ARTICLES BY "SNYDER.”

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 71, 24 November 1887, Page 3

ARTICLES BY "SNYDER.”

THE END OF A JOURNALIST’S CAREER.

RIB LAST RESOURCE.

(Continued.) . BitintbA*, Ist.—A man I have known some two years called and asked for a priva'e interview. He said he was in difficulties, and his creditors were pressing him very hard. He had been awfully sold on the late races. Bid I think I could arrange about his affairs. He would give up everything he had got, and had prebared a statement of bis liabilities and assets, I said I would do my best for him, but he would have to pay me three guineas. He said he had not such an amount at command, but he itould give me his note of hand payable on presentation. He should consider the affair as a debt of honour. "Whatever might be his faults he paid hie debts of honour. I looked into bis papers and found that by a careful realisation of his assets the estate could be made to pay about one and two pence in the pound. I went to Work and by dint of much talk and persuasion—saying that if what was offered was not accepted no one would

get anything— the creditors agreed to accept the composition. The debtor’s attain having been disposed of and a final release given, I presented the note at sight for three guineas. The rascal put his hand in his pocket and presented me three and sixpence. I asked what that was for. He said three and six was as near as might be one and two in the pound upon three pounds three. He should consider himself as acting dishonestly if he Allowed my claim to be in the nature of a preferential one. I said nothing but I do not think that man will ever forget the look of withering contempt I gave him. Tvesdat, 18th.—I have been very much depressed in spirits the last two or three days. On Wednesday last, at about 10 o’clock a m., a miscreant of a shabby-genteel appearance with erysipelas all over his face, his nose much carbuncled, and his breath highly flavoured with rum came in and wanted to know if I lent out money. I told him that I negotiated loans upon approved securities. He said that was just what would suit him all to pieces. He wanted to borrow £lO upon twenty Bhares he held in the Happy-go-lucky Quartz Reef Company. I referred to the market share report and found that only ten shillings per share had been paid, and that a call of twenty shillings had been made some weeks ago. Further, that operations had ceased for the reason that no gold had been taken out of the mine, and that, in fact, the Happy-go-lucky was considered in the market as a duffer claim. The applicant said that no gold having been taken from the mine was very greatly in its favor. If so much gold had been taken out there would be so much less remaining; but as nothing had been taken it must all be there. As for the claim being a duffer one, ■ that was an evil report raised by those wanted to buy in cheap. In another

month he looked upon it that his shares Would be worth rather over than under Ik thousand pounds. That was his figure, but would I advance him ten pounds in the meantime. He waited to help a friend who was in temporary difficulties in consequence of his wife having been confined with twins while a bailiff was in the house with a distress warrant for rent I said I was afraid I could not get any client of mine to advance the £lO he required, although I had not the least doubt but what his shares were quite as valuable as what he rated them at. The applicant then asked whether, as I could not obtain an advance upon them, I eoiild find a buyer. Be was willing to make a sacrifice. I said I would look around between then and the afternoon if he would call again. He said he would, and I we t looking around. I found a speculative capitalist, who said he would take the shares at two shillings a share, although it would be quite a fluke if he ever saw his money again. When the applicant called in the afternoon, his breathing still impregnated with rum, 1 told him the offer which had been made, although I was of opinion that he had better keep the shares and wait for livelier times. He accepted the two pounds for the twenty shares, and when he had got the money in his pocket he said he would have me shown up as a

usurous swindler. I thought nothing of the threat until two mornings after when I saw in the local newspaper a paragraph with the word “ advertisement ” ar the end cautioning the public to beware of a certain Shylock who charged eight pounds for making an advance of two pounds. The wording of the notice was sufficiently plain to indicate that 1 was the Shylock. It has since come out that the miscreant had previously sold the same shares to three different parties, promising each buyer to transfer them, but had not done so. (TO BZ COKTIiraKD.)