Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-07-01
SEMI. WEEKLY WORLD.
IDAHO
AN INSTRUCTIVE STORY.

little tin bucket, wiped his mouth with
the back of his hand, and leaned back
against the tree at whose foot he had
just eaten his noon repast IL was not
yet time for him to go to work again.
His reverie was disturbed by the APP
pearance Of little, dried-up, wrinkled
old man, who tapped him on the shonl-
der and said:
81 heard tho wish you uttered just
now. 1t is in my power to make you
rich. How much wealth do you want?"
"A million dollarsi" exclaimed the
poor workingman, staring incredulously
at the little old man.
'You shall have it. provided you com
ply with the condition / impose" was
the rejoindor.
Name the condition"
at is that you shall earn a small por-
tion of ityourselt Follow me-"
The poor labsrer mechanically rose
up and followed him, not noticing
whittier he went and in few moments
Ia found himself in large gloomy
building in the center Of which was an
immense vault"
''In this vault" said the withered lit
tie man, there are untold riches in gold
and silver. One OF these drawers has
5000, 900 30. Here is the key TO 1t
That money is yours-on condition
that yaa go and earn the one cent noed
cd to make IL 500, 900. 900. Mark You
are to earn II honestly. l shall know
whether you beg, borrow, find, or steal
1t Do you accept the condition."
~ do"
Then go, shall be waiting hero
when you return"
Like one dazed he went out from the
gloomy building. An astounding trans
formation had taken place within him.
He found himself arrayed in new suit
Of costly clothing. A glossy hat was on
his head He looked at his hands
They were soft, white and delicate. His
feet were small and incased in pair OF
patont-leather shoes of wondrous fine
ness. As he walked along he found no
was becoming faugued, as il unused to
the exercise.
who am ~ he said TO himself
Then the recollection OF his bargain
with the little old man flashed upon
him. and he smiled to think how easily
he would earn that cent and how soon
bis fingers would close upon the vast
sum OF money he coveted.
II feel as II wanted something to
eat" he said. Let me see how much
money have about mo. | remember |
hard little when left home this morn
ing"
lie felt in his pockets. They were
empty.
H.. u,aa 1faa,,,,stn tad hut ;a,,~hol a.
his own discontinue.
II shall soon have enough to feast
myself on the best there Is in the land,
he soliloquized. 81 will not waste any
time. but earn that cent now"
He stepped into large business estab-
lishmont and asked for tho proprietor.
He was directed to a private office. and
on knocking at the door was admitted
inside.
do you want to hire a man?" he
asked.
For what?" asked the astonished
merchant looking at tho richly-dresscd
man before him.
ANY thing. I don't care what
only want "a job for an hour-half an
hour-tiye minutes. | want to earn
cent I'm absolutely out of money
Here's a dime" said tho merchant.
Cant take il"
"rhen go"
But"
Here, William. Jacobs. Show this
man out. He's crazy or a fraud
In another moment he found himself
in the street again. lie stepped into an
unfinished building. Men were stand
ing about doing nothing He went up
20 a person who seemed TO DO in au.
thority and asked IL there was any work
for him.
Tho men here are on strike" was
the hurried answer. Get out as quick
as you can. II they SEQ man Of your
appearance looking for a Job they will
make IL bot for you"
lie needed no further warning, but
left at once,
All that afternoon he dragged himself
about tho city, looking for a job at
which no could earn a cent Many OF
those 10 whom he applied for work re-
garded him IS insane, but others gave
him a trial, and pityingly dismissed him
when they found he seemed to be wholly
unused 20 the work. There was moth.
ing be could do Money was offered him
repeatedly As aims, in spite OF his fine
clothes, but none in payment for his
services
"A miiliouaire-all but one cent? he
muttered bitterly, as he wandered aim
lossly into an eaung-house and sat down
al one OF the tables, lad not able 20
earn that cent. Is that all a millionaire
is good for2''
The waiter brought him the things he
ordered, bot nc could not eat He rose
from the table.
Il haven't any money" he said, but
here is my
mo money" exclaimed the waiter.
Then what did you come in here for?
Here, boys. Lend hand. Wen fire
this deadboat down the inclined plane"
In the twiukling of an eve he was
seized by four stalwart men. hurried to
the rear Of the building, and tossed out
on well creased toboggan slide. With
the rapidity Of lightning he shot down,
down, down. The wind whistled in his
ears and took away his breath The
blood froze in his veins with horror
Suddenly, with a fearful bump, he
found himself again ~ the foot of the
tree. He had fallen into doze-that
was ali The little old man and the
frightful experiences OF long halliday
had only existed in dream. compressed
into the limits of a few short minutes.