The herald., 1897-11-02
A TRAMP'S
GRATITUDE
Police Clerk Gridley a Good
Samaritan
HIS VIRTUE IS REWARDED
HIS VIRTUE IS REWARDED
GIs PRoTE0E HAS DISCOVERED
H A RICH MINE
And Insists on Giving Gridley Half
share-Romantic Mission to
Mexico

Last January q tramp calleo at tne
home OF Police Clerk Ed Gridley at 910
Summit avenue and asked for some
thing to eat. The man had lost an arm
and his clothes were tattered. Mr..
Gridley pitied him. and his wife pre-
pared some victuals for the unfortunate
wayfarer. Many years experience as
a police clerk has not soured the milk
Of human kindness in Mr. Gridley's con-
stitution, and as he watched the hungry
man eating his meal with evident relish
he began to ask him some questions. He
found his unfortunate visitor to be
bright conversationalist, and became
interested in him. Before his visitor
left Gridley told him to come around
again II he got hungry, as he could al
ways get something to eat.
A few days later the one-armed man
called again. His name proved to be
James McNellis. From that time Grid
ley saw his protege frequently When
he called, he was given food and was
also furnished with articles Of clothing.
About q month passed. Then he dis
appeared and was not heard from again
until six months ago.
Gridley was surprised one day to re-
ceive a letter from McNellis. written
from Mexico. Therein the man, who
had appeared here as a tramp and was
looking for a mouthful to eat, declared
he had found rich gold mine. He re-
membered his benefactor and wanted
to share equally with him the good for
tune with which he had been blessed.
The letter told Of the writer's wander
ing into Lower California and Of his
prospecting trip through the mountains
near Ensenada. Unexpectedly he had
come upon the mine, and now he wanted
his former host to accept half interest
in 1t in token Of appreciation for his
Kindness.
The police clerk thought very little
about the matter at the time, but a few
weeks later he received another letter
containing q glowing account Of the
mineral wealth Of the location, OF which
his friend was begging him to accept
a half interest. McNellis, with his one
arm, had dug three tons Of the rich
earth out and packed 1t a mile down the
mountain with burros. When washed a
ton and q third had turned out $50 fine
gold.
After that Gridley heard from the
beggar-prospector frequently, the let
ters always containing minute details
as to what he was doing with his prop
erty. Gridley read with interest these
accounts. and only mentioned the mat
ter to one or two friends, but as busi-
ness proposition decided to investigate
1t. About two weeks ago he secured from
the police commission sixty days leave
of absence to take effect Nov 1st. Yes
terday he got his affairs together and
will leave for Ensenada this morning,
where he will meet McNellis. Yester-
day he received letter and telegram,
both from the old man, who is now at
Ensenada. The letter stated that n
company had offered large price for
the mine, and urged Mr.. Gridley to
come at once, as the property would not
be disposed of until his advice in the
matter had been given. McNellis has
also located another mine and had come
to Ensenada to take out the necessary
papers. He will await Gridley's arrival
there.
When seen last night Gridley said: II
don't know how this venture will turn
out, although have every reason to
believe that McNellis is telling the
truth in all that he writes. 1t is at least
a business proposition which is worth
investigating"