Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-10-12

storage in hulk or warehouse at San
Francisco, while the owner was seek
ing his fortune in the mines.
Tho difficulty and expense of trans
port, often obliging the gold seeker to
make part of his journey on foot, re-
stricted him to the smallest impedia-
menta, and that of a kind not often
found in the luggage of ordinary civil
izafion. As a consequence, during the
emigration of 40 he was apt on landing
to avail himself Of the invitation usual
ly displayed on some Of the doors Of
the rude hostelries on the shore: REST
for the Weary and Storage for
/, Trunks" In Il majority Of cases he
never returned to claim his stored
property. Enforced absence, protr cted
equally by good of evil fortune, accunu-
lated the high storage charges until
they usually far exceeded the actual
value Of the goods; sickness, further
emigration, or death also reduced the
.iumher of possible claimants. and that
more wonderful human frailty--abso-
lutte forgetfulness Of deposited posses
sions-cembincd together to leave the
bulk Of the property in the custodians
hands Under an understood agree
ment they were always at public auc-
ton after a given time. Although the
contents of some of the trunks were
exposed, it was found more in Keeping
with the public sentiment to sell the
trunks unlocked and unopened. ihe
element of curiosity was kept up from
time to time by the incautious disclos-
ures Of the lucky or unlucky purchaser,
md general bidding thus encouraged
except when the Spectator, with the
tine gambling instinct, gave no indi-
cation in his face of what was drawn
IN this lottery Generally, however,
some suggestion in the exterior of the
trunk, a label or initials: some con-
iectural knowledge of its former own
er. or the idea that he might be secret
" present in the hope of getting his
property back for less than the accu-
mulated dues, kept mp the bidding and
interest.
i, n modesto looking. well worn port
mantcau had just been put up at q
iN1iau opening bid, when Harry Flint
Joined the crowd. The young man
had arrived 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
proprietors of a 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 abstractedly, half hopelessly, ut
the portmanteau without noticing the
auctioneer's persuasive challenge
In his abstraction he was not aware
that the auctioneer's assistant was also
hooking at him curiously. and that pos
aibly his detected and half-clad appe~'-
ance had excited the attention of one
OF the cynical bystandels who was
exchanging few words with the as
sistant, He was. however, recalled to
himself moment later when the port
zrnanteau was knocked down 1T SD.
@and considerably startled when the as
SSistant placed it at his feet with u
Sgrim smile.
sM "That's your property, Fowler, and
back bad"
ss8Ess "But-there's some mistake" STAN
mered Flint. Il didn't bid"
s mo, but Tom Flynn did for you.
You see. ] spotted you from the first,
and told FLYNN reckoned you were
enc Of those chaps who came back
from the mines dead broke. And he
ND and bought your things for you
Hike a square man. That's Flynns
style, if he is a gambler.
'eBut." persisted Flint, this never
was my property. My name isn't Fow-
ler and 1 never left anything here"
THE assistant looked at him with
grim, hnlf-cre(lulous, haf-scornfnl smile.
t'IIave it your own way he said, "hut
I o1lghtcr tell We. old man, that I'm
tl,c warehouse clerk. and l remember
you. I'm here for that purpose. But