for a reply, .she laid a card on Apwortli’s desk and retired, leaving them more puzzled and amazed than at any time during the interview. For a moment neither spoke, a little time being required to recover from tho influence of her personality and the varying emotions of tho last half-hour. .Then Raydon voiced the sentiments of both. “She’s a dream,” said Raydon, “but too full of surprises for me. I don’t care if she never comes back.” A little time before they woifld have fought for the card; now it lay unheeded on the desk. At 9 o’clock the next morning the two men searched frantically for that card; at 9.10 they found it; at 9.11 Apworth was at the telephone; at 9.14 ho had Miss Mildred Conover on the wire; at 9.15 she laughed in

joyous triumph; at 9.17 she promised to eomo to tho office and bring the stock. Then Apworth and Raydon went back to tho pa per that was spread out on Apworth’s desk. Tho paper was opened at the page that contained tho regular advertisements of King Midas stock —“A bargain at twenty-five, prico to bo advanced to thirty; in less than a month.” There was nothing tho matter with this advertisement, which was as confident and convincing as usual, but directly beneath it was another, that offered tho same stock, up to 50,000 shares, at fifteen. “Why pay twenty-fivo when you can buy at fifteen?” was the pertinent and disturbing question that headed the advertisement. • Such a very simple question, but fraught with dire po&.sibilities. “Is it any of the other papers?” asked Apworth, anxiously. “No,” answered Ray don, after hastily shimming the others. “Merely a notice to us to step in and settle,” remarked Apworth, “and she’s begun with the paper that will do us the least harm.” “Well?” queried Raydon. “Well, I feel like a man who gets his own measure and finds he’s eight sizes smaller than he thought.” “But we can’t afford to let it go now,” argued Raydon. “We’ve got a good thing yet.” . “So lias she,” returned Apworth. For half an hour they amused themselves by exchanging sarcastic remarks about big eyes and winsome smiles and tho cash value thereof. Then tho girl arrived, and they settled down to the serious business of playing tho game out. Tho girl was accompanied by a young man. who smiled upon the promoters good-naturedly. The girl also smiled, a little more sweetly than on tho previous day, but her smiles were now for tho young man. “This-is Tommy,” she said, proudly. The-promoters bowed. They would have enjoyed pounding Tommy, but Tommy was a pretty big fellow, and it was otherwise inadvisable. “Tommy was rather folisli with his money,” she conficd, “but lie’s smart in some ways, too. The advertisement was his idea. He suggested that we might try it as a last resort.” Tommy beamed happily, but said nothing. He evidently realised that Jins fiancee was of much quicker wit than himself, so lie left the conversation to her. “You asked mo to bring the stock,” tho girl hinted. “Oh yes,” returned Apworth, trying to speak carelessly. “We’ve been thinking over what you said yesterday, and it seems too bad for you to have your money tied up at a time when it interferes with your personal plans, so we’ve decided to take it off vour hands at the price you paid for it.” “But the present price is twentyfive,” urged tlie girl, her eyes opening so wide in surprise that Raydon was tempted to cry out, “Don’t do that!” Ho remembered how it had affected him the day before. “Of course,” admitted Apvrortli, “but we are doing this as a more ac-

comodatiou—just to help you out.” “But the price is twenty-five,” said tho girl again. “Oh, well, we’ll give you fifteen,” conceded Ajnterth, magnanimously. “That’s what you offer it for in your advertisement.”

“But the price is twenty-live,” repeated tho girl. “You say eo your-* self.” And slio pointed to tlio paper lying on the desk.

It was .awkward to bo confronted with that big, black statement of the value of King Midas. Apworth looked at Raydon, hut Raydon could suggest nothing, so ho raised the price to twenty. “You offered it to us for that yesterday,” he urged. “But that was yesterday,” replied the girl. “I don’t know anything about it myself, but I am willing to take your word for it that it’s worth twenty-five.” “Oh, quit,” put in Raydon. “AVe’ro feeling mean enough now.” “You’d bettor take what wo offer,” advised Apworth. “You’ll never be able to sell to any one else.” “AA’o’ve only tiled on© pajier,” remarked Tommy, “and wo didn’t really expect very much from that. AVhcn our advertisement appears in tho others to-morrow ” “Twerity-five lit is,” iuterri’jpted Apworth, in desperation. “AVe’vo got to got that stock off tho market. AA’ill you take a cheque?” “Shall we take a chequo. Tommy?” asked tho girl. “If certified,” said Tommy. He certainly was not a fool in all tilings. “AA’bat name?” a.siced Apworth, picking up a pen and Hooking at Tommy. “It’s hers,” said Tommy, indicating the girl. “My wedding present to her.” “Aren’t you glad I was thoughtful enough to leave my card?” inquired the gill. There was no reply to this. Apworth made out and signed the cheque, and Raydon took it to the bank, had it certified, and brought it hack. “Thank you so much,” said the girl. “And you won’t forget, will you?” “Forget what?” they asked. “That it is dangerous to get. between a woman and a wedding,” she answered.