The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-11-09
HIS START In LIFE.
TWAS AGOOD ONE AND WAS THRUST
ON HIM BY ACCIDENT.

pened IL n shOrtsighted Real Es-
tate Auctioneer Had Not Forgotten
His Eyeglasses.
at owe my start in life to the fact
that an estimable old gentleman forgot
to put his eyeglasses in his pocket one
morning." said a prosperous business
man from a sister city. Its rather a
curious story" he went on. "and I'll
tell it as briefly as possible. A good
many years ago, when 1 was young
fellow of 25 or Whereabouts, l drifted
into Louisville In search Of job that
didn't materialize, and the upshot Of 1t
was that l found myself practically
broke In a strange city. Up to that
time l had always worked for small
wages and had never succeeded in ac-
cumulating as much as $50, but had
an abiding faith that If l could once
get hold of a modest stake 1 could
launch out for myself and make some
money.
zone morning, when l was wander
ing about with only two or three silver
dollars in my pocket, looking for a
chance to go to work at anything that
might offer, l dropped into a 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 l was standing there, only
vaguely interested, the auctioneer who
was quite an elderly gentleman, put
up piece OF improved city property
and after a considerable pause receiv-
ed bid of $500 l could see that the
smallness Of the amount excited sur
prise, and | was also aware Of a COM
motion in one corner where half
dozen previous bidders were gathered
together in an excited group. They
seemed to be quarreling about some
thing, and meanwhile the auctioneer
was Indignantly appealing for re-
spectacle offer.
"'Make it $2,500v he shouted. Does
any gentleman bid $2,500Y He looked
directly at me, and made gesture Of
denial. Thank your he exclaimed,
greatly to my surprise. The gentleman
over there bids $4,000, and, If can
help 1t, no combination Of buyers is 60
Ing to be allowed to dictate prices at
this salev With that he suddenly
knocked down the property to me.
"No sooner was this DONE" continued
the story teller, than a great uproar
Of protests arose from the group in the
corner. They insisted that they had
been given no chance to bid. but the
auctioneer stood firm and, calling me
to the platform, requested my name
and address and 20 per cent cash de-
post on the $4,000.
by that time | realized, OF course,
that some extraordinary chance had
thrown fine piece Of property into my
hands at fraction Of It's real value,
and l did some quick thinking. I've
sent a messenger for the money said
as coolly as | could. and I'll have 1t
here In Is minutes
1.-THE auctioneer looked at the clock.
All right he replied, I'll give you
that limit
"Then / took a desperate chance.
pushed through the crowd, which was
already interested in the next sale, and
beckoned to a little fat man who had
been one Of the loudest kickers a few
moments before.
""Look here l said, drawing him
aside. DO you want to be my silent
partner for an hour or sor
"'What d'you meanT said he.
81 gave him the truth in dozen
words. Now let me have that $500
deposit money ! added, and We'll
share the profits, whatever they are
1.-THE little man looked at me shrewd-
ly. This is big joke on all of u.s. he
said, grlnning. 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, clinch-
ed the sale and before noon had the
deed in my possession. Then, to make
a long story short. my silent partner
offered me $1,000 cash for my interest,
and ms $1,000 looked about as big as
mountain ut that stage Of the game
promptly accepted. That thousand. for
tunately placed, gave me the start that
has 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
refer he had forgotten his glasses. That
was why he mistook my gesture Of dis
avowal for sign of assent and forced
me. in spite Of myself, into a good
thing. | never understood lie exact
true nwardness of the deal but the
facts In the rough were that clique
Of spectators had formed combine
to keep down prices. but. owing to
some misunderstanding, failed to bid
promptly on the property which Sc
rured. The auctioneer was on to the
game and anxious to break 1t up; hence
b.s precipitancy In knocking down the
ht 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 a minute."-
New Orleans Times-Democrat
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