Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-06-04

genius whoever he was. but kindly
in voice and manner and | had no
fear that | was to be- ''buncoed" or
otherwise maltreated so sat down
and we began our conference
The details are scarcely necessary
now. 1t is sufficient to say that II. A
was confirmed crank. millionaire
and money hater and that in pursn-
ance OF theory of his he had con-
cluded to select at random some one to
whom he might give in ready money
the sum OF $3.50. 900. simply to see
what the recipient would do with it
He had worded his advertisement pc
culiarly in order not to be overrun
with applicants. Yet there had been
many yet none, until | came who
seemed to him to be the proper per-
SON for his experiment When /
finally left his office l took with me
his check for the amount named and
still thinking it was only joke or a
freak. called on some merchant
friends of mine and told them the
story, putting the check in as evil
dence. They were astonished beyond
measure. and my establishment even
exceeded theirs when 1 learned that
the name on the check was good for
ten times its face or more and with
two or three of them to identify
me went to bank and exchanged
the check for a draft on New York.
That night we had champagne sup
per OF the most elaborate and gener-
Gus character. and when got up next
morning. Notwithstanding all my
wealth, / don't think ever felt quite
so bad in the whole course of my life
day and in the evening left for home.
At midnight | reused my wife and
telling her everything about my visit
except the champagne experience.
asked her what she thought of a quar-
ter of million in cool cash and no
membranes as a disadvantage.
She was pleased to death with my luck.
and we sat up till daylight talking
over what we would do with that
money and the pleasure it was sure to
bring US.
I'm going to skip all the period be-
tween that time and when / became
40 years old. l can't endure to think
about it much less to set it down iu
plain black and white. Tho money
went fast and with it character repu-
tation. health wife. chiIdren-for
three more had come to join the first
home. friends. everything-and it
all came gradually, making the agony
OF it more terrible than any sudden
blow could have done.
/ had done it all. too. No one was
to blame except myself | drank and
gambled and lived fast and loose. neg
lecting and disregarding the good.
taking always to the bad and loving ii.
At 40 l was houseless. homeless. a
beggaE and drunkard in the gutter.
To-day l met an old. old man.
feeble and lettering. and | asked him
for money because l was starving.
do you want more of it?" he
smiled querulously.
looked at him as closely as my
bleared eyes would permit
You laughed when l told you once
that it would be a disadvantage to
you. " he went on. You thought
was fool and almost told me so. Do
you think so now? Here's quarter. "
| knew him then. but / said moth
ing. l took his money though. and
with it / have bought that which will
stay my hunger forever. The bottle
which holds it is small, but it is large
enough. When you read this you will
have heard of that which is of no dis
advantage to me and may be of much
advantage to many others. With my
last words let me thank you. Good
bye. XERxEs You've ZIoIMERMAN.
That was all and my whole thought
is in revolution. Detroit Free Press.