Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-02-22
BAXTER SPRINGS NEWS.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY %.
THRUST INTO FORTUNE.


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THRUST INTO FORTUNE.
Young Wyncoop was the black
sheep of his family. He drank.
swore. dissipated and spent all the
money his family would give him.
He was utterly worthless from any
standpoint, would attend to no
business and did not regard his
inducements to live with becoming
respect. BY the time he was forty
years old he had become vaga-
bond. His family refused him
shelter, money and recognition.
Driven from home lie drifted to
New York, II shabby genteel.
One day on Fifth avenue he had
partaken of some refuse of food for
breakfast from u scullion at Il base
ment window, aud started uptown
to evolve some convenient means
for committing suicide.
A runaway happening TO tear
along the street. he concluded To
dash himself in front of the horses
and have his brains eliminated.
At the convenient moment, to the
horror of the spectators, he sprang
into the street directly in front OF
the maddened animals.
The horses, astonished at the
sudden apparition, reared in the
air, plunged and then stopped at
his very nose. The coachman,
footman, an aged gentleman and
beautiful girl leaped from the
landau, wild with fright and
FASTENED TO a place of safety.
Then, as If ashamed, they made
their way through the crowd to
their involuntary rescuer, and
covered him with thanks and
praises. The old gentleman put a.
500 bill and his card into the vaga-
bonds pocket. The beautiful girl
took his hands and kissed them
with gratitude, on which for the
first time, Wyncoop felt sensation
and actually fell in love.
Another instant, the parties got
into the vehicle and were gone,
leaving the astonished vagabond to
his new meditations.
As he shufIled down the street he
thought Of the bill in his pocket
and examined il.
WELL" he calculated. mo suicide
as long as there is cent of this
Gods-end left. Just for that sweet
girls face, I'll brush up Bit
The new made hero entered a
clothing store and while donning
respectable apparel gave interviews
to reporters who had followed and
caught him. He declined to give
his biography, with rare good
taste, claiming TO belong, as he did,
to an old and wealthy family. The
next morning, after the papers had
made hero of him, he received
call at the Fifth Avenue hotel,
where had temporarily stopped,
from the old man and beautiful
daughter. He was invited 10 call
and accepted in order to exploit the
first idea which had ever entered
his brain. He likewise got letters,
kilograms and congratulations
from his relatives aud further calls
from reporters and enthusiasts.
That afternoon, having nothing
to do, he again strolled out on the
avenue. Feeling sleepy, and
seeing a red flag dropping from
portico, he entered a real estate
auction room. sat down in front of
the auctioneer's stand and slept.
Very soon a crowd gathered and
the auctioneer took his place.
Still the man slept.
Gentlemen" explained the auc-
tioneer explained, "the property we
offer today is one of the most
advantageous and desirable sites
in the city. II lie worth two and
half million dollars. How much
am offered?"
No one answered.
"WiH anyone start a bid. say at a
million? All. see our friend in
front mods" pointing at Wyncoop.
I'm offered a million"
@Twelve hundred thousand snid
a voice.
aAh, will anyone bid million
and a quarter. My friend mods
again" looking at Wyncoop, fast
asleep. "Am offered m6ret"
"A million and a half" roared th'
other bidder.
aNow, this interesting. Will any
one give me a million and three
Quarters: All, my friend mods. ID
knows the value of the property"
"a million, nine hundred thous-
and.p shouted the excited bidder
from the rear.
-centlemen. this estate is worth
much more. Am offered two
o,iIIionsf He wants II, my friend
there. See him nod. Will Che