The Eligible Son-in-Law

A Truly Pious Person ran a savings bank and lent money to his sisters, cousins, and aunts of both sexes. One day, he was approached by a Tatterdemalion who requested a loan of one hundred thousand dollars.

"What security do you have to offer?" asked the Truly Pious Person.

"The best in the world," the applicant replied confidentially. "I am about to become your son-in-law."

"That would indeed be gilt-edged," said the banker gravely. "But what claim do you have to the hand of my daughter?"

"One that cannot be lightly denied," the Tatterdemalion responded. "I am about to become worth one hundred thousand dollars."

Unable to detect a weak point in this scheme of mutual advantage, the financier decided to proceed. He granted the disguised promoter an order for the money and wrote a note to his wife, directing her to "count out the girl."