The morning call., 1893-05-21
FOUND A FATHER.
The Good Luck That BefelI
a Barber.
MARRIED OUT OF HAND.
RancIler Pearley Gained Wife and
Two Sons by the Lucky Turn
of a Photograph.

Frank johnson is bar Der who lives on
California street, not more than hundred
miles at most from the junction of Mont
gone ~ street.
In itself this truth is important, but
there is more to follow, as instance: One
day last week an elderly gentleman
climbed up into the red velvet Chair pre-
sided over by Frank johnson, and said;
SIS your name Johnson?"
SIT isl SAID Frank; hair cut, sir?
SHAVE" said the elderly gentleman.
'I'm your father. Frank"
us that so ?" said Frank, rather stunned
by the statement. but too diplomatic 10
tell customer that he lied. That's W hat
Frank thought about it, though, and after
pause he said cautiously:
Sure about that, mister?"
"Ihere isn't a bit of doubt about it, my
son." and the elderly customer smiled as
though he were pleased that there was no
doubt.
II thought my father died about ten
wears ago back in Harrisburg" said
Frank, and he didn't seem to evince any
great desire to throw himself in the arms
OF his new-found father.
''Oh, Pm your stepfather," said the
elderly one. Il married your mother last
week"
"The deuce you did! Were you back in
Harrisburg?"
mo; was married to your mother in
this city, my boy. Come out and see US
once in while. I've got a ranch up near
Stockton"
well. pop. Pm glad to see you" said
Frank, as he took off a piece OF cutcle
along with the latber. He was trifle ex-
citpd ba and did not know
whether to believe it or not
Before the shave was over, though, he
had learned the whole story from his step
father and knew that it must be straight.
The story is rather romantlc. lt starts
out with the statement that Frank john
son has a brother who is not barber
The brothers. name is Absal0m and he is
called Alb.
Well, A5 never seemed to strike job
that Just suited him. and he was idle good
deal, much to the chagrln and expense OF
his industrious brother, the barber.
But the tide turned in the life of Alb
johnson. He struck job that was to his
taste in the country. In three weeks he
had made himself so useful and agreeable
tC Simon Pearley, of the ranch near Stock
ton, thata the well-to-do Ianch-Gwner and
the hitherto ne'er-do-well Alb johnson
were on confidential terms, and the latter
was enjoying an ample salary.
And Alb johnson really deserved his
good luck. little dreaming how much
greater it was soon to become. He worked
hard.
One day Rancler Pearley happened to
be in Abs room while the latter was un-
packing the odd corners of his trunk. The
photograph of a pleasant-looking elderly
lady came to lignt.
"Who's that2" said Rancher Pearley,
admirDg the photograph.
That's my mother" said Alb. "Rather
nice-looking woman still. amt she? ?" he
added Both the boys were always proud
of their mothers good looks.
"Is she a widow ?" asked Pemley.
"Yes, been widow for ten years; though
IFS her own fault, L can tell you that"
said Alb.
"Well. I'd like to marry her," said the
rancher, land I'd do the square thing by
her and her boys if she'd haye me-. Think
you could arrange it?"
When Alb Johnson recovered from the
sudden shock of his employers unexpected
proposal he said he'd think about it.
Don't want no thinking about il at all, :"
said the rancher. Pm satisfied lust from
the picture. Here's check for 500. Send
it on to your mother and tell her to come
right ont and marry me. When she gets
here, if she don't like me I'll give her the
money to go back home and We'll call it
all quits. Is it go?"
1t was.
Alb wrote glowingly of his employer, of
the pleasant California home that nigh
be,sof the advantages of her son having
wealthy rancher for a stepfather, of the
benefit the genial climate would be to the
old lady after so many long years in the
frosts and SHOWS of the Pennsylvania
mountains.
In TWO weeks time Mrs johnson was
Mrs. Pearley.
Then Alb and his mother and his STEP
father arranged the little plan to surprise
Frank. The old man should walk into the
barber-shop where Frank works and accost
him as "My son." Mr.. Pearley Gid the
thing neatly. as has already been recorded.
1t was Friday, May -, when the little
episode occurred in the California-sireet
| barber-shop. The following Monday
Frank went out to see his mother. He is
still living on the ranch visiting with his
stepfather.
st looks as if Frank and his brother
had made ten-strike of it," said Franks
old employer 20 THE CALL man, "and The
old man seems to be disposed to do the
handsome thing by the whole family.
And he can afford to do it, too, for he isn't
worth cent less than SS0,000 in land
alone. not counting what he makes on the
ranch he lives on.
Il don't think Frank will come back to
work here, though he's welcome. if he
wants to; He's good barber and steady
enough"
IL