Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
A RUN FOR HIS MONEY.
We Do Not Always Control Our Own
DestiEies.

st had the liveliest time the average man
wants The other day." said a clerk at the
Capitol land if it can be duplicated from
start to finish and in the unexpected stake
at the end of the run please trot 1t out.
Dead broke with only return ticket in
my pocket. / landed in Washington from
Baltimore about a month ago. 1 borrowed
from everybody l knew until the appear
ance of my face was sign TO my ac,
quantances to cross the street. Knocked
around town in persistent but futile EFFORTS
TO obtain employment. finally becoming DIS
Outraged and, though my stomach was
often empty. / was filled with the belief
that the hand of fate was turned toward
me with the knuckles outside.
about a week ago. reduced to my last
quarter. on the corner of 9th and r,
when a roomer in the house where l was
standing the landlady off told me there
was a telegram addressed to me lying on
the hat rack. / found it to contain an ofrer
OF a position in Baltimore II reacheo
there that afternoon before 3 O'Clock.
Il hurried into lunch room for hasty
lite. When 1 came to go / found that
some one had exchanged hats with me,
leaving me a very shabby derby. much too
small l lost five minutes expostulating
with the proprietor. / gave him my quar-
ter. receiving nickel in change. 1t was
just IL minutes to l o'clock when l left the
restaurant and the train started at 1
o'clock.
Il handed the conductor of an F street
car the nickel. my last cent on earth. 1t
was promptly returned and informed in
tone of sarcasm that the company would
not accept counterfeitS- L was certainly
done up in that restaurant. l expostulated
with him. explained the situation, begging
him man TO man to allow me to ride to
the Il. and o. station. 1t was pay or be
thrown off / got off. 1 was then six
blocks from the depot and l decided to
make = run for 1t.
Il sprinted so lively that at the corner
oF a,,I Tyli I
baby carriage and its helpless contents
sprawling the sidewalk. 1 accompanied
II. skinning my knees the palms Of my
hands and tearing two big rents in my
trousers where they struck the pavement.
i didn't stop to pick my hat up out of the
gutter.
ut was one minute Of 1 o'clock when I
dashed down the steps into the lower wait
Ing room of the station. The gatekeeper
evidently took me for escaping criminal.
as he edged away when he demanded my
ticket. had forgotten all about it. 1t
was not In my vest pocket. where 1 had
carried it. AS was rummaging hopelessly
in my clothes the train pulled out.
Weak and out Of breath. hatless. COW
ared with dust and dirt. with two big rag
ged holes in my trousers at the knee. I
looked wretched as / felt. In despair
sought the street, and / crossing
New Jersey avenue thought somebody hit
ME over the head with a club. The Emer-
Eency Hospital ambulance surgeon told me
few minutes later when / recovered con-
sciousness that car hit me-
However at the hospital I was fixed up
all right. and when 1 left the building /
met newspaper man of whom / hadn't
yet borrowed. He loaned me $50 and adj
used me to get on decent appearance at
,nce.
Il started for Pennsylvania avenue to
'pend his money and suit the action to the
word As turned the corner of 18th street
ran into the arms of a senator whom 1
aad once rendered personal favor, but
eho would not in the past assist me. NV
ilapidated appearance evidently worked
upon his sympathies, or else he was
ashamed to be seen talking with me- He
tsked me If / was in trouble. In trouble,
The tale of Woe i poured into that mans
fars would have moved the Washington
monument. / didn't tell him about the s,O
however He handed me a crisp $40 bill
Ind told me to report to him the next day
IL the Capitol. when I was placed in INV
present position.
glanced at a street clock near by and
observed that 1t was precisely 10 minutes
1t was the liveliest hour ever pass
81 In my life. but am mighty glad / miss
I'd that train"