Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-14
THE PIONEERS TRUNK.
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good-haEaored crowd that had gathered
b>bsrs . warehouse on Long Wharf. IN
Ssn Francisco, one afternoon Ia the
summer OF 81. Although the occasion
Wa al auction. the bia.ders' chances
more shan usually hazardous. asad the
esason and locality famous for reckless
spscrl alton, there was scarcely any ex-
element among The bystsnders. and
lazy, half humorous curiosity seemed To
have taken the pl@ce OF any zeal for
gain
Twas an auction of unclaimed trunks
and boxes the personal luggage of
early smigrants- had been left
on storage Ia bulk or warehouse at San
Francisco while the owner was seeking
his fortune in the mines The difficulty
and expense Of transport, often oblg-
ing the gold seeker TO make part of his
Journey on foot restricted him 10 the
smallest smpsdsnsszta. and that Of kind
not often found in the luggage Of ordi-
nary civilization As q consequence.
during the emigration Of 80. he was apt
on landing to avail himself OF the invf-
tation usually displayed on some of tho
doors of the rude hostelries on the
shore: Rest for the Weary and Storage
for Trunks" In majority Of cases he
never returned 10 claim his stored prop
erty. Enforced absence protracted
equally by good or evil fortune accumu-
lated 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 wonderful human frailty-abso-
lutte fcrgetfulness Of deposited posses
sions-contrived together To leave the
bulk of the property on the custodian's
hands Under an understood agreement
this was always sold at public auction
after a given time. Although the con-
tents of some of the trunks were ex-
posed, IL was found more in keeping
with the public sentiment to sell the
trunk unlocked and unopened The ele-
rnent Of curiosity was kept up from
time to time by the incautious disclosures
Of the lucky or unlucky purchaser, and
general bidding thus encouraged-ex-
ccpt when the SPECTATOR with the true
gam bling instinct gave no indication in
his face of what was drawn N this lot
terry. Generally. however. some sug-
gestion in the exterior of the trunk,
label or initials, some ccnjectural
knowledge of its former owner or the
idea 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 modest looking, well worn port
manteau had been just put up at q
small opening bid, when Harry Flint
joined the crowd. The young man had
arrived a week before at San Francisco,
friendless and penniless, and had been
forced to part with his own effects to
procure necessary food and lodging
while looking for employment In the
irony of fate that morning the proprie-
tors of a dry goods store, struck with
his good looks and manners. had offered
him situation il he could make him.
self more presentable to their fair
cHents- Harry Flint was gazing half
abstrsctedly. half hopelessly, at the
portmanteau without noticing the auc-
fioneers persuasive challenge. In his
abstraction he was not aware that the
auctioneer's assistant was also looking
ut him curiously. and that possibly his
detected and half clad appearance had
excited the attention of one Of the cyni-
cal bystanders, who was exchanging a
few words with the assistant He was,
however, recalled to himself q moment
later when the portmanteau was
Knocked down at fifteen dollars and
considerably startled when the as
eistant placed IL at his feet with a grim
smile That's your property. Fowler,
and I reckon you look as il you wanted
it back bad"
"But-there's some mistake" stam-
mered Flint. IT didn't bid"
mo. but Tom Flynn did for you You
see I spotted you from the first and told
Flynn 1 reckoned you were one of those
chaps who came back from the mines
desd-bgpks and hadn't enough To buy