Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-23


sometimes change their minds and I'm
not throwing away even the slimmest
kind of a chance"
II have nothing for you," was the
curt answer, and with sort Of dignity
in his disappointment the young chap
turned on his heel. Before he reached
the door he was hailed:
Just a moment" said the florist.
do you know anything about orchids?
have a rich customer, sne was just
in, who commissions me to secure new
and rare varieties for her, and 1t has
just occurred to me that you might
but well, the hunt for orchids is diff
cult and dangerous
Let me try"-eagerly-"Ill not stop
for a little danger. If you'n tell me
where to go and what to get, I'll not
come back empty-handed."
The florist admonished the young
man that he had recently lost one of
his best hunters in a Philippine jungle.
He explained the danger, the uncer-
tainty of reward. and the probability
that the head waters Of the Amazon
would furnish the best specimens If
they could be reached. He would pay
the ocean passage both ways and ad-
vance $50 in addition. If the applicant
was determined to try his luck, but
would not advise him to go on long
trip without wages or certainty Of sue
cess.
"I'll risk It," said the young man, III
you are willing to trust me-"
"I'll do it. You have grit. Perhaps
you'll win out. You are sure of selling
rare orchids to my customers at high
figure, if you get them"
Six months later a half-completet
raft lay moored to a gum tree on the
upper Amazon. A haggard young mar
was putting the finishing touches to it
He had neither hammer nor nails, saw
nor ak, but he was happy in the pos
session of a wonderful collection of or
chids.
Away up on the rugged cliffs of the
Andes he had gathered the choices
specimens, delicate blooms that clunf
to the eternal rocks where they were
cooled by the snow at night and warm
ed by the tropic rays Of the sun during
the day.
No human being had crossed his patti
for a full month. He was not sorry
seeing that his last visitors had beer
savages who had shot his horse t
death with poisoned arrows along thu
river bottom. With saddle, rifle anc
hunting knife he had managed to es
cape, after hanging an ozier crate o.
brilliantly beautiful orchids high up II
a tree to await his return. He had M
need to mark the. spot. The perils o.
his adventure had fastened the place
indelibly on his mind and the orchid:
were safe from the unappreciative ma
tive marauders.
The saddle leather served him well II
the raft making. So did the Willow
like reeds from the river, which NJ
bound into ropes for the lashing OF tht
sapling. His ride Of 1000 miles. wa!
begun one morning with the preciou!
crate Of wood orchids transferred from
it's tree cradle to the raft. Twice III
was shipwrecked in the treacherou!
rapids of the broad river-and twice HI
had to rebuild his raft. Once his Graf
stuck fast on jutting stump two miles
from shore, but he hung on and wa!
rescued by friendly Indian.
| From the seaport town, which M
reached at last, he cabfed the florist tht
news of his success. Thirty days latel
he stood once more before the desk o.
Mr.. Wilson. But this time he left tht
shop with a permanent engagement
and a check for $3,000.- Savannah
/ News