St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-06-09
.That there are two hundred and
seyenty-fve Olsons in town, sir. "


"WhatP''
There was SO much astonishment in
this tremendous ''what' that Mr.. Brad
ford came forward to explain.
How many John Olsons?" ques-
toned the thunderstruck owner of the
much-used name.
''Two, four, eight, twelve, sixteen.
twenty, twenty-four-no, twenty-three,
sir. Two artists, one blacksmith, four
carpenters, five clerks, two book-keep-
ers, one glazier, seven laborers, two mer-
chants and
sThat will do. Let me take the di-
rectory, please. /"
One glance at the directory convinced
Mr.. Olson that Mr.. Bradford had stated
the case correctly. He looked at the
long list of Olsons in stupid astonish-
ment, not unmixed with Indignation.
Here was middle. How could he
find the right man in such town. He
settled one question, however. He in
closed five dollars in sheet of blank
paper, and putting this in an eyelope
| mailed it at once to the unfortunate
Mary J. Olson, saying to himself that
he would look up Mr.. John Olson at his
leisure. He returned the letter to the
post-office, with the Endorsement,
"Opened by mistake by John Olson,
215 Blank street" and forgot the man
for the day. Is
He told the story to his wife that
evening, and she was intensely in
terested, and, practical little woman
that she was, she proceeded to consider
plans for finding the man. 1t was
finally agreed that the campaign should
be opened by inserting an advertise
ment in the morning papers. Mr..
Olson knew that thousands of persons
were out of employment and that all of
those who could find opportunity eager
| " scanned the want columns of the
great dailies in hope of finding promise
of something to do. And one morning,
not long after, thousands of eager eyes
read: s.Mr. John Olson, formerly of
Pittsburgh, is requested to report at
215 Blank street, where he will learn of
something to his advantage" Mrs.
Olson wrote this advertisement herself
and she prided herself on the little trick
OF putting in that little word ':advant-
age This, she argued, would surely
bring the man, whereas a cold, UNI
promising statement would not.
The second morning after the APP
pearance of the advertisement, three
men were waiting for Mr.. Olson when
he entered his office. One of these en-
tered his private office with easy as
surance, before he had removed his
overcoat. and placing the advertisement
he had clipped from the paper on MIR.
Ulson's desk, stated that he had come
in answer to the request contained
| therein.
This man was not stability dressed,
and he affected the air of u superior
man, compelled by circumstances to do
what lie would not do were he not in
distress. Mr.. Olson had imagined that
his namesake was shallow man, with
tremendous promise on the surface. like
/ the smooth-faced, soft-haired individual
now before him. and he was about to
| tell the story of the letter and say plain
" that he was ready to assist the man
to help his family, when a glance from
Mr.. Bradford caused a change of pro-
gramme. This glance had the conf
dence of .'fgures won't lie" in it, and
| intimated that the visitor was a fraud.
Mr.. Olson, without accepting the esti-
mate, resolved to be on his guard. The
man stated that his name was Olson,
and in answer to direct question, said
his wife and two small children Were IN
I the CITY and in a condition bordering on
destitution. He disliked to admit it,
but such was the case; he had come
from Pittsburgh just after his marriage,
and had been quite well to do until the
panic spoiled all his plans.
j S.asMr. Olson informed the man, who
was much inclined to enlarge upon his
woes, that he was not the person want
ed, and was at once appealed to to give
/ the, applicant enough money to pur-
4 chase a breakfast. The money was Civ
en-, and with profound bow Of thanks
| the man departed, apparently in very
happy frame. of mind. Mr.. Bradford
/ explained that the mans name was not
/ Olson, and that he had made business
of answering advertisements where as
surance and a pathetic story could east
4 " be made to do duty.
Mr.. Olson was, therefore, indignant
when the second man entered and stated
that Mrs. O'Briens boy had told him
while he was putting in Mrs O'Brien' s
4 coal, that John Olson was wanted at
i 215 Blank street, and here he was. He
was laboring man, had always lived
in the city, and knew nothing of Pitts.
burgh. He departed with: 'sNo harm
done, stranger
The third man was stout ard hearty,
except, as he remarked, in the matter
of clothes. Mrs. Smith had told his
4 wife about the advertisement, and as he
came from Pittsburgh about so, and as
4 his wife had insisted that it might mean
him, he thought he would call. He
didn't expect a gold mine, or anything
| Of that kind, but thought somebody had
/ q, in-I, Of work that would bring in few