Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-10


they usually far exceeded the actual value
OF the goods; sickness, further emigration
or death also reduced the number of posi-
bic claimants, and that more wonderful
human frailty-absOlute forgetfulness of
deposited oSSesSionS-contrlved together
10 leave the bulk Of the property on the
custodinn's hands. Under an understood
agreement this was always sold at public
auction after gwen time. Although the
contents of some of the trunks were eX-
posed il was found more i'll keeping with
the public sentiment 10 sell the trunk UNI
locked and unopened. The element Of
curiosity was Kept up from time 10 time
by the incautiouS disclosures Of the
lucky or unluclly purchasers, and general
bidding thus encOuraged-except when the
Spectator, with the true gambling instinct,
gave no indication in his face of what was
drawn in this lottery. Generally. however.
some suggestion in the exterior OF the
trunk, a label or Initials, some coniectural
knowledge of its former owner, or the idea
that he might be secretly present il the
hope Of getting his property back for less
than the accumulated dues, kept up the
bidding and interest.
4 modest. looking, well worn portman-
tedu had been just put up nj small open
ing bid when Harry Flint joined the crowd.
The young man had arrived week before
at san Francisco. friendleSs and peuniless
effects TO procure necessary food and lode-
ing while looking for employment. IN the
irony of fate that morning the proprictorS
of dry goods store, struck with his good
looks and manners, had offered him situa-
ton if he could make himself more pre-
seutable to their fair clients. Harry Flint
was gazing half abstractedly half hopelessly
AT the portmanteau without noticing the
auctioueer's persuasive challenge. In his
abstraction he was not aware that the AUG
tioueer's assistant was also looking at him
curiously, and that possibly his detected
and half-clad appearance had excited the
attention of one of the cynical bYstanderS,
who was exchanging few words with the
assistant. He was. however. recalled to
himself moment later when the portman-
teau was Knocked down at Sl5and consider
ably startled when the assistant placed it at
his feet with grim smile That's your
property. Fowler, and | reckon YOU look as
if YOU wanted il back bad
''But--there's some mistake STAN
mcred Flint, Il didn't BID"
NO, but Tom Flynn did for YOU You
see spotted YOU from the first and told
Flynn | reckoned YOU were one Of those
chaps who came back from the mines dead
broke and hadn't enough TO buy back Your
things. Aud heup and bought EN- for
Iou-lille square man. That's Flynn's
StYle-if he is 4 gambler.
foul- HflSl>ifC mt 1 4iiS NtNtI NdS
my property. My name isn't Fowler and
1 never left anything here"
The assistant looked at him with a grim,
half incredulOus, half scornful smile.
Have il Your own way ne said, 'but l
ought to tell We, old man, that I'm the ware
house clerk. and remember you. I'm here
for that purpose. But as that thar walls is
bought and paid for BY somebody else and
given 10 you its nothing more to me, Take
or leave it..
The Righteousness Of qua1relling over
the mere form Of his good fortune here
struck Flint. and as his abrupt benefactor
had as abruptly disappeared, he hurried of
with his prize. Reaching his cheap lodging
house he examined its contents As he had
surmised, it contained j full suit OF cloth
ing of the better sort, and suitable to his
urban needs. There were few articles of
iewelry. which he put rehgiously aside.
There were some letters which seemed to
De of = purely business character. There
were few deguerotypes OF pretty face,
one which was singularly fascinating TO
him. But there was another of Young
man that startled him with it's marvellous
resemblance TO himself. It might have
been his own portrait. In a fash Of intelli-
gence he understood it all now. It was the
likeness of the former owner of the trunk
for whom the assistant had actually mis-
taken him. He glanced hurriedly at the
envelope u the letters iUeA were az
dressed to Shelby Fowler, the name by
which the assistant had just called him
The mystery was plain now, but for the
present he could fairly accept his good luck
and trust to later fortune TO justify himself
Transformed in his new garb, he left his
lodgings 10 present himself once more to
his possible employer His way led past
one Of the large gambling saloons. II was
yet too early 10 find the cry goods trader
disengaged; perhaps the consciousness of
more decent civilized garb emboldened him
10 mingle more freely with strangers, and
ne entered the saloon. He was scarcely
abreast of one of the faro tables when a
man suddenly leaped up with an oath, and
discharged j revolver full in his face The
shot missed. Before his unknown assailant
could fire again the astonished Flint
had closed with him and instinctively
Nutched the weapon. \ brief but violent
Struggle ensued. Flint felt his strength
failing him, when suddenly look of as
tonishmeft came into the furious eyes of
his adversary, and the mans grasp me-
sssnfeally relaxed. The half-freed pistol,