Mammon and the Archer (Henry)
from the Collection «The Four Million»
Old Anthony Rockwall, a retired manufacturer and proprietor of Rockwall's Eureka Soap, was proud of his son Richard.
Richard was a gentleman, spending only a moderate amount of money on soap and clothes. One day, Anthony noticed that something was wrong with Richard and asked him what was wrong. Richard told him that he was in love with a girl, but he had no chance to talk to her before she sailed for Europe the day after tomorrow. Anthony was sure that his money could help, but Richard said that money couldn't buy time.
Aunt Ellen, Anthony's sister, came to visit and Anthony told her about Richard's problem.
She said that money was nothing when it came to true love and gave Richard an old gold ring that had belonged to his mother, saying it would bring him luck in love.
The next evening, Richard met the girl at the train station and they took a cab to Wallack's Theatre. On the way, Richard dropped the ring and had to get out of the cab to retrieve it.
At that moment, a street blockade occurred and the cab was stuck in the middle of it. Richard and the girl were stuck in the cab for two hours, giving Richard the chance to talk to her and declare his love. In the end, she agreed to marry him.
The next day, Anthony met with a man named Kelly who had helped to organize the street blockade.
Anthony paid him for his services and asked if he had seen a fat boy shooting arrows with a bow. Kelly said he hadn't, and Anthony chuckled, saying he knew the boy wouldn't be there. In the end, Anthony was proven wrong - it was the power of true love, not money, that had helped Richard find his happiness.