The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-11-25
roriginal.l


a fact that picked up my fortune ON
the side walk"
The two friends regarded him curl
ously, wondering what could be the
meaning of this very strange declara-
ton, for they know he had come into
his fortune of something like million
through the death Of his mother year
before.
II see you fellows don't believe me. -
said Charley, laughing at the puzzled
expression on the faces of his COM
panions. "Well, the statement does
seem little fshy, that's q fact. How
ever. it's true-I picked up all now
possess on the sidewalk.
"Jove! Tell me where you found it,
and I'll see if there amt another for
tune or two lying around there" said
one of the young men, thinking some
witticism must be intended. '''d go
over the whole city with spyglass if l
thought there was any chance of find
ing a million. How was it. Charley. in
bills or check payable to bearer"
''No. it was just piece Of news
paper" answered Charley, who was
the same good-hearted. unassuming
fellow he had been : before fortune
had lavished her gifts SO bountifully
upon him.
81 can't for the life of me see where
the joke is" said the former speaker.
Tell us what you're driving at old
fellow"
mo joke intended-solemp truth.
every word of it. In order to make
you skeptics believe, will have to be-
gin at. the beginning as the conven-
tional story-tellers say, and tell it all
Here have another cigar first"
"Au right, dear boy; now for tho
yarn. From the way it starts out
Judge it will be one that rather throws
Munchausen in the shade"
Hear first and criticise afterward,"
sageiy observed Charley. Then light
ing his cigar. he began:
II came to Chicago about eight years
ago. l had been through some pretty
hard times out west. and when I
reached the town my entire fortune
was about two dollars. Ny first
thought, of course, was to get some
thing to do.
81 had sought industriously for three
days without finding work, and. as I
resumed my search on tho morning OF
the fourth day, l wasn't feeling par
lighthearted. Ny two dollars
was gone, and didn't feel that beg
ging was exactly in my line; SO, unless
<,xr al hat Aav \ unr1lA
be reduced to extremities. 1t was my
first experience in . city, and couldn't
look starvation in the face with the
calm indifference of many.
las / walked along that morning.
thinking dejec:edly on my situation.
my attention was attracted by piece
of paper that futtered to the sidewalk
at my feet It WAS . mere fragment
torn from a newspaper. and there was
certainly nothing remarkable or at
tractive about it; but acting upon some
impulse-I will not pretend to say what
Il stopped and picked it up You viii
say, no doubt, that this was merely the
result of chance, but / cannot agree
with you- You know the poet says:
There is a destiny that shapes our
ends And believe that at that mo-
ment / was acting At the behest OF
that destiny. for this simple act changed
the current Of my whole life.
AT all events. picked up the paper |
and examined IL What first met NV |
Eve was the advertisement of large !
Chicago clothing house, It announced. /
| remember, a mark-down sale: and 1
thought. little bitterly. perhaps. tina, /
prices would have TO be marked down /
Tery low indeed 10 correspond with
nv financial condition Then / read /
he other side, which wa& tina: portion /
If the paper containing the personal 1
There was the touch I
ng request Of iovesick youth that
his duleinea meet him at the PARK
hurssizy evening: the announcement
II a -ouav widow with hundred
nous3ao dollars that sire was willing
o Aestow her hear and fortune en-
one worthy person of the opposite
ex. and tire usual variety Of topics 20
X found IN this department Of . met
opolitan newspaper.
las glanced down the colsAar sud-
eEls came upon nv osr name. fairly
taring at NE from the paper. and
ssasisag use quite shock ~ surprise
occurred IA . persouzl that read as
ois9wS-
II this meet The eye Of Charles =
ECKER. will be return bcne ~ onee7