The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-16

might be something wrong about it.
Though they refer me to any quantity OF
influential people-well-to-do men like.Jay
Gould and Chauncey Depew. They write
that the profits of the lottery are used for
religious purposes. like sending out mission
aries and helping young men through the
schools where they make ministers Of 'em.
The head men of the lottery don't draw any
salaries. That's what made me think it
F might be a fraud, for it amt in reason that
men should work without pay. But these
fellows do, because they admit it in their
letter."
He produced a worn and greasy envelope.
and took from it a letter which had evil
IDENTIFY been read many times.
"There amt non O. your folks in hear
letter out on the top of the fence. "Of
course / have to be a little careful about
this matter, because people round here
think lotteries are sinful: though / don't
see why. if it's for a charitable work. And
it seems I've won a nrize, too" '
Whats it worth?'
Ten thousand dollars" he replied, in a
voice full of reverence. Its mostly in
jewels, diamonds and such s~tutf-there's a
list of them here. ia rather have cash,
but probably l wouldn't have much diff
Guilty in sellin' out at n fair profit, consider
in that it didn't cost me nothin' at ALL"
"When did You buy the ticketY" / asked,
NiulOuSuS "a SbAAcCs 1 IA AKA LID oLoWCb
would be.
oval, 70 see, that is he hesitated. evil
IDENTITY trying to decide whether he should
lie about it, ''the fact is, | didn't buy no
ticket. l c~alc'late somebody must have
bought for me. as a Christmas present, or
lone often by people who want to help tho
good work along. and haven't got conf
dence in their own luck so that thev never
expect to win anything on the ticket. l
dunno who could a-done it. l amt got
none too many friends, and | don't know
scarcely anybody down in York. There
was a nephew O. consin Sam Drew who
won't down Their. in 70 or thereabouts. He
might a-bought it, though we ain't none of
us heard from him in ten years."
How the old sinner tried to argue himself
into the belief that this prize WAS his. l
realized that he was addressing his battered
wreck of \ conscience moro than me. l
temptation to put the question squarely be-
fore the corrupt tribunal of his soul was
more than / could resist.
"Thsre may be some mistake about this"
said l., Perhaps this prize belongs to
somebody else"
"WeIl, 1 can't see as that's any lookout O.
mine," he exclaimed, with an asperity
which showed that he was fortifying him
self for argument. III these men srs run.
ming a business. it's for them to see that
their prizes are sent to the right people. I
amt responsible. They say I've won the
stuff, and I'm goin to take 'em at their
word"
1T might be inoonvenient, though" said
l, ''if the riRhtful owner should show up
later and claim his property"
"That's what l wanted to ask you about"
he said, and in his impatience and anxiety
he RnAwed his ragged whiskers. would
they have any claim? Suppose somebody
else should come round and say that the
jewels want mine, could | get into any
troublep / wouldn't mind bein' sued. l
could beat 'em at that game, you bet. But
what I'm afraid of Is that they'd come up to
this town, and make a fuss and let folks
know that I'd been playin' a lotte y.
They're dead set agin 1t in this town, as I've
told 80, though whv they should be l don't
see. They have rafies at all their church
fairs, and they're a good deal worse. When
you buy a ticket for u rattle You pay 10 cents
and you never get nothin' back. Here l
pay s.. or would have if I'd bought tho
ticket, which / would havs done il I'd
knowd where they was sold and felt sure O.
winnin q prlzs,hsrs, as say, l ray
and honest like.
"Yss," said l. elf the Charitable Mission
ary Lottery company can stand that method
Of doing business l should think you
could"
Now. what ! want to ask you" said
uncls Lem, ignoring my Last remark and
growing impressive m he reared the i'm
portant point, lis, how shall l claim tho
property 30 IL to DO safe from any t,ouble?
/ forgot to say that there WAS $50 due for
storage charges. II seems that they had
some trouble about getting my address.
It's tho rule In such cases to wait ten days