Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-30
HIS START IN LIFE.
TWAS AoooD ONE AND WAS THRUST
ON HIM az ACCIDENT.

TWAS AoooD ONE AND WAS THRUST
ON HIM az ACCIDENT.
he Incident wouldnt Have Hap
pea~d u = shortsightcd Real Es-
tate Auctioneer Had Not Forgotten
HIS EyeKlasses.
Il owe my start In life to the fact
that an estimable old gentleman forgot
to put his eyeglasses in his pocket one
morning" said prosperous business
man from sister city. It's rather q
curious story" he went on. "and I'll
tell II as briefly as possible. A good
many years ago. when I was young
fellow Of - or thcreabouts. | drifted
into Louisville In search OF Job that
didn't materialize. and the upshot of It
was that I found myself practically
broke In n strange city. Up to that
time had always worked for small
wages aud had never succeeded In ac-
cumulaiing rs much as $50, but had
an abiding faith that II could once
get hold Of modest stake could
launch out for myself and make some
money.
zone morning. when was wander
Ing about with only two or three silver
dollars In my pocket looking for n
chance to go to work Mt anything that
might offer. dropped into big
down stairs room where some real
estate was being sold at auction. A
large crowd was present, and there
was an indescribable feeling Of ten
sion In the air that warned me some
thing unusual was about to happen.
while | was standing there. only
vaguely interested. the auctionecr. who
was quite an elderly gentleman. put
up a piece Of improved city property
and after n considerable pause receiv.
ed a bid Of 500. could see that the
smaIlness OF the amount excited sur
prise. and | was also aware Of COM
motion I'm one corner where half
dozen previous bidders were gathered
together in IN excited group. They
seemed to be quarrcllng about some
thing. and meanwhile the auctioneer
was Indignantly appealing for re-
spectacle offer.
MAKE II S2.5O0r he shouted. Does
any gentleman bid S2,5O0T He looked
directly AT me. and made n gesture Of
denial. Thank your he exclaimed.
greatly 10 my surprise. The gentleman
over there bids $500. and, II can
help IL. no combination OF buyers Is go
Ing 10 be allowed 10 dictate prices ut
this sale- With that he suddenly
knocked down the property to me.
mo sooner was this DONE" continued
the story teller. than n great uproar
Of protests arose from the group In the
corner They insisted that they had
been given no chance 10 bid. but the
auctioneer stood firm and, calling me
TO the platform. requested my name
aud address and 20 per cent cash de-
poslt on the $500.
by that time | realized. OF course.
that some extraordinary chance had
thrown n fine piece OF property into my
hands at fraction OF It's real value,
and did some quick thinking I've
sent messenger for the money I said
rs coolly rs | could. and III have IL
here In IL minutes
The auctioneer looked at the clock.
All right be replied. IN give you
that limit
''Then took desperate chance.
pushed through the crowd. which was
already interested In the next sale, and
been one OF the loudest kickers few
moments before.
"Look here said. drawing him
aside. Do you want 10 be ny silent
partner for an hour or soY
"What d'you meanY said be.
IL gave him the truth In dozen
words. Now let me have that 500
deposit money added, and well
share the profits, whatever they are
"The little man looked AT me shrewd-
ly. This is big joke on all Of u.s. he
said. grinning. and guess I'll risk the
deal
AT the same time he counted out
$500 and put II In my hands. | raced
back TO the desk with the cash, cllnch-
ed the sale and before noon had the
deed In my possession. Then. to make
long story short. my silent partner
offered me $1,000 cash for my interest,
and as $1,000 looked about as big as a
mountain at that stage Of the game l
promptly accepted. That thousand. for
tunately placed. gave me the start that
Aas kept me going ever since.
"But what about the eyeglasses, did
you say? Why. the auctioneer. as !
afterward learned. was very near
sighted. and on the morning TO which l
refer he had forgotten his glasses. That
was why he mistook my gesture OF dis
avowai for a sign OF assent and forced
me. In spite OF myself. into good
thing. | never understood the exact
true inwardness OF the deal. but the
facts In the rough were that a clique
Of spectators had formed a combine
TO keep down prices. but, owing to
some misunderstanding, failed to bid
promptly on the property which ! Sc
cured. The auctioneer was on to the
game and anxious TO break 1t up; hence
his precipitancy In knocking down the
lot to yours truly. heard. later on.
that my portly silent partner made So
900 out Of the transaction. but didn't
begrudge him the money. The $500 he
gave me on faith that morning was
worth fully 10 per cent minute
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