The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-05
CAREER OF A CRANK.
Transformation of a Level-Headed Man
Into MOnOmaniac.
Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph.

Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph
1T is the easiest thing in the world to
become a crank" said a well-known Pitts
burg attorney to reporter last night
Il know a perfectly level-headed business
man here who started with a five-dollar
bill and in four years would have killed an
army to get 100000 which he said was his
by right, but which existed only in his own
warped imagination. If he had the means
now he would search out the people who
have kept that money from him and 1T
would go mighty hard with them, for he is
cranky enough to weep for the moon. This
is how it began, for 1 saw the first sprouting
of the disease, watched it grow, but was
powerless to check il.
Five or six years ago, in the fall, he
bought a lottery ticket issued by some
small southern republic The prize was
big one and occasionally in the interval be-
tween the purchase of the ticket and the
drawing my friend would chuclle at the
fun he would have If he got anything out
of it. He did not, but what was worse
than if he had. his number was only one
figure off a big prize. He tried again, of
course, and strange as it may SEEM he
appeared to. figure on success in his sec
ond attempt because of his proximity to
to definitely, but still laughingly. say what
he would purchase where he would so ana
how he would spend the money II he got
it. But it did not come. With surprising
perseverance he put UP another 20 for a
ticket, arguing that as the day OF the
drawing was his birthday he was bound 70
get something this time. He showed me
the diamonds that were intended for his
sweetheart in the old country, but these
gems alas, were still in store window window:
and nick-nacks of all kinds that ne had ms
eye on all to be his - when he got the
prize. He still smiled apologetically as he
pointed out these things TO me as if ex
cusng himself for being so foolish. But
gradually he got these ideas in his head
and lived only in a land of dreams dreams
that would be real, however, when he got
that money. But his colossal luck as he
fondly termed it, was always against MN
and the dreams remained impalpable. he
never gave up sending money regularly and
began to get taciturn and sour when the
subject was lightly referred to by me.
His belief in his luck grew fanaucal al
most and his business began to fall OIL as
he went further and further to the land or
dreams He avoided the subject when II
ferred to it himself The diamonds were his
now, only he was waiting until he got the
money. 1t was certain to come next ume,
and then that cloak and that vase were
his. What time he would have when ne
went home. He knew just the house ne
would buy If his sweetheart lked IL 100 90
business did not see that his number ought
to win His Colossal luck would pull him
through, though, in spite OF an IL on ~ yes,
he got the money. He would make a
splurge. -. .z,,,,od 60 o,ot tho
victim to this stage and then his rapid
descent began. Once over the brow OF the
hill the rest was easy he was stlll Keen
enough at business when he VIC Id attend
to If hut the cobwebs OF a delusi' e fortune
clogged up his brain. ON all other SUD
iects he was sane enough. shortly aIter
this he gave me fright l shall never for
get. He and a party of us were sitting In
the yestibule of hotel chatting after DIM
ner. There was nothing but politics In the
conversation when suddenly the, crank
laughed i'm the most inopportune and to me
(vho knew HIM blood curdling fashlon
He was thinking of that fortune ana the
his thoughts Soon afterward he began to
make complaints to friends in confidence
He was badly treated. People were schem-
ing to keep him out of money. But ne
knew them and he would get even some day.
Several of his friends believed him., sympa-
thized with him and fed the fire that was
planned to the police. Men We're watching
h1m he said They We're schem1ng TO get
him out of the way for fortune was ms
by right. The police saw what was the
matter at once and got him quoted and on
to other topics. He was tolerably We'll
connected or he might have been confined
and he ekes out a livelihood until such
time as he can get that lottery prize.
Occasionally he still sends money for a
ticket when he has enough to spare. But
ne is too sour to do much of that even.
He has paid enough he thinks and the prize
is his.
eff by any chance the fancy got into his
thrawn mind he might shoot the Jeweler
in whose store he first fancied those dia-
monds The lottery officials and the police
are bitter enemies Of his, who have de-
frauded him he thinks. 1t would go hard
with them, too, If his crankiness took that
trend and it might any day. Just give a
man an imagination, inclination to give 1T
rein and a mind that will feed on dreams
and as l said at the first, it's the easiest
thing in the world to become q crank"