Amazing Stories, Vol. 2, No. 1 — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

OE Pe ee ees ee 8 Se ae JOHN JONES’S DOLLAR Dollar away back in the year 1921, interest was to be compounded annually at three per cent. In the year 2900 A. D., the thirty-ninth generation of John Jones was alive, being represented by a gentleman named J664M42721Male, who was thirty years of age and engaged to be married to a young lady named T246M42652Female. “Doubtless, you will ask, what was the predica- ment in which the directors found themselves. Sim- ply this: “A careful appraisement of the wealth on Nep- tune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury, and likewise Earth, together with an accurate calculation of the remaining heat in the Sun and an appraisement of that heat at a very decent valuation per calorie, demonstrated that the total wealth of the Solar System amounted to $6,309,525,241,362.15. “But, unfortunately, a simple computation showed that if Mr. J664M42721Male married Miss T246M- 42652Female, and was blessed by a child by the year 2921, which year marked the thousandth year since the deposit of the John Jones Dollar, then in that year there would be due the child, the fol- lowing amount: 2921 1000 years $6,310,000,000,000 “It simply showed beyond all possibility of argument, that by 2921 A. D., we would be $474,- 758,687.85 shy—that we would be unable to meet the debt to John Jones the fortieth. “I tell you, gentlemen, the Board of Directors was frantic. Such wild suggestions were put forth as the sending of an expeditionary force to the nearest star in order to capture some other Solar System and thus obtain more territory to make up the deficit. sible on account of the number of years that it would have required. “Visions of immense law suits disturbed the slumber of those unfortunate individuals who form- ed the John Jones Dollar Directorship. But on the But that project was impos- 29 brink of one of the biggest civil actions the courts -had ever known, something occurred that altered everything.” The professor again withdrew the tiny instru- ment from his vest pocket, held it to his ear and adjusted the switch. <A. metallic voice rasped: “Fifteen o’clock and fifty-two minutes—fifteen o’clock and fifty-two minutes—fift 1 -Fe~ placed the instrument and -went on with his talk. “I must hasten to the conclusion of my lecture, gentlemen, as I have an engagement with Professor C122B24999Male of the University of Saturn at sixteen o’clock. Now, let me see; I was discussing the big civil action that was hanging over the heads of the John Jones Dollar directors. “Well, this Mr. J664M42721Male, the thirty-ninth descendant of the original John Jones, had a lover’s quarrel with Miss T246M42652Female, which immediately destroyed the probability of their mar- riage. Neither gave in to the other. Neither ever married. And when Mr. J664M42721Male died in 2946 A. D., of a broken heart, as it was claimed, he was single and childless. “As a result, there was no one to turn the Solar System over to. Immediately, the Interplanetary Government stepped in and took possession of it. At that instant, of course, private property ceased. In the twinkling of an eye almost, we reached the true socialistic and democratic condition for which man had futilely hoped throughout the ages. “That is all today, gentlemen. Class is dis- missed.” One by one, the faces faded from the Visaphone. _.For a moment, the professor stood ruminating. “A wonderful man, that old socialist, John Jones the first,’”’ he said softly to himself, “a far- seeing man, a bright man, considering that he . lived in such a dark era as the twentieth century. But how nearly his well contrived scheme went wrong. Suppose that fortieth descendant had been born?” THE END CONTENTS OF THE JANUARY ISSUE: “The Red Dust,” (A Sequel to “The Mad Planet’), by Murray Leinster. “The Man Who Could Vanish,’”’? by A. Hyatt Verrill. “The First on _ = ye * (A Serial in 3 parts) (Part II), ‘Whee a Sains Head,” by Dr. Miles J. * tl Man euer. “The Second Deluge,” (A Serial in 4 parts) (Part III), by Garrett P. Serviss. CONTENTS OF THE FEBRUARY ISSUE: “The Land That Time Forgot,’’ (A Serial in 3 parts) (Part I), by Edgar Rice sp seteke, “On the Martian Way,” by Capt. G. Bishop, U. S. A. “The First Men in the Moon,” WA Serial in 3 parts) (Part III), by H. G. Wells. sE 5 Ske Leese owe eee a one A AAA Back Numbers of ‘Amazing Stories’’ N° doubt you will be interested to know, if you have not yet secured them, that back num- bers of AMAZING STORIES can be secured from this office, at the rate of 25¢e per copy (coin or stamps) postpaid, as long as the supply lasts. We can also supply a few back numbers of the August, September, October, November and December issues. Address: EXPERIMENTER PUBLISHING CO,, 230 Fifth Avenue, New York City “New Stomachs for Old,” by W. Alexander. “The Eleventh Hour,’’ by Edwin Balmer and William B. MacHar “The Thought Machine,” by Ammianus Marcellinus, “The Second Deluge,’’ (A Serial in 4 parts) (Part IV), by Garrett P. CONTENTS OF THE MARCH ISSUE: “The Green Splotches,” by T. S. Stribling. “Under the Knife,’”’ by H. G. Wells. “The Hammering Man,” by Edwin Balmer and William B. MacHarg. “Advanced Chemistry,” by Jack G. Huekels. “The People of the Pit,” by A. Merritt. “The Land That Time Forgot,” (A Serial in 3 Parts) (Part III), by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Serviss. UAVUVAVUQVUROLUAVAAAUAHAVENAREVTARAA ATA i SHUM com GDOOKS CO