The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-04-26

hands with everybody in the box, turned
to co., When he, had reached the door
he looked back to Miss x. and said:
= It was one Of the queerest things
in the world, Miss, that my fndin' them
checks----" s~>.2,-@ -. T IL ase
But the curtain had just then risen on
the garden scene in "Faust," and Miss x.
was absorbed. The Man from Solano
carefully shut the box door and RETIRED
followed him.
He was silent until he reached the
lobby, and then he said, as if renewing
q previous conversation. "She is a
mighty peart gal--that's so. She's just
my kind and will make a stavin' good
wife"
1 thought saw danger ahead for the
Man from Solano, so I fastened to tell
him that she could have her pick and
choice of the best of society, and finally,
that she was, most probably, engaged to
Dashboard.
That's So" he said, quietly, without
the slightest trace Of feeling, {" it would be
mighty queer if she wasn't. But Ireckon
I'll steer down to the hotel. l don't
care much for this yellin'" He was al
luding to cadenza of that famous can
tatrico, signora BATH Batti) "What's the
time9"
He pulled out his watch. 1t was such
glazing sham so obviously bogus, that
my eyes were fascinated by it. "You're
looking at that watch" he said; ''it's purity
good to look at, but she don't 20 worth
cent. And yet her price was 1926, gold,
gobbled her up at Chatham street day
hof <hovv
EN- very cheap at auction"
"You have been outrageously swindled,"
I said, Indignantly; swatch and chain
are not worth twenty dollars"
"Are they worth fiftcens" he asked,
gravely.
"Possibly."
"Then I reckon it's fair trade. Ye
see, I told 'em I was Californian from
Solano, and hadn't anything about me of
greenbacks. had three slugs with me
ye remember them slugs?" Il did; the
"slug" was token" issued in early
days-a hexagonal piece of gold little
over twice the size Of twenty dollar gold
piece, worth and accepted for fifty dollars.)
"Well, I handed them that and they
handed me the watch. You see them slugs
had made myself outer brass filings and
iron pyrites, and used to put 'em down on
the boys for bluff in game of draw
| poker. You see not being regular gov ment
money, wasn't counterfeiting. I reckon
they cost me, counting time and anxiety,
about SIS. So if this yer watch is worth
that, it's about square game. Amt it,"
| began to understand the Man from So
lano, and said it was. He returned his
watch to his pocket, toyed playfully with
the chain, and remarked: "Kinder makes
a man look fash'nble and wealthy, don't
it,"
I agreed with him. "But what do you
intend to do here?" l asked
swell, I've got cash capital of nigh on
$500. guess until I get into regular
business; I'll skirmish round Wall street
and sorter lay low" I was about to give
him few words Of warning, but remem-
bered his watch, and desisted. We shook
hands and parted.
A few days after we met on Broadway.
81 was attired in another new suit, but
think saw slight improvement in his
general appearance Only five distinct
colors were visible in his attire But this,
I had reason to believe afterwards, was
accidental.
asked him if he had been to the ball.
He said he had. "That gal-and a
mighty peart gal she was too, was there,
but she sorter fought shy of me. got
this new suit to 60 in, but these walters
sorter run me into private box, and
didn't get much chance to continniew our
talk about them checks. But that young
fellow Dashboard was mighty perlitc. He
brought lots of fellers and young women
round to the box to see me, and he made
up party that night to take me round
Wall street and in them Stock Boards
And the next day he called for me and
took me. And l invested about $500 in
them stocks-may be more. You see,
we sorter swooped stocks You know
had ten shares in the Peacock Copper
mine, that you was once secretary off,
But those shares arc not worth a
cent. The whole thing exploded ten
years ago."
"That's so, may be-you say so. But
then didn't know anything more about
Communipaw Central, or the Naphtha
Gaslight Co., and SO thought it was a
square game: Only I realized on the
stocks l bought, and KEN up outer W all
street about $400 better. You see it was
sorter risk, after ALL for them Peacock
stocks might come up!''
looked into his face; it was immeas.
urably serene and commonplace. I be.
gan to be little afraid of the man; OF
rather of my want Of judgment of the
man, and, after few words, we shook
hands and parted.
It was some months before again saw
the Man from Solano. When I did !
found that he had actually become a
member Of the Stock Board, and had a
little Office on Broad street, where he
transacted fair business. MY remem-
brance going back to the first nj ght met
him, inquired if he had renewed his &C
quaintance with Miss X. II hcered that
she was in Newport this summer, and l
ran down there fur week."
"And you talked with her about the
b ggage checks?'
mo" he said, seriously; she gave me
commission to buy some stocks for her
You see, guess them fash'nble fellers
sorter got to runnin' her about me. and 80
she put our acquaintance on square bust
ness footing. tell you she is right
smart girl. Did you hear of the accident
that happened to herr"
had not.
swell, you see, she was out yachting,
and l managed through one of those fellera
to get an invite, too. The whole thing was
got up by man that they say is going to
marry her. Well, one afternoon the boom
swings round in little squall and knocks
her overheard. There was an awful ex-
c1tement-youve heard about it, may be2 "
MOI Rnt 7 aaw II Ill With . .o