Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-29
SECOND HAND BOOKS.
Romances and Windfails in the Busir
One Dealers Lucky Find.

hoElanceS and NindfailS In the business.
One Dealers Lucky Find.
eyes" said a Montague street dealer in
second hand books, "my trade is more or less
Of queer one, as you say. Money in iti
Now, you ought to know that there is money
in any business, provided one can obtain
enough custom. l suppose man might mako
a fortune out of gorilla skins if the demand
existed and he could obtain the wherewithal
to supply the want.n
''But you often make very lucky bargains
or finds don't youP said the reporter.
"Windfalls are among the rare things Of
life, replied the book dealer, philosophically,
''and the fortunate happenings of my bust
ness show no deviation from<he rule. Still
have had slices of good fortune, undeniably
so. Want to hear about some OF thcmf
Well, here's one of recent date.
Three weeks back bought some 200 or
800 odd books from resident on Rensen
street who was clearing out his library pre-
paratory TO shutting up his house for the
summer. On looking over the lot after the
purchase found small yolurro Of Thorn
sons Seasons II was an edition Published
by New York firm in 1856 asd was bound
in faded pink cloth and gold. Casually run
ming my eye over It's pages noted the fact
that a number Of the words had underneath
them a tiny brownish red speck. Half in
stinctively ! strung into a sentence or part OF
a sentence, some half dozen Of the marked
words, and found that they formed portion
of what was evidently love message Ny
curiosity was excited, and / picked up the
rest of the distinguished words Altogether
they made a lengthy and particularly effu-
sive tale of affection emanating from tho
donor of tho book, whose name appeared on
the fyleaf Throwing the book on an upper
shelf, thought no more OF the matter, and
went to New York to fulfill an engagement
''On my return later in the day note was
handed to me from the whilou owner OF the
book. 1t was 10 the effect that tho Thorn
sons Seasons had been given with the rest
of the books by mistake, that it was valued
relic. and that In the event of its having been
sold / was commissioned to repurchase IL at
any price The amy price was underscored
need not say that the book was returned.
Ny boy, who took the book back, came home
to me with a note Of thanks, In which was
enclosed $50 bill / afterward learned that
the book was portion Of an exceedingly pa
thetic romance, the shadow of which had
cast gloom over tho entire life Of the gen
teInan In question:
Nearly year back tho library Of a de-
ceased collector who had resided on the
Heights caTne under the hammer. It was
sold by the heir Of the property, who, while
be inherited his fathers money, did not share
In the old gentleman's literary tastes. Some
fifty or sixty Of the more valuable books
came into my hands, among them being q
large aud profusely Illustrated 'SaintS Rest.
On the broad margin on the top Of tho first
page was written In bold characters, who
uses this book win find bis reward Glanc-
ing over the volume / noted the fact that
one Of tbs iy leaves was missing and that the
inner side Of the first cover was Of tie came
paper q. the remaining fy leaf, and that j:
was much softer 70 the touch than mere card
beard
''To one who Is acCustomed 20 handle books
as am, il was not hard 10 instantly divine
that tie 1yleaf which WIS wanting had been
pasted down On the cover, and ever sorne
foreign body. 4 close examination confrTnss.
my suspicion Wen, 20 shorten the story, l
used steam: the fyleaf WIS raised. and there
carefully and suugiy arranged underneath
were Eve SO bIlz- The meaniny II Tho IA
scTiption On tie Interior iyIeot was TOW plain.
! notified the he4r bat 30, II tie Grst euzh q
the en5oymen: q q big fortune, replied taGi
the book was my purchase, ard coras>que1tiy
tie money was tnI1s. / didn't a>te13Pt -
dispute TIE point. T-Brookly1 Ti:ses.