Evening journal., 1899-04-20
As1OOoO STRIKE.

turn came his eyes twlnk.ed as he
brushed The ashc1 from his cigar with
finger circled by a diamond ring
and rather lazily got into position for
his innings.
"On the subject Of luck" he began.
Il suppose | have a right to say some
thing, inasmuch as the stroke Of my
life was made inside of three days and
without the use Of a dollar of capital.
In 1855 the firm l was working for in
little inland town went to the wall
and without a weeks notice / was left
without a leg to stand on. When my
bills were settled I had barely enough
70 get out Of town, but decided to 20
10 New York, where | wasn't known
and begin life over again.
During the ride along the Hudson
l became interested in the talk OF two
men just behind me, who discussed
business matters and referred incl
dentally to an important manufactur-
ing site to be sold in a certain real
estate office in New York, at noon the
next day, 1t was said that some West
ern men wanted the site, which was
regarded the best in the East for their
purpose, and that a New York firm
had Planned to Shut them out by buy
ing the property at any cost. The
Westerners were thought to be equally
determined to get the property.
Beyond this conversation the only
cause of interruption in my rather
dreary reflections was a somewhat
stout, mddle-aged woman who sat
just ahead of me. and to whom two or
three times l rendered trining services.
AS we entered New York there was
the usual furry Of preparations to
| leave the train, and the stout woman
was among the first of the passengers
to be lined up in the aisle. AS | was
in no haste. / did not rise to put on
my Overcoat until the train stopped.
noticed that the woman had dropped
a small handbag, but before l could
get ii and put on my overcoat she was
outside the car l hurried cut 10 Sc.
her disappear into a carriage anu hear
her call out, l"Oh, my handbag anl
diamOndsl" Before the alarm had
gone further l placed the bag in her
hands and explained that she had
droTped it in the car She almost
overwhelmed me with thanks, in
which her husband, who was present,
/ Joined.
We Cwe you more than you know,
sir ignoring my attempt to with
draw, and l must in some way repay
your Kindness. Our carriage is in the
way here and there is no time to talk
Ig there anything to prevent your TAX
ing dinner with us? If net, step into
the carriage.
Before | could collect my wits to
make suitable protest we We're being
bowled away and the woman was re-
iterating her relief and gratitude.
few minutes later we were received ar
the door Of a residence on one Of the
avenues, and my hos, was saying
This is my son, s.r-but l shall have
to ask your name, Whereupon ! gave
him a card.
The name Cf an cid friend Of
? mine, he declared as he read it; j
knew him in Al county
Possibly my father l said; he
lives at Stratford in that county
1.-The very same, l am sure, he
went on; we were at school together.
! And l Jared thereafter as an cid ac-
quaintance.
1T came out during dinner that the
diamonds had been worn by the wo.
man at a wedding, she had been at
tending, and were very valuable. The
family seemed to rejoice particularly
however, over their escape from th'
publicity usually attending the loss O
A. a. n. g . h. J
the hour was late and ] spoke of go
ing. but was led to admit that my
time was my own, and IL was soon set
tied, somewhat to my dismay. that foi
, day or two at least must be {
- guest Of the family. Next morning
r went with my host 20 his place of busi
s ness. and found that he was a dealel
in jewelry. AS noon approached
Thought of The real estate sale, ant
spoke Of the matter 20 my host
What. you interested in tina
D.. | slle?' he said in a tone Of surprise
S Lets SO over; it's just across thl
] street.
d we crossed and caused some com
D ment | tbought, as we entered thl
place. The Bidding seemed rathe
SLOW. but gradually ran up to $780, 00O
AT that point the auctioneer glance,
e over in my direction, and scarcel.
= aware wGat 1 was doing" l nodded
b A hundred and forty, he shouted
e and few minutes later the propert
r was knocked down at tha. figure. Be
fcre I could recover from my amaze
ment or reply to the aucrloneer's re
quest for the purchasers name, tn
= door opened and a man rushed in AM
E asked whether the sale was over, an
d who was the buyer. When | wa
e pointed out he approached looked M
? over rather lofdly and said:
Represent the 81. LOUIS men,
suppose.
NO. sir. l said. with a meeknes
+ that he appeared 60 m stake for indtf
y ference.
The devil you dont, he retortet
4 cycug susp.cfous.y the iewe'er VIII
+" aoci beside me- What do you wan
Of the properly, then? Going to sci
chg
Possibly was all could say.
q " Come aside here. he resumed, i
e mIdcr tone, as he motEoned 10 tn