For profit plus safety, look into bonds

Here's a hot tip:

You set aside $1,000 from the funds you have allotted forplaying Lotto. You find a friendly broker and persuade him to acceptyour $1,000 to buy one of Commonwealth Edison's first mortgage bonds,specifically the 8 1/4 bond due in 2007.

You hold it for one year and get your broker to sell it for you.You walk away with $1,242.50. Your $242.50 profit consists of $82.50for one year's interest plus $160 because the bond cost you $840 butyou have sold it for $1,000.

Maybe.

David Poitras, the manager of the bond department at WayneHummer & Co. thinks it could happen that way.

Like many, many bonds, that particular …