The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-26
Selected Storp.
Out of a Pioneers Trunk.

San Francisco one afternoon in the
summer OF 81. Although the occasion
was an auction, the bidders chances
more than usually hazardous, and the
season and locality famous for reckless
speculation, there was scarcely any eX-
element among the by-standers, and
lazy, half-humorous curiosity seemed to
have taken the place of any zeal for gain.
1t was an auction of unclaimed trunks
and boxes-the personal luggage of
early emigrants-which had been left
on storage in hulk or warehouse at San
Francisco while the owner was seek
ing his fortune in the mines.
The difficulty and exp nse of trans
port, often obliging the goldseeker to
make part of his journey on foot, re-
stricted him to the smallest impedtmentd,
and that of kind not often found in
the luggage of ordinary civilization.
AS consequence, during the emigra-
ton of 40 he was apt, on landing, to
avail himself of the invitation usually
displayed on some of the doors of the
rude hostelries on the shore: Rest
for the Weary and Storage for Trunks"
In majority of cases he never re-
turned to claim his stored property.
Enforced absence, protrdcted equally
by good or evil fortune, accumulated
the high storage charges until they
usually far exceeded the actual value of
the goods; sickness, further emigration
or death also reduced the number of
possible claimants, and that more won
derful human frailty-absoute forget
fulness of deposited possessions-com
bined together TO leave TIE bulk of the
property in the custodian's hands. I'm
der an understood agreement they were
always sol at public auction after a
given time. Although the contents of
some of the trunks were exposed, it
was found more in keeping with the
public sentiment to sell the trunks un
locked and unopened. The element of
curiosity was kept up from time to time
by the incautious disclosures of the lucky
or unlucky purchaser, and general bid
ding thus encOuraged-eXcept when
the Spectator, with the true gambling
instinct, gave no indication III his flee
of what was drawn in this lottery.
Generally, however, some suggestion
in the exterior of the trunk, label or
initials some conjeciural Knowledge of
its former owner, or the lea that he
might be secretly present in the hope
of getting his property back for less
than the accumulated dues, kept up the
bidding and interest.
A understanding, well-worn port
manteau had been just put up at a
small opening bid, when Harry Flint
Joined the crowd. The young man had
arrived week before at San Francisco,
friendless and penniless, and had been
forced to part with his own effects to
procure necessary food aud lodging
while looking for employment. In the
irony Of fate that morning, the propri-
etors of a dry-goods store, struck with
his good looks and manners, had offered
him situation, if he could make him
self more presentable to their fair
clients. Harry Flint was gazing half
abstractedly, half hopelessly, at the
portmanteau, without noticing the auc-
tioneer's persuasive challenge. Ia his
abstraction, he was not aware that the
auctioneer'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 Gym
ical bystanders who was exchanging a
few words with the assistant. He was,
however, recalled to himself a moment
later, when the portmanteau was
knocked down at fifteen dollars, and
considerably 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 it
back bad"
But-there's some mistake" STAN
mered Flint. didn't bid"
"No, but Tom Flynn did for you.
You see, | spotted you from the first,
and told Flynn | reckDnel you were
one of those chaps who came back
from the mines dead broke Aud he
up and bought your things for you
like a square man. That's Flynn's
style, if he is a gambler"
But" persisted Flint, "this never
was my property. My name isn't
Fowler and | never left anything
here"
The assistant looked at him with
a grim, half-credulous, half-scornful
smile. "Have it your own way" he
said but | oughter tell ye, ole man,
that Pm the warehouse clerk, and | re-
member you. Pm here for that pur-
pose. But as that thar valise is bou hit
and paid for by somebody else and
given to you, its nothing more to me.
Take it or leave it,"
The Righteousness of qurrelilg over
the mere form of his good fortune here
struck Flint, and, as his abrupt bene-
factor had as abruptly disappeared, he
hurried off with his prize. Reaching
his cheap lodging-house he examined
its contents. AS he had surmised, it
contained full suit of clothing of the
better sort and suitable to his urban
needs. There were a few articles
of jewelry, which he put religiousy
aside. There were some letters which
seemed to be of a purely business
character There were few daguer-
reotypes of pretty faces, one of which
was singularly fascinating to him. But
there was another, of young man,
which startled him with its marvellous
resemblance to HIMSELF In flash of
intelligence he understood it all now.
II was the likeness of the former
owner of the trunk, for whom the
assistant had actually mistaken him
He Olancpd hurrindlV at the pnVplOnas