The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-11-18
Out Of a Pioneers Trunk.
By Bret Harte.)


good-humored crowd that had gathered
before a warehouse on 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 ex-
citement among the bystanders, and
a lazy, half-humorous curiosity SEEM
ed to have taken the place Of any zeal
for gain.
1t was an auction Of unclaimed
trunks and boxes-the personal bag
gage of early emigrants-which had
been left on storage in hulk or ware
house at San Francisco, while the own
er 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, re-
strioted him to the smallest impedi-
menta, and that of a kind not often
found in the luggage Of ordinary civil
lization. AS a consequence, during the
emigration of '49, he was apt on land
ing to avail himself of the invitation
usually displayed on the doors Of the
rude hostelries on the shore: REST
for the Weary and Storage for Trunks"
In majority Of cases he never return
ed to claim his stored property. En-
forced absence, protracted equally by
good or evil fortune, accumulated the
high storage charges until they usu-
ally far exceeded the actual value OF
the goods; sickness, further emigration,
or death also reduced the number of
possible claimants, and that more Won
derful human frailty-absolute forget
fulness of deposited possessions-com-
bined together to leave the bulk of the
property in the custodian's hands. I'm
der an understood agreement they
were always sold at public auction
after a given time. Although the con-
tents 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 disclo-
sures of the lucky or unlpcky purchas-
er, and general bidding thus encour-
aged, except when the speculator, with
the true gambling instinct, gave no in
dication in his face Of what was drawn
in this lottery. Generally, however,
some suggestion on the exterior of the
trunk, label of initials, come conjec-
tured knowledge of the former owner,
or the idea that he might be secretly
present in the hope of getting his
lated dues, kept up the bidding and in,
terest.
A understanding, well-worn portman,
teau had just been put up at small
opening bid, when Harry Flint Joined
the crowd. The young man had arriv-
ed the week before at San Francisco,
friendless and penniless and had been
forced to part with his own effects
to procure necessary food and lodging
while looking for employment. In the
irony of fate that morning the proprie-
tors of a dry goods store, struck with
his good looks and manners, had Of
fered him a situation, If he could make
himself more presentable to their fair
clients. Harry Flint was gazing half
abstractedly, half hopelessly at the
portmanteau without noticing the auc-
tioneer's persuasive challenge. In his
abstraction he was not aware that the
at him curiously, and that possibly his
detected and half-clad appearance had
excited the attention Of one Of the
cynical by-standers, who was exchang-
ing a few words with the assistant.
He was, however, recalled to himself
a moment later when the portmanteau
was knocked down at SIS, and consid-
erably startled when the assistant
placed it at his feet with grim smile
That's your property, Fowler, and /
reckon you look as If you wanted II
back bad"
"But-there's some mistake" STAN
mered Flint. II didn't bid"
mo, but Tom Flynn did for you.
You see, spotted you from the first,
and told Flynn 1 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 a
square man. That's Flynns style, If
he is a gambler"
But" persisted Flint, this never
was my property My Name isn't Fow.
Ter, and never left anything here"
The assistant looked at him with a
grim, half-credulous, half-scornful
smile "HaYe it your own way" he
said. but l oughter tell ye, old man,
that I'm the warehouse clerk, and l |
remember you. I'm here for that pur-
pose. But as that thar valise is bought
and paid for by somebody and given to
you, it's nothing more to me. Take it
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 disappear
ed, he hurried off with his prize.
Reaching his cheap lodging house, he
examined its contents. AS he had sur
missed, it contained full habit of
clothing OF the better sort, and suitable
to his urban needs. There were a few
articles of jewelry, which he put re-
ligious1y aside. There were some let
ters, which seemed to be OF a purely
business character. There were a few