Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-25
VOL. 3.----N0. 2.

i part, Wnen tney found she had the for
tune. and the only parties who interferet
were her relatives, who did their best L
make the quarrel in0rable. TO crown
all, one night he was run over by cab
was carried to a hospital, and lay ther,
for months, and was during several week.
OF the time unconscious. A message tt
the wife, by the hands OF one of his de.
bauched companions, sent by humane
surgeon, obtained an intimation that ii
he died, MIR. Croak. the undertaken ,c
the family, had orders to see to the
funeral and that Mrs, MoIinos was or
the point Of starting for the Continent
not 10 return for some years. Wher
Fitz-Roy was discharged, he came tc
me limping on two sticks, to pawn his
court suit, and told me his story. l wa:
really sorry for the fellow, such hand
some, thoroughbred-looking man. He
was going then into the west somewhere
to try TO hunt out friend. What TO do
Balance, he said. i don't know. cam,
dig, and unless somebody will make me
their gamekee per, must starve, or beg
as my Jezabel bade me when we part.
ed!"
81 lost sight of Molinos for a long
time, and when | next came upon him
it was in :he Rookery of Wesiministei;
in a low lodging house, where | was
searching with an officer for stolen goods
He was pointed out to me as the sgen.
tleman cadger.' because he was so free
with his money when sin luck He
recognised me, but turned away then.
have since seen him, and relieved him
more than once, although he never asks
for any Hhing. How he lives, Heaven
knows. Without mones, without friends,
without useful education of any kiEd, he
tramps the country, as you saw him,
perhaps doing a little hop picking or hay
making in seasons, only happy when he
obtains the means to get drunk. | have
heard through the kitchen whispers,
that you know come to me, that he is
entitled TO some property; and expec,
il he were to die his wife would pay the
hundred pound bill l hold; at any rate,
what have told you know to be true,
aud the bundle OF rags | relieved just
now is known in every thieves lodging
in England as the gentleman cadger.' y
This story produced an impression on
me--I am fond of speculation, and like
the excitement of legal hunt as much
as some do fox-chase. A gentleman a
beggar, wife rolling in wealth, rumors
OF unknown property due to the hus-
haAd: il seems as if there were pickings
for me amidst this carrion Of pauperism.
Before returning from Liverpool, had
purchased the gentleman beggar's accep-
t;,nce from Balance. then inserted
in the "rimes" the following ad-
vertisements: "Horafio Moinos Fits
Roy. Ii this gentleman will apply to
David Discount, Esq; Solicitor, ST.
James's, he will hear of something to
his advantage. Any person furnishing
Mr. F.'s correct address shall eceive II
Is. reward. He was last seen," &C.
Within twenty hours had ample
proof OF the wide circulation of the
Wines" My Office was beseiged with
beggars o: every degree, men and wo-
men, lame and blind, Irish, Scotch, and
English, some on crutches, some in
bowls, some in go-carts. They all knew
him as the gentleman and must do
the regular fraternity of tramps the jus
lice To say, that not one would answer a
question until he made certain that
meant the gentleman" no harm.
One evening, about three weeks after
the appearance of the adnnisement, my
clerk announced another b. gar. There
came in an old maa leaning upon a sta fl.
clad in soldiers great coat all patched
and torn, with battered hat, from under
which mass of tangled hair fell over
his shoulders and half concealed his
face. The beggar, IN weak, wheezy,
hesitating tone, said, "You have adver-
tised for Molinos Fi.z Roy. hope you
don't mean him any harm; he is sunk,
! think, too low for enmity now; and
surely no one would sport with such
misery as his" These last words were
uttered in a sort Of piteous whisper.
answered quickly, "Heavcn forbid
should sport with misery: mean and
hope to do him good, as well as myself
"Then, sir, am Molinos Fitz- -Royr'
While we were conversing candles
had been brought in. / have aot very
tender nerves-my head would not agree
with them-but own I started ant
shuddered when / saw and knew tha
the wretched creature before me was un.
der thirty years Of age and once gen
tleman. Sharp, aquiline features, re.
duced 10 literal skin and bone, were be-
grimed and covered with dry fair hair
the white teeth of the half-open mouth
chattered with eagerness, and made more
hideous the foul paIlor Of the rest of the
countenance. As he stood leaning on a
staff half bent, his long, yellow bony
fingers clasped over the crutch-head o.
bis stick, he was indeed picture O
misery, famine, squalor, and premature
age, too horrible to dwell upon. made
him sit down, and sent for some refresh
ment which he devoured like ghoul
and set TO work to unravel his story. /
was difficult to keep him to the point
but with pains learned what convinced
th,t - :. - - "a