The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-22
THREW AWAY $4,000.

One of the happiest men that has been
In st. Louis for many a day is Zenas
Martin. He left for Texas recent
morning with a nice roll that contained
over $4,000. The story OF that same
bunch OF money is a remarkable one.
About three months ago Martin sold
out his business in a small Texas town
for $4,000 cash and came to this city. He
had three $1,000 bills, and nearly $1,000
more in greenbacks of other denomIn-
ations. After taking in the sights for
a few days he proceeded to load up on
st. Louis tanglefoot, and do the city in
true Texas style. Cab rides, cold bot
ties and all their accompanments were
right in his line.
one night he became solicitous for
the money, and before starting on a
prolonged spree he pasted the three
$1,000 bills on the inside of his shirt
front, says the st. Louis Globe Demo-
crat. When he reached his room at
dawn the next morning he disrobed and
tossed the shirt on the floor. taking 1t
later on. with some collars and cuffs to
a laundry. forgetful OF the $4,000 bills
which decorated its interior surface.
1t was not until the next day that the
clouds passed out of Martins brain.
and then a species of insanity seized
the unfortunate man. He could re-
member everything but the name and
location of the laundry where he had
left that valuable shirt. In a frenzy of
despair he drank more and harder and
for two or three days he wandered
about until he landed at Union Station
one night, got ticket for Baltimore,
where he had relatives. and left the
town without notifying the police or
anybody else. He was taken seriously
I'll in the Monumental City. and fingered
for two months In an almost hopeless
condition.
Finally ne recovered. when like a
fash came the memory OF the laundry
where he had left his linen IN ST. Louis.
II was on Eastern avenue near Web
eter. AS soon as he could get there ne
came On Saturday he quietly walked
into the Home Laundry and made him
self known.
80 you are Mr.. Martin. are you?"
said Theodore Klagss. one Of the pro-
prietors OF the laundry. well. I'm glad
10 see you. for I have been waiting a
long time for the man who papers the
inside OF his shirt front with $1,000
bills"
Poor Martin nearly tainted when
Klages referred To those long lost bank
notes. $50 you found them?" ne
EdSUtu.
"Yes: found three $1,000 bills pasted
on your shirt bosom by the merest
chance on earth. The bundle OF linen
was thrown I'm a pile with other things.
and as I was passing through the wash
room ] caught sight ~ your fortune
through the opening in the back OF the
shirt. | steamed the bills loose and nut
them away. expecting YOU 10 call any
moment. But as you did not put IN an
appearance nor leave any address I was
greatly puzzled. Last week my partner
and I had determined TO advertise for
the man with the $1,000 shirt N some
thing was not heard from him by Sep
tember I. Now you are here and I
guess we can tx YOU M all right"
Martin explained an tnat had han
pened TO him. ana was eager 20 have
the laundry take at least $500 OF his
recovered fortune. hut the gentlemen of
the laundry would not receive the
money
"I'll never do such n foolish thing
again" said the man from Texas. "T'li
Just get porous plaster and rtick n on
my chest. with those biIts under n ar
ter putt ng some pnrafine paper about
the precious mementos OK that long and
disastrous jag"