The Washington times., 1894-10-14
Out Of a Pioneers Trunk,
[nY BRET HARrR.l

humored crowd that had gathered before a
warehouse Long Wharf, in San francisco,
one afternoon in the summer OF 81 Although
the occasion was an auction, the bidders
chances more than usually hazardous, and
the season and locality famous for reckless
speculation, there was scarcely any excite
ment among the bystanders, and a lazy, half
humorous curiosity seemed to have taken the
place of any zeal for gain.
1t was an auction of unclaimed trunks an d
boxes-the personal luggage of early emf
grants-which had been left on storage IN
hulk or warehouse at San Francisco, while
the owner was seeking his fortune in the
mines. The difficulty and expense of trans
port. often obliging the gold seeker to make
| part OF his journey on foot restricted him 10
| the smallest impedfmenta, and that Of O kind
not often found in the luggage of ordinary
| civilization. AS a consequence, during the
| emigration of 40, he was apt ON landing TO
! avail himself of the invitation usually dis
| played on some of the doors of the rude
| hostelries on the shore: 'Rest for the Weary
and Storage for Trunks" In a majority of
| cases he never returned to claim his stored
property. Enforced absence. protracted
equally by good or evil fortune. accumulated
| the high storage charges until they usually
| Tar exceeded the actual value of the goods;
| sickness. further emigration or death also re-
| duced the number OF possible claimants, and
| that more wonderful human frailty-absolute
| forgetfulness of deposited possessions-com-
| bined together to leave the bulk of the prop
| erty in the custodians hands. Under an un-
! derstood agreement they were ALWAYS sold at
| public auction after given time. Although
| the contents OF some of the trunks were ex-
| posed, it was found more in keeping with the
! public sentiment to sell the trunks unlocked
! and unopened. The element of curiosity was
| kept up from time to time by the incautious
! disclosures OF the lucky or unlucky purchaser,
| and general bidding thus encouraged, except
| when the speculator, with the true gambling
! instinct, gave no indication in his face OF
| what was drawn in this lottery. Generally,
/ however. some suggestion on the exterior of
| the trunk. q label or initials, some conjectural
| knowledge of its former owner or the idea
that he might be secretly present in the hope
| OF getting his property back Tor less than the
accumulated dues, kept up the bidding and
| interest.
modest-looking, well-worn portmanteau
/ had been just put up at small opening bid
| when Harry Flint Joined the crowd. The
| young man had arrived d week before at San
| Francisco friendless and penrIIess and had
| been forced to part with his own effects TO
| procure necessary food and lodging while
| looking for an employment. In the irony OF
fate that morning tho proprietors OF dry
/ goods store, struck with his good looks and
/ manners. had offered him a situation if he
/ could make himself more presentable TO their
! fair clients. Harry Flint was gazing half alb
| stractedly, half hopelessly at the portmanteau
| without noticing the auctioneers persuasive
| challenge. In his abstraction he was not
aware that the auctioneers assistant was also
! looking at him curiously, and that possibly
his detected and half-clad appearance bad ex-
| cited the attention of one of the cynical by
| ISLANDERS. who was exchanging a few words
| with the assistant He was, however, re-
called to himself a moment later when the
! portmanteau was knocked down at SIS and
considerably startled when the assistant
placed it at his feet with a grim smile.
''That's your property. Fowler and I reckon
| you look as il you wanted it back bad"
"But-theres some mistake stammered
| Flint. II didn't bid"
mo. but Tom Flynn did for you. You see,
! I spotted you from the first, and told Flynn I
! reckoned you were one of those chaps who
came back from the mines dead broke. And
he up and bought your things for you-like
square man. That FlyRn's style, il he is
| gambler"
But" persisted Flint, ''this never was my
property. Ny name isn't Fowler and 1 never
| left anything here"
The assistant looked at him with grim,
! half-credulous. haf-scornful smile Have
|
| ye, old man, that I'm the warehouse clerk,
! and remember you. I'm here for that pur-
| pose. But as that thar valise is bought and
| paid for by somebody else and given you, it's
nothing more to me. Take or leave it.
The righteousness of quarreling over the
mere form of his good fortune here struck
! Flint, and, as his abrupt benefactor had as
abruptly disappeared, he hurried of with his
| prize. Reaching his cheap lodging-house he
| examined its contents. AS he had surmised,
| it contained full suit of clothing OF the bet
| ter sort, and suitable to his urban needs.
There were q few articles of jewelry, which
| he put religiously aside. There were some
| letters. which seemed to be OF a purely bus-
ness character. There were few daguerreo-
| types of pretty faces. one of which was sin
| gularly fascinating TO him. But there was
another, of young man, which startled him
with its marvellous resemblance to himself. In
| a flash of intelligence he understood it all
now. 1t was the likeness of the former owner
of the trunk, for whom the assistant had
actually mistaken him. He glanced hurriedly
! at the envelopes of the letters They were
addressed to Shelby Fowler, the name by
which the assistant had just called him. The
mystery was plain now. And for the present
he could fairly accept his good luck and trust
to later fortuneto justify himself.
Transformed in his new garb, he left his
| lodgings to present himself once more to his
possible employer. His way led past one of
the large gambling saloons. 1t was yet too
early to find the dry-goods trader disengaged; ;
perhaps the consciousness of more decent,
! civilized garb emboldened him to mingle
more freely With stran gers and he entered the
saloon. He was scarcely abreast of one of
| the faro tables when a man suddenly leaped
up with an oath and discharged a revolver
full in his face. The shot missed. Before his
unknown assailant could fire again the aston
ished Flint had closed upon him, and in
stinctively elutched the weapon. A brief but
violent struggle ensued. Flint felt his strength
failing him, when suddenly look of astonish-
ment came into the furious eyes OF his adver-
sary, and the mans grasp mechanically re-
laxed. The half-freed pistol. thrown upward
| by this movement, was accidentally discharged
point blank into his temples, and he fell dead.
No one in the crowd had stirred or interfered.
you've done for French Pete this time,
Mr.. Fowler" said voice at his eib ow. He
! turned gaspingly, and recognized hisstrange
benefactor, Flynn. 81 call you all to witness,
gentlemen" continued the gambler turnin &
dictatorially to the crowd. ''that this man
was first attacked and was unarmed." He lifted
Flint's limp aud empty hands, and then
pointed to the dead man, who was still
grasping the weapon. ''Comei" He caught