Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-06-15
A FASClNATING GHOST.

y
Must remain in employers house,
Address, in own hand, stating what
salary is expected, \, this office. /"
Thiswas anadyertisement lcutout
of the Evening Post one spring after
noon. For half an hour had stood
the vociferous offerings of Fourth
Editions and Extras" without
number, and Tor half an hour sheets
OF various political compilations had
been thrust under my nose without
effect, for had been out of employ
ment so long that my stock of money
was nearly exhausted, and it had
been good many days since had
allowed myself the luxury of paper.
But, at last, | was over-persuaded
by a very small but remarkably
pertinacious newsboy, and for fear
of other temptations, put the paper
hastily in my pocket and went home.
In the old days | had been book
keeper for the late concern ofSimpson
& Co., and while with them had
been getting a good salary, and, to
my sorrow be it said, lived pretty
well up to it; so | made nothing by
the failure of the concern, and lost
my place as well, / had to come down
very low. | had saved little, more
by good-luck than from forethought,
and this little, used with the strictest
economy, and added to by a few
pounds made here and there in odd
ways, was all that had kept me alive
for eighteen months. However, |
didn's feel quite disposed to 90 to
the dogs yet, for there was always a
chance of something turning up in
great city.
As | looked around the room that
evening | realized how bare it was of
either furniture or adornments; how
unlike-Ah, well, there was my paper;
and | unfolded it with all the glee of
a child over a new story-book There
was, of course, the usual political
news, the usual number of railway
accidents and criminal proceedings;
there were items of interest toinvest-
ors and theater-goers and travellers,
but nothing for me, had no money
to invest, or tor theaters, or travel
ing. So | skipped all that and went
on to the advertisements, and the
only one of them all worth reading
twice was
"WANTED-A young gentleman
who knows how to spell, and who
writes good hand, to do copying
in the country for two or three
months. Must remain in employers
house. Address, in own hand stat
ing what salary is expected, X, this
office"
| read it two or three times, and
then decided it was worth trying. So
| l hunted up sheet of paper. and
addressed \ as follows:
MY DEAR Mr., Mas, or Miss x: | notice
your advertisement in to-day's issue Of the
Evening Post. My handwriting you can see
for yourself. My spelling, | think, is usually
correct, and~thrre is no doubt am gentle
man. As to salary don't know what to
say don't wish to value my services at
more than they're worth. Should you mean
by remain in employers house that |
would be boarded and lodged at your ex-
pense, my price that is, asking price-is one
pound week. Yours respectfully,
JAMES W. WoLcoTT"
The next afternoon / heard from
my friend x, who proved to be a
man. His letter ran thus:
"jAMEs W. WoLcoTT, ESQ
my DEAR SIR:-You may be gentleman.
write good hand and know how to spell,
but you're fool enclose seventy cents,
the fare to. You will take the A. N
train tomorrow morning from the Central
Station, and when you arrive at, ask for
my carriage, as it will be there to meet you.
Yours. etc,
SOL Humphreys
Sol. Humphreys!-the last man in
the world | would voluntarily have
written to, and for employment, tool
Two years before had O verv nice
little Irritation with pretty Mabel
Humphreys, and it had gone so far
that if the crash in my affairs had not
occurred, | believe there might have
been an understanding, if not an en-
gagement. But as it was, Iput away
all thoughts Of love and love-mak-
ing, and dropped pretty Mabel very
suddenly, without any kind of an
understanding, and | had not seen
her since. And now to think
| had fairly got myself into it
again! But, / reflected, | might not
see much ofMabel after all 50 much
the better Bread and butter was a
necessity, and would 90 and make |
the best of it.
The next morning | caught the I
train, but missed my breakfast, and |
by the time | rea ched the house /
was decidedly hungry.
Mr.. Humphreys metmea at the door.
and was pleased to see he did not
seem to remember me at all. He put
up his eyeglasses and inspected me
from head to foot.
$50 Vp11'Fa IoYY,os, w W.