Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-16
AN ADVENTURE.


 AN ADVENTURE. How Jo Majors Frustrated the
 Evil Designs of a Criminal
 One evening 1.-the and muscular farmer boy entered a hotel in Kansas City and reg istered his name and address at the clerks desk in clear, running hand, which showed that he was not unfamiliar with the use of apen.
 As he turned away to be shown to his room the clerk glanced at the inscription.
 "Jo Majors, Lone Jack, Missouri" the en- try read.
 Jo was an interesting youth. He was nothing more than country lad, yet his ex- traordinary intelligence and business quali- ties endowed him with a distinction due to few boys of his years.
 Although the days since his sixteenth birthday could be numbered by tho fingers of his two hands, he had come to the city to attend to an important transaction which required tact and sharp insight into busi ness, and involved a large sum of money.
 Jos father was the owner of a large stock farm, and every fall he shipped car loads of fine cattle to the great packing houses of Kansas City. Jo kept his fla ther's books, and, thoroughly understanding the business, he came to be intrusted with some of it's most important features.
 This occasion was the first on which he had come to deal, ingle-handed, with the cattle magnates; but his father had sent him without any uneasiness, for he had great confidence in the boys discretion and judgment.
 His duty consisted of selling the beeves in his charge at the very highest price it was possible to obtain. The dealing was with the shrewd buyers of the millionaire packers, who were never 10th to take ad- vantage of 'greenness" or business inca pacity, and therefore his commission was no sinecure or child's play.
 Jo had succeeded better than he had dared to hope. He had received from Fow- | ler's house cent more per pound than his | father had received for fifty head two I weeks before, and the money-two thou | sand dollars in bills-reposed in his coat | pocket. He had intended to deposit the money in l 8 bank, and return home that evening; but so late in the !afternoon was it when his | contract was made that he found the bank doors closed, and he resolved to remain over in the city until the following day.
 He did not consider it worth while to leave the sum with the hotel clerk for safe l ketpluk, lOT luS TcdSUu IIldl Ouc WUulu suspect him, country boy, soberly dressed, of having any large amount of money; and, besides, he did not intend l leaving the friendly warmth and light of l the hotel that night.
 He ate his supper with an appetite born of consciousness of duty we'll done, and then passed an hour in the reading room As he laid aside his paper he was addressed by a blonde young man, who smiled on him like brother.
 'Isn't this Jo Majors?" he was asked.
 "Yes. You seem to know me-" replied Jo. "You have the advantage, however"
 ''Shake hands," said the young man, as he drew up a chair and seated himself beside the boy. "Know youa Of course I know you! Do you remember young fellow who stayed all night at your house, near Lone Jack, two or three years agoi I'm that chap. Do you remembera"
 s'No, I don't know that I do," Jo re- sponded, thoughtfully. IA good many fel. lows have stayed there, first and last, with father or some of the hands"
 "Well, no matter. You were considerably younger then, and wasn' there long enough to impress myself on your mind. But rec. ognized you the moment I saw you. Sc you are in the city for a timea I'm glad you are at this hotel; we cah be togethe, some. I've been here for week, and haven, made the acquaintance of anybody hardly and I'm glad to see familiar face.o
 The blonde young man chatted amiably and as Jo could see no harm in him, the two were soon on quite friendly terms. .
 Now, the boy was up to the usual games o confidence men, and had the stranger pro duced freight bill, or cards, or certified check, or asked a loan, he would have bid den him "good-evening" at once. But whel the topic of conversation continued to b. any thing but money, any suspicious he ma, , have cherished gradually vanished.
 The young man got to telling about a pla,, that was being presented at one of the opera houses, and it proved a fascinating subjec to Jo, who was fond of such amusements . He laughed heartily as the comical situation were pictured to him.
 Finally the young man felt in his pocke and fished out a tive-dollar bill.
 "Hey, Jo!" he exclaimed, holding it uI "let's take in that showl We've nothin else to do and owe you nights expens for keeping me three years ago at you house. What do you sayl" - r Jo accepted the proposal at once. The e1 perience of attending theater was a yer . rare one with him, and for that reason wa all the more welcome.
 "How far is the opera-h house from here2 he inquired, as they went out the door. ' "Not over a block and half," answere f his friend. "It's just down the street here.
 In anticipating the treat in store, Jo fo
 got the money in his pocket until he WI
 half square from the hotel. UPHOLSTERING WOOD FINISbING, Piano Polishing, an
 " general Furniture Repairing Oak Pi Finishes and Wood Stains in all colors A goods called for and delivered