conservative president of the local bank looked positively, aghast one morning when Percy entered the in stitution with the announcement: "There's some stocks and bonds of mine here. I want them." "My dear sir," expostulated the old banker, "I hope you are not going to .change the form of security. Those yqu now have are seasoned, guaran teed investments." "I know, I know," responded Percy, lightly. ''Well, I'm going to the city to try a scurry on the market." "You'll regret it, sir, let me assure you," prophesied the banker. "If, however, you are bent on your own way " , "I am," asserted Percy stubbornly. "Any advice I can give you " "Thanks, no," dissented Percy. "I want experience and I'm willing to pay for it" Percy Lane got the "experience" right enough. That he paid for it, and dearly, too, was known all over the town when he returned. It look ed as though he had employed some secret press agent to spread the de tails of his "flurry on the market" "Wildcat stocks,"' Percy was charg ed with having remarked "they're just what I want The name sug gests fighting, and that will give some vim to the occasion. "And the gold mine in Alaska, Percy?" a friend insinuated. "Oh, the first funds helped the pro moters along. They sloped, leaving the investors to hold the bag; but that's one of the risks of the game, see?" Very soon the town "saw" that Percy had got rid of about all he had. Blanche heard of it and really sor rowed, for money was money. Still, she fathomed the reckless procedure of her lover as the only means of finally winning her. Percy met Blanche's father on a country road one day. Percy as sumed the reckless air of a man of the world arrived at ae end of his rope. "Oh, you ain't so poor!" remarked Mr. Clarke. "There's that big busi ness block left yet." "I'll trade it off for a horse with a spavin, or a second-hand tin-Lizzie, but I'll get rid of it," vaunted Percy. And then, one morning, as he start ed downtown, a neighbor made a somewhat startling announcement r "I suppose you know about it," were his words, "but your business block burned to the ground last night" "That so?" observed Percy. "Any body hurt?" "Not a soul." "Then hurrah 1" Percy Lane packed up his belong ings. He was at the home town of his fiancee by noon; he was in con sultation with her father an hour later. "I've made it!" he announced jubi lantly to the old man. "Made what?" questioned Mr. Clarke suspiciously. "Poverty humble life ahead one pi your class. Liquid assets all spec ulated away. Last remnant of for mer prosperity, the business block, went up in smoke last night" "Surely poor, are you!" queried Clarke. "I surely am!" asserted Percy, proudly. "Then what are you going to get married on?" demanded the practical old man. Oho! shifting winds when the situ--ation changes?" railed Percy. "Well, I have made arrangements for a liv ing position down at the telegraph office." Percy insisted upon an immediate marriage. He was through with wealth and was ready to settle down to a humble, honest career. His sac rifice and pertinacity staggered the old man. Blanche seconded the prop osition. It was an economical wed ding. The honeymoon meant a gay day of strolling in the woods amid the beauties of nature. Then Percy went to work. Then Blanche settled down jWHilMim JjfHwr ni'ifiiLfcMfcgg-wgg .wjsg