The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
LOT 104
IN Bernard Z. ]. Capes.

tai had acquitted himself with impunity
of a tradidonally fatal enterprise-he had
drawn with his lips the poison from a
clogged tube in a case of diphtheria and
had suffered no Ill effects as a conse-
quence This was to stand remarkable
not for the act-which had infinite noble
precedent-but for its sequel; yet, three
days after the event the young doctor
would recall his deed with little else than
a warmth of professional pride as over
the successful conduct Of case.
But then, il is true, he had some en-
crossing personal matters TO occupy that
much of the attention he could spare
from his patients, matters that were to
reach their curious eliminating point,
during the course of his third day. in a
contretemps that would appear to have
been designed of Providence for the ex-
press acknowledgment of merit. Introduce
torily and essentially 90 the context it
may be promised that George George was
young; that he was without money or
substantial interest; that he had all the
world to win.
His present post, his first. was Just suf-
ficienty remunerative to enable him to
live embarrassed of creditors. He had
been fortunate in procuring II through
the recommendation of great-unele, who
was also an iuhabitant of Brantham and
trustee 10 the estates Of the hospital
itself; and under the aegis of this worthy
the house surgeon had already passed the
first half Of his year of Office, when sud
denly his patron and relative died.
Now this, doubtless, was a matter for
ell decent regret and it shall be said
that the deceaseds granddaughter was at
fecting no more than he felt land that
was honest measure, for he had a liking
for the old gentleman), when he was in
formed. to his utter establishment, that
his uncle had left him by will everything
of which he had died possessed
The shock was as genially stunning as
is unexpected applause to an inclpient
orator; the reaction as depressing as
might be the discovery on the part of such
orator that he had been cried-up iroui-
cally. For so it appeared, George George
had been bequeathed, in all inspiring
phraseology, a heritage of-emptiness.
How this was so became at once appar-
ent The departed trustee had been a
government pensioner His income died
with him. While he lived this had either
sufficed simply for his wants. or else he
had been-and such was his reputation-a
deplorable skinfint Results however
would not appear 10 substantiate the lat
ter charge. No securities. no dividend
warrants, no personal estate or boarded
capital were disinterred from chest or bu-
reau after the most uncommon investiga-
ton. His pension, it appeared had
rounded off a either end the tesla tor S
financial position, and the disappointed le-
gatee had at last to face his disilluson-
L. A.. ..
It was worth This was little enough, in
all Conscience tritie of money at the
bank. the almost moribund leasehold of a
house In Bridge street and the furniture
and personal effects (ali OF indifferent val
ue) therein contained The unhappy doc
tors momentary dreams of being able to
realize his best ambition by purchasing a
practice at the termination of his year Of
office, were dissolved INTO thin air.
Now, it was no good starting grievance
against Fate because his holiday mood
had received a drenching. so 70 speak. 1t
was not like him moreover, to do so. He
simply made the best of a disappointing
Job, and straightway put up to auction the
whole Of the household pharaphernalia
(Which. in view of the near expiration of
the lease could be OF no earthly use TO
HIM, with the object of converting It into
at least an inconsiderable nucleus OF cap
ital
Even here, however, disenchantment
seemed to wait upon him. The day of
the sale--conducted on the premises by
Bull & Hacker--was chill and swampy;
the attendance was poor; the bidding spir-
itless and inefficient
The doctor, as before introduced, with
the modest memory of his deed of hero
ism overloaded by present preoccupatlon-
1 a No.. If n
noon to see how matters were progress
ing. AS to that, he was seized al once
with a disconfortable conviction. The
lois were being knocked down with as
cheap a popularity as If they were skittles
In an alley Several. while he waited, were
sold for an "old song" and it was the
barb in the sting for him. as always to
the uninitiated, to observe in each the in
association OF objects, presum-
ably much better offered apart, that 1t Is
the irreverent humor Of auctioneers TO e&-
hlbit in their tabulating of the household
goods.
Item: coal scuttle, a scent fountain,
two clothes horses and sundries Che lat
ter inclusive, apparently, of a charwo-
mans bonnet and framed photograph
OF somebody's aunt, In a crinollne, stand
ing by an Ionic pedestaO. six shillings.
Item: A camp washstand, three dish COW
ers and a purdonium (Which turned out
to be nothing but the coal scuttle over
again, two shilings. Item: Plaque, 1.-THE
Wandering Jew "a fanciful description
evolved out of the fine genius of the aue-
tioneer's clerk, inasmuch as the figure was
obviously and even aggressively feminine
probably Hecate). painted in a flower pot
saucer by an amateur But 1t fetched a
good price. three and sixpence. Hem: An
ormolu and bronzed three-lght gasalier.
AT this point some hing of a brisk rally
occurred in the bidding. 1t was at the
instance OF a stranger, who, upon the call
ing of the lot d04 was its number), swiftly
detached himself from the gloom of the
outer ring of bystanders and pushed his
way to the front with an evident eye "a
business. He was a man Of certain profess
sional east, strongly built, loud in the style
of those who are accustomed to appeal
forcibly 10 audiences. His face was flaccd
like veal; his anointed curls his eyebrows
and the blot of hair on his upper lip were
of a Brunswick black. His portly form
was encased in long threadbare overcoai
with sham Astrakhan collar. and on his
head he wore at a rakish angle a seru-
pulously groomed silk hat with a prepos.
ferrous curl of brim.
Mr. Hacker. the Junior partner, who Of.
fieiated at the rostrum in all second-class