The Forrest City times., 1898-01-14
THE UNlUCkY MAN.
0Orn Under an EVIL Star Fortune
| Played Him Bad Tricks.


Johnson drifted down here some
years ago from the Lord knows where,
and was evidently in hard luck from
the first.
He was a big, fne-looking fellow
about 35 years old, and it was easy to
see that he was a gentleman and had
seen better days.
For several weeks he rented a cheal
room and lived on crackers and an &C.
casional weinerwurst, but bis small
stock of money gave out, and his land
lord notified him to give up his room.
In some way the case attracted the
attention of an alleged philanthropist,
who mixed business with religion in n
very jolly and profitable fashion.
This baldheaded old gentleman, with
his perpetually smiling face, told John
son to go to work for him, take hia
meals at his house and sleep on n
lounge in the back office.
The poor fellow jumped at the chance
The benevolent old gentleman found
that he had obtained the services of q
valuable man.
Johnson understood the line of bust
ness turned over to him, and was quite
successful. But he received not cent
of salary and no commission, and his
benefactor told all the leading citizens
that he was taking care of the stranger
as an act of charity
One day the old man and Johnson re-
turned from dinner and entered the
Office
Several gentlemen were present, and
they were astonished TO hear the pro-
prietor request his underling to go to
his house, seven blocks away, for his
handkerchief, which he had forgotten.
With flushed face the poor fellow
marched out into the hot and dusty
street. In about Is minutes he returned
and handed the handkerchief to his fla.
and smiling boss.
That's all right" said the latter,
CURLY.
"But it is not all right" replied the
other, sharply. Take that, sir!" and
he gave his tyrant a vigorous slap in the
face.
Everybody rose to intercede, but it
was unnecessary.
johnson stared sternly at the cover.
ing figure in the chair and then walked
out of the room and downstairs.
The incident was talked about, and
when Johnson went to the old mans
rival in business and told him what
had occurred he was engaged on the
spot at a fair salary
he had travelling position, and did
so well that his salary was raised to
$3.50 month after the first two months.
Then he rented nice cottage, fur
nished it and sent to a distant state for
his wife, who landed in Atlanta the
most delighted little woman in ten
states.
THE outlook is bright" said John
son to me, but you never can tell.
have bad luck, as rule, and il may fol-
low me-"
l tried to encourage him. He was so
energetic and had such head Cor bust
ness that l did not see how he could
fail.
He shook his head sadly.
Il am an unlucky man." he ex-
planned; 'some men are born to hard
luck"
He took the road and worked up
tremendous business for his employer
I'll be at home next Sunday" he
said TO me one day; "come and take
dinner with me-"
promised and shook hands with him
as he ran to catch the train.
Two days later l read in the news
columns of my paper that he had been
found dead in bed at hotel in Column
bus.
Heart failure was the cause of his
death, the doctors said.
The worry and distress of many
months had done their work. and pros
perity came too late for him to enjoy
II. His luck had followed him.
They found the dead man with a
smile OF his face. and on his table was
a bright and affectionate letter writ
ten to his little wife in Atlanta, who was
then making preparations for our Sun
day dinner, which was never TO be-
Atlanta Journal