Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-12-18
THAT 100 FRANCS.

ourselves one day at Monte Carlo. VIEWS
tied the Casino, and my wife became SO in
terested in watching the play that at last
she said she would like to try her luck.
Very we'll" said I, laughing, "Tll just
time you and see how long it will take you
to lose this" And I got hundred franc
note changed and placed the money in front
of her.
The hundred francs lasted exactly half
an hour.
A few weeks after this we returned to
America, and a year later my poor wife
died.
Three years afterward married my pres
ent wife. She had Travelled extensively In
this country, but had never been in Europe,
and as she was anxious to 60, of course we
went.
We happened to be in Nice one day, and
Clara thought she would like to see Monte
Carlo, as it was so near. We went.
AS we entered the Casino my former
visit with my first wife suddenly required
to my mind, and l was surprised to see
Clara walk directly up to the same table
at which my first wife had played.
Clara began playing with few francs
which she took from her purse. She won
steadily, and in half an hour left off play
ing and found she was the winner of exact
ly 100 francs.
This is certainly remarkable coinci-
dence," reflected. ''How strange that my
second wife should come all the way from
| America to win back the money which my
| first wife lost at that identical table just
four years agov' told Clara about it as
we walked back to the hotel She is in
clined to be superstitious, and was not
surprised when she said:
Something ought to be done with that
money, John 1t seems to me that it
doesn't belong to us, but to that poor dead
girl, and then she conceived the idea of
sending it to some poor relation of my first
wife.
LAS far as know" said, "the only liv-
ing relative is her brother Jack. You
might send it to him if you like. Constance
was very fond Of him."
When we returned to New York and got
settled in our new home, my wife asked me
for Jacks address. So, to please her, ]
wrote to the lawyers in Boston who had
settled up the Corey estate and obtained
| the address. Clara inclosed a $50 bill in an
envelope and mailed it to Jack.
|
| left Harvard and returned to his home in
| Boston, his father increased his allowance,
| which was already more than most youths
of his years enjoyed, and Jack, who had
| been the leader of the fast set at college.
was soon in a whirl of gayety. LET him
have his fling" the old man said; hell
| soon get tired of it and settle down"
| From what I have heard am inclined to
| believe that Jack was very well pleased with
this arrangement. At any rate, at the end
| of couple of years, when his father init
| mated to Jack that it was time he was
thinking of settling down" and going into
business, the boy couldn't see it in that
light exactly.
| ''Father," he said, "what is the use of
my going into business? You have more
money now than you know what to do
with, and l should only lose the capital
you propose to put up for me-"
But after his fathers death Jack was
very much surprised to find that there was
little or nothing left after winding up the
estate, and then he realized what an ass
he'd been. He tried to get something to
do, but his fathers old friends looked
askance at him, and his gay chums in pros
porous times passed him by with cool
nod He fled to Chicago, presented his let
tiers of introduction and was handsomely
received When these new friends found
however, that he was in search of employ
ment, they failed to see him on the streets
and when approached politely told him
they could not assist him: please excuse
me. Very busy" etc.
Jacks funds ran low his spirits kept
r.. IL
must be DONE But Jack was easily dis
Outraged, and l suspect, too, that an un,
fortunate love affair had very depressing
influence on his mind. 1t will hardly be
believed but he became so desperate that
one day, having come to the end of his re-
sources, lie actually determined to take his
own life. lie stretched himself on his bed,
placed the cold muzzle' of revolver to
his temple and cast a last look around. AS
he did so he noticed a letter lying on the
table within reach. The handwriting was
that of a lady. To his establishment he
found the envelope to contain $40 bill
| nothing else. The postmark-New York
gave no clew to the sender.
"Well," said Jack, putting on his hat,
"I'll put off my departure for the present.
I think good dinner will be in order"
After the death of my first wife l had
lost sight of Jack. had written to him
after his father died, but had not heard
from him in reply, although Jack after
ward told me lie had received my letter
and answered it, but not hearing from me
again thought had gone back ON him.
| like the rest of his fair weather friends.
Well, after Jack postponed the enter
tainment," as he expressed it, he made the
best of his way to restaurant not far
from his lodgings.
As he was about to enter the place an old
gentleman in front Of him stumbled on the
threshold and would have fallen heavily
had not Jack promptly seized him round
the waist and lifted him to his feet.
my dear sir" said the old gentleman,
"you have done me great service. Will
you Join me at dinner"
"With pleasure" said Jack.
"My name," said the old gentleman, lis
Stanford"
"And mine is Corey"
"Indeedl Ionce had great friend named
Corey. Was at Harvard with him. Rem
son Corey"
my father" murmured Jack.
"Bless my soulr' cried Mr.. Stanford.
"Glad stumbled on you. Hal la! liter
ally by Jove! But how Is your father, and
what are you doing in Chicagol"
Jack related his adventures. When he
bad finished, the old gentleman said:
swell, if you will call at my Office, I'll
see what can be done. There is avacancy
which you can fill, l think"
One day met Jack on Broadway. His
face wore its old time happy smile, and he
looked well and prosperous. took him
home to dinner, and he told us his story,
Then my wife related the story of the
hundred francs.