The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-24
The LOTTERY TICKET.
IFrom the Record Heraid.l


One year ago George Clayton was
foreman in a factory on Lake street. He
received a salary of S25 a week, not
very big pay in itself perhaps, but big
enough by comparison with the Daltry
wages which were paid most OF the
workmen. The factory was owned by
four men. and it was not a very big
concern, and so the proprietors declared
that they had to pay small wages or
they wouldn't get enough out OF the
place to support themselves.
Whenever any visitors came into the
factory or whenever one of the proprle-
tors stroIled through Foreman George
Clayton put on what the men called "a
good front" When, however, there was
no one around but the employees Clay
tons visage would have made a good
sign for a pickle factory. Clayton put
on his sourIy severe expression because
he thought it kept the men in awe OF
him and of his place. No man in the
factory who violated the rules even &C
cidentally escaped the allotted fine.
Clayton saw to it that he was locked.
He would discharge an employe for the
slightest mistake if the man had ever
shown any symptoms of not standing
in awe of the boss. Life wasn't pleas
ant in the Lake street factory.
Now George Clayton was physically
not an Unlocking fellow. He knew how
to smile and to be genial when he
thought smiling and geniality would
pay. Clayton had set his cap for Dolly
Shannon, the daughter of one of the
four proprietors Of the factory. Dolly
was a gentle hearted pretty girl, char
itably inclined by nature and not given
to thinking badly of anybody. The set
ting of George Clayton's cap was sue
cessful and Dolly was caught. She had
heard her father say that Clayton was
a first class foreman. a steady fellow
and one who was bound to rise The
truth is though that Dolly was not
caught as fast by these statements as
she was by the foreman's handsome
face and glib tongue. The wedding day
was set and the sky of Foreman Clay
ton and Dolly shannon looked serene.
In the Lake street factory there work
ed a young mechanic who on a stipend
of $12 a week supported two little sis
ters and an invalid mother. Physicians
bills and delicacies for the invalid ate
up a large part of the $12 a week. The
workman, whose name was John
Forbes, was a steady fellow who made
energies to his labor. The truth is that
a year ago there was slight demand for
the articles turned out of this factory,
though the future looked promising.
There was not much of a market for
she services of the men who could do
the work required. If there had been
John Forbes and his skilled fellow work.
men would not have been shaving away
at S12 week. Forbes had seen Dolly
Shannon pass through the work room
two or three times and his eye ha0
lighted when he saw the pretty girl. But
then there came something like a sigh
into his heart when he thought that for
him the future must be like the present
work and work away for the helpless
ones at home.
One day at the noon hour the men in
the factory gathered in corner. Boys
said one who acted as spokesman, the
foreman's going to get married The day
is fixed and the brides goin' to be Miss
Shannon. the old mans daughter"
Then it was that the spokesman lowered
his voice a little and continued Il know
boys, that there amt much comm to the
foreman by rights from us. but 1 CUES.
we'd better give him a weddin present il
we want to have things at all comfortable
like. So I move that we all chip in and
buy something for Clayton. Wen give il
to him and not to the bride That'n make
more impression on him, you know He's
that kind And the workman winked d
bit knowingly at his fellows.
All the boys Clipped in except John
Forbes. who got red in the face and look
ed ashamed. Boys" he said. 4 haven't
a red cent. I guess some of you know
6Or m at
have been harder than usual of late, and
I'm into my pay three weeks ahead"
The men looked a bit compassionately
at Forbes They knew the struggle he
had in life. Suddenly the mans face
frightened a little. Il wonder" he said
If he'd take it amiss if / give him this?'
and Forbes put his hand in his poke
and drew out piece of paper.
You see, boys. it was this way: Abou
three weeks ago 1 got crazy with tn
hard times I couldn't make both end:
meet, and I got reckless. 1 had Just s.
in the world. fellow came along VIII,
sells lottery tickets on the quiet never
bought one and l never gambled for {
cent in my life, but that minute, beine
reckless, 1 said to myself: Who know
but this thingn win? and I spent my las
cent for a bit of pasteboard. TIN neve
win me anything, 1 guess but 1 hear,
somewhere that people just getting mar
ried are lucky, and maybe the forema
might have the luck to win the price of
stove or bureau out of this thing"
"All right, Forbes" said the mer
well give the ticket to the foreman an
tell him it came from you. but there ar
not many OF us thatn wish him luc
along with it."
The wedding of Foreman Clayton an
Dolly Shannon was set for Thursday o
the next week. 1t was still twelve day
away Two days after Clayton had re
ceived the lottery ticket he picked up