The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-11-19
MIsJUDGED BENEvoLENcE.
How a Charitably Inclined Gentleman Was
Imposed Upon.

In this city there lives gentleman who
for several years. has quietly and unos
tentationsly been playing the role of the
good Samaritan in his own peculiar way
He is married, though childless, and his
wife often accompanies him on his mis-
sions of humanity. His plan of action is
to visit the abodes Of the poor and friend
| less, satisfy himself of their destitution
with his own eyes and then, if the case
warranted it, help them along with the
necessities of life
That such a man should be imposed
on once in a while is quite possible, but
not until this week were his charitable ac-
tions sought to be clothed with sinister
motive by one whom he had helped out of
his aggregation and misery 1t is but just
to say that the plan failed, as it should
have done, and the miserable migrate
who was guilty of the attempt of black
mail, for it was nothing less, now has only
himself to blame for his foolish actions.
1t is an old saying that truth is stranger
than fiction, and it is daily exemplified in
passing events, particularly so in this
case. In his wanderings over the city this
philanthropist, of whom mention is made
above, came across the home of a family
OF five persons, the husband of which was
laid up with malaria OF the children
one was boy of about IL years and the
two others were girls, who seemed of one
age but hardly alike enough to be twins.
The family living quite distance from
the heart of the city, had medicines and
food sent them by their benefactor, who
only found time to pay the sick
man two visits Soon the report
reached the former through the
attending physician that the patient was
welra2ain and at work, and SO he was
stricken off the gentleman's list of those
needing charity and further attention.
He had forgotten the case entirely until
week ago last Friday, when the patient,
now fully recovered, called at the office of
his late benefactor and asked to see him.
1t often being the case that such people he
had helped along were in the habit of call
ing and thanking him personally, and not
wishing to appear rude, he asked the man
in and told him TO be seated. The latter
hummed and hawed a few moments and
then steadily cycling the merchant told
him that he had discovered his secret and
that he wanted couple of hundred dol
lars TO keep mum" He reiterated this
assertion several times without further eX-
planning himself, until his late benefactor
lost his temper and had him put out of the
office. During the latter operation he
made the threat that he would be heard of
again. And so he was.
The next day be called at the gentle
mans residence, when he the latter was
out, and asked for Mrs. She was
engaged, but would see him shortly. He
waited fifteen minutes and then was ush-
cred into the presence of the lady of the
house. With an audacity that was sur
prising he informed the woman that he
was the possessOr of a secret of her hus-
bands that would land him in Jail and
that she could save him. but that it would
take $500 to buy his silence. The woman
was thunderstruck for a moment, but be-
ing quick-witted, attempted to pump the
as to the nature OF the crime.
He was quite sharp himself, however, and
would say no more without being assured
that his revelations would be paid for
The woman then declared that she would
have nothing more to do with the in
and that he could sell his in
formation at some other market. being |
fully convinced that her husband had not |
been guilty of anything out of the way. !
The man finally wilted and offered to tell |
his story If the woman would promise,
that if he could prove his assertions, she |
would see him handsomely rewarded. He |
then informed the somewhat astonished |
wife that a girl baby had been left at the !
steps of his house one night seven years
ago; that they had taken in and adopted |
the infant; that her husband WAS either |
he father of it or was instrumental in |
having it placed there When asked what |
proofs he had for this charge he referred |
% the fact that nobody had ever taken an
interest in his family but her husband aud
his was proof enough that he was doing
t TO offset his former misdeeds or perhaps
o help his own child. That was the ex-
ent of his secret.
When the man had finished his story
he woman laughed heartily and told the
that his information was not
worth a cent, and in order to fully con-
'ince the man that his charges were total
v unfounded, showed him a list of some
hirty- five families that her husband had
elped out in the same manner. The man
eft quite crestfallen and he is no doubt
oorer and wiser for his little attempted
lackmailing scheme.