Telegram-herald., 1891-08-14

gethef TO leave the bulk Of the property
IN the custodian's handa Under an un-
derstood agreement they wore al
ways sold st public auction after q
given time. Although tho contents of
some Of tho trunks were exposed.
IL was found more in keeping
with the public sentiment TO sell the
trunks locked and unopened. The
element of curiosity was kept up from
time 10 time by the incautious disclos-
ures of the lucky or unlucky purchaser,
and general bidding thus encouraged
except when the speculator, with the
true gambling instinct gave no indica-
ton in his face of what was drawn in
this lottery. Generally, however. some
suggestion in the exterior Of the trunk
label or initials-somo conjectural
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 mp the bidding and interest
A modest-looking, well-worn port
manteau had just been put up at q
small opening bid. when Harry Flint
joined the crowd The young man had
arrived q week before at San Fran
cisco friendless and penniless, and had
been forced to part with his own effects
10 procure necessary food and lodging
while looking for On employment In
the irony Of fate that morning the pro-
prietor Of a dry goods store, struck
with his good looks and manners. had
offered him a situation if he could make
himself more presentablo TO his fair
cGentA Harry Flint was gazing half
abstractedly. half hopelessly. 1T the
portmanteau without noticing the
auctioneers persuasive challenge.
In his abstraction he was not aware
that the auctionser's assistant was also
looking ut him o,iriously, and that pos
sibly his detected and half-clad appear
ance had excited the attention. Of one
of the cynical bystanders, who was cx-
changing n few words with the assist-
ant He was, however, recalled to
himself moment later when the port
manteau was knocked down st ffteen
dollars. and considerably startled when
the assistant placed 1t at his feet with
n grim smile. That's your property,
Fowler. and reckon you look - IL
you wanted IL back bad"
"But-thcrcs some mistake" stam-
mered Flint. Il didn't bid"
mo. but Tom Flynn did for you
Yov SEE. spotted You from the first
aud sold Flynn I rsckoned you were
one Of those chaps who came back from
the mines dead brolxc. And he up and
bought your things for you--like a
square man. That's Flynn's style, IL
he is a gambler"
But" persisted Flint, 'this never
was my property. Ny name isn't
Fowler. snd / never left anything
l.re"
The assistant looked at him with a
grim. half-credulous. half-scornful
smile Have is your own wsJ," he
said. but oughter tell ye, old man.
that Tn the warehouse clerk and re-
member you- I'm here for that pur-
pose. But. "a that thar valise is bought
and paid for by somebody else and
given 10 you it's nothing more TO me.
Take OF leave IL"
The righteousness of qusrrelinc over
the mere form of his good fortune here
struck Flint and. "a 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 surmise<i. il
contained a fnu suit Of clothing Of the
better sort and suitable 70 his urban