The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-01-30

ished, last evening at about seven o'clock, by
two men making their appearance in our bed
room, where sat reading by the side of my
wife's bed, with the sudden announcement
that I had drawn the Opera House in Chicar
go had slight acquaintance with M.
Burroughs, one of the men, the other, from
2 Waterloo, was an entire stranger. The only.
document they brought was copv of thu
Republican Of the I'D instant, which had %
many accounts of the matter that / hardly
dared believe any of them. However, 1 bore
the congratulations of my new friends with
commendable fortitude, and dismissed them
with suitable acknowledgements.
After the lapse of half an hour, l was the
recipient of sundry calls from neighbors and
friends in the village, all highly excited. -
The report had flown like lightning, and the
whole neighborhood was in an uproar. /
bore a hand at receiving the company, an
swered their numerous questions with as
much dignity as L could assume, and in
state of semi-unconsciousness of what it all
meant, started off to commuen with Frank
on the curious appearance of things.
l had been there but a few moments when
halloo was made, at the door, for Mr.. Lee,
SIS MIR. Lee here n WE'LL / went to the
door and acknowledged that was that per-
son, and went at him with the question of
"What do yom want?" ''Why," said the
poor frozen fellow, 81 have a dispatch for
you from Belleville. You have drawn the
Opera House, l received the document,
and, after asking Sally the privilege of read
ing it by the light of her lamp, read as fol-
lows: -a- "4 e.
A. III. LEE, Prairie du Rocher, Illinois
Crosby's Opera House yours. Hold your tick
lSignedl J. B. CHAMBERLAIs.
/ mentally returned thanks to my new
friend Chamberlain, and returned home con-
siderably perplexed and not yet fully con-
scious of the reason of my being in the hands
of so many new friends, who all seemed to
show so strong desire to show me atten'
ton. But happy thought struck me, will
look at my ticket and see if there is really
anything in it. Well, Daniel, when | found
it, there the figures stood as plain as day,
$500, and no mistake. In the meantime
Joe and Ma had got hold of the matter, and
to my unbounded establishment, they receiv-
ed it at once as a fact. | had undressed
myself, for it was growing late, and was sit.
ting in my long-tailed night-shirt, discussing
the events of the evening, when a thunder
ing knock at the door announced that all
! was not over vet. Ma went to the door, and
quickly returned with the intelligence that
"a man. wanted to see me, and that he said
| had drawn "Crosby's Opera House The
dewitt" said l. 81 wish they had to swallow
| the Opera House." and after dressing my
self went doxn to receive this new messen-
ger. He bowed to me, thought, as though
[ was a man of property, and in suitable
style delivered his credentials. / looked over
a very well written letter of six lines, and
derived such information as induced me to
believe that the lucky holder of $4,000 was
actually about to become man of property
| sure enough, for this letter came from Mes
sers Pettes L Leathe, ''sent," as they say
Shy instructions of Mr.. Crosby himself"
found this last messenger pretty well inform
ed about the matter, and after seeing him
eat hearty supper, and arrive at that con
dition when people are generally confidential
| and good-natured, took him aside and ask
ed him IF it were fact and no mistake. =
He gave me the most solemn assurance that
there was no mistake about it, and that
| "John, Meyer, of somewhere. Randolph ST.
| Chicago, was a humbug.'
| Very well, Daniel as | am really the pos,
sessor.of ticket No. $4,000, / suppose the
Opera House belongs to me, and | Just say
to YOU that it is for sale. | suppose some
body wants to buy it, and / have to ask you
to sell it for me. 1t is impossible for me tc
leave my wife in her present condition, or
would go up to you at once. | must wait
until she gets better, whether get the OPP,
| era House or not. She is very i'll, indeed
bat / think her symptoms are favorable for
Improvement.
At all events, write to me on receipt OF
this.
Your Friend and Brother.