The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-08-30
How Ralston, the California Millionaire,
Paid an Old Debt.

Mr.. Ralston in 1S4S was clerk on a
Mississippi steamboat. He was generous
and poor. One day he went into the
banking house of Lake & Martin, in st.
Louis, and accosting Mr.. Martin famil-
iarly, said:
AZ say, Martin, can't you let me have
s5OOq' -
al don't see how we can, Billy" said
Mr.. Martin, "unless you can give
us some security. Who can you get to
indorse for your?
Ralston scratched his head minute
and admitted that he couldn't get any
security. Said he, Martin the fact is
Pm broke-dead broke-but I've got
chance to go in with c. K. Garrison
down at Panama, and must have $500
to get there
After awhile Mr.. Martin decided to
lend Ralston $500 on his own account,
and run the risk of payment, and giving
it to him Ralston started down the river
to join Commodore Garrison. This was
in '4S.
"Did Ralston ever pay Martini" l
asked Mr.. Goold. "Ralston forgot all
about it, or else he lost track of Martin,
But fourteen years afterward met Mar
tin in New York. He was broke then
himself-gone all to pieces, hadn't dol
lar. Ralston at this time was at the
meridian of his glory, spending by the
millions. Well, one day Martin came
up to me looking very seedy, and asked
me if in my travels in California had
ever met man by the name of Billy
Ralstonw
"Billy Ralston?' said l. "B-i-l-l-y
R-a-l-s-t-o-n! why, 1 know a man by the
name of William A. Ralston-used to
be with Commodore Garrison in Panama.
1t was Fitz, Ralston & Garrison in San
Francisco, but now Ralston is at the
head of it."
"Well, Mr.. Goold, that's the same
Billy Ralston that borrowed $500 of me
down in St. Louis in '4S. Do you think
he could pay it back now?
3 "Pay it back "said Mr.. Goold, "why,
you're joking. Pay it. back! Ralston
pay S500l Why, Martin, Ralston can
pay back s5,OOO,0OO.
"Well," said Martin, "when you see
Billy in Frisco you Just tell him bout
me-and if he amt strapped and if
'twont break him up, l jes wish'd he pay
me that $780,"
"The fact of it is" said Mr.. Goold, as
he told the story. 81 thought Martin
was joking. 1 had no idea that Ralston
owed him anything. But when | got
back to California l thought l would
banter Ralston about it. So one day
when was in Ralston's room said jok-
"You're nice fellow, Ralston, to be
cheating an old friend out of $500 amt
your
"What do you mean?" said Ralston.
"Why when l was in New York the
other day a man by the name of Mar
tin"
"What~ exclaimed Ralston, jumping
to his feet Warwick Martin"
eyes, Warwick Martini"
Where's his address? Herew he
shouted to the cashier of the bank,
telegraph $4,000 to the credit of War
wick Martin-quick!" and Ralston
danced around like crazy man.
The nextday," continued Mr.. Goold,
"Warwick Martin received telegram
from Lee & Walters, No "a Pine Street,
to call and receive something deposited
to his credit
"By Jingo!' said Martin to mis- wife,
I'll bet Billy has sent me that $500. If
he has, Betty, you can pick out silk
dress at Stewards" and then he hurried
off to Lee & Walters.
"I called to see about some money"
said Martin, looking through the back
screen at Mr.. Lee. "You say l have
some to my credit here"
How much are you expecting, and
who fromw asked the banker, carefully,
as is the custom with people who receive
money by telegraph.
"Pm looking for $500 from Billy Raj
ston," said Martin.
"No $500 to your credit here" said
the banker, "but there is $4,000 to
Warwick Martin"
"Ten thousand dollars" gasped Mar
tin.
"Yes $4,000"
"Well, 'taint me-" said Martin sor-
rowfully. cts some other Martin, and
'taint from Billy after all. Just my
luckw and Warwick drew his hand
across his brow, and sighed with disap-
pointment.
eff your name is Warwick Martin,
you can take this $10,0O0," said Mr..
Lee.
"By Jupiter" said Warwick, as he
narrated the incident to Mr.. Goold, az
didn't think twas mine; but l thought
of Betty-thought of the dress had
promised her, and then 1 took the money
and sneaked home like a culprit. I
handed it to Betty, but / never smiled
for two days, was SO afraid the mis-
take would be discovered. But when l
got letter from Ralston himself" said
Martin, " Pll tell you there was a high
old celebration in our house."