The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-06-14
A CLEAR CASE OF LUCK.

ga good many singular things happened
during the war;" said John, as he lighted
his after-dinner cigar, 'but somehow | con-
slider my own case about the funniest thing
of all. "
"Ah!" said I, show is that?'
''Did it never occur to you that it was
little odd that in SO short time should
have to be a partner in the firm, and
married man, and all that sort of thing"
"Oh! you speculated !"
"Not bit of it; or rather l did, and |
didn't, for you know that | detest specula-
off. -
$50 far it is very clear; but if l knew
how you secured French wife, and rich
one, | could understand a little plain
English"
Before l went to the war, John Develin
and | were fellow clerks in the banking
house of Mitraille & Co., in New York.
A slight lameness prevented John from 60
ing into the army; and utter absence of
capital preventing him from proposing for
the hand of the pretty Lucille, though /
always believed be had more to fear from
the g1uff old papa than from the young
lady herself.
Poor as he was, and on a moderate salary,
when returned at the end of the war-a
good deal lamer than John had been be-
| fore it found my chum in the tull en-
| ioyment Of that he had longed for, and
| with brown stone front to enjoy it in
So when he volunteered something which
promised to explain the mystery, my curl
osity was set on fire in a moment John
was right good fellow, and [ did not envy
him particle: but | must say that was
curious about it.
"Wel," said John. 'The way of it was
this Have another cigar? You know a
good deal what | was after when went
away and my chance of getting it seemed
about as far off as the Presidency. 1t was
clear case of luck, I tell you, and very
little more. Old Mitraille always liked me
pretty well, though was hardly the man
he would have chosen for son-in- law
and kept his private books, you know
You know all about the unbounded gold
speculation in 1862 and 1858; well, he
somehow got into it, steady old hard head
ed banker as he is. Almost everybody went
! in more or less.
| 1.-The old man had rather missed it once
or twice, got hit pretty hard, though no
one but myself knew any thing about it
so hard, in fact, that [ was more than
little alarmed for the result.
81 got it into my head about that time
that l would like to run down to Washing
ton and take look at the forts and camps.
Somehow it always CALLED me a good deal
that | could not take my part with the rest,
| and wanted to have look at the thing,
anyhow SO | called at the house to see
Lucille, and got short furlough, and |
| succeeded well. That is, [ did not see as
much of Lucille as l wanted, but the old
gentleman gave me leave of absence readily
and added:
Suppose something may happen whiles
you are dare, Ell? You send me telegram,
quick
Yes" I replied, "but you know the
War Department don't allow fellow to
send over the wires just what he wants
to-"
sob, never mind all dat" said Mitraile
''just you send something good or bad, no
matter just the words. l understand
mighty quick, ha ha Never you mind
the War Department. "
"And so, continued John, "off 1 went
without very clear idea Of what was ex-
pected, or how was to do it.
And now the rest of it sounds tremen-
dousy like page from Munchausen, but
it is all clear, historical fact. NIitraille
"loee ieI'ol "nl1n Sot ~ w doHluStoH
about as soon as [ did, urging me to keep
| if [ sent him anything of importance he
| would halves with me on the profits I
saw by that how terribly nervous he was
getting, and concluded that affairs must be
even worse with him than [ knew Of
Nevertheless | began to be trife excited
myself, and though [ had sort of horror
of speculation, especially gold gambling, [
commenced to look around me pretty sharp
ly for items. Among others adventurers
| fell in with old Sam Gorham, Of Cincin-
natl, one of our correspondents, and a
nephew of his, queer spoon OF fellow,
and we went around sightseeing together.
Nothing would do for either uncle or
nephew but continual succession of cock
tails, and [ had to leave them in their
rooms soon after dinner, somewhat the
worse for wear, while continued my search
for information under difficulties.
II didn't find out anything in particular
all that night or the next forenoon, but |
saw the sights pretty effectually, and about
noon went into my friends room to stir
them up. | found the nephew lolling dis
consolately in chair, and the uncle in bed
with light fever, natural result of his
foo'ishness the day before. The hopeful
youth began she story Of his tribulations
by stating that he expected his aunt there
| that day, but had received letter from her
saying that she had been delayed and could
not come at once.
81 asked him what the doctor had said
about his uncle.
'"Oh, the old mans right sick, and /
reckon I'd better telegrap h to Aunt Sally
to come on right Off
''On the plea of splitting headache, he
begged me to send his message, and [
thought would send one at the same time
to Mitraille & Go. Web, his telegraph,
save the direction, read: Don't wait for
anything. Uncle Sam is very sick indeed"
lille mine was simply:
Nothing stirring. Havinga very good
time
Nov how on earth these tive little af-
fairs got interchanged is my stery to pe
to this day. Perhaps did it /; perhaps twas
done at the telegraph Office; don know;