Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-29
DAILY STORY
THE SPECTATOR.
1Original.1

never do the druuSery necessary 10 IL
small beginning. Give one of them
the assurance that by working in a
humdrum field for a few years he may
secure not only competence. but for
tune. and he will not be able to bring
himself to suffer the restraint and en-
dure the steady labor required. But he
will thrive under adversely.
Bushnell Bugbee was one of this
kind He had been given q splendid
opportunity by an uncle to work up
from a subordinate position to succeed
his uncle, who was childless, In the
management of the business. He
proved himself incompetent, only dis
tinguiShing himself once, when the
store caught fire. Then his was the
only cool head about the premises. and
he saved the place from destruction.
His uncle finally discharged him, and
he drifted. doing nothing till, when mt
the lowest ebb. he married. He said
he thought marriage would settle him.
Perhaps Il better statement of the case
would be that the condition of a mar
ried man with no income would create
conditions under which he could act.
At any rate it did.
He had Il hundred dollars at the time
of his marriage, and he proceeded TO
lose that at game of faro. Then one
morning when he and his wife had
nothing In the house for breakfast he
started out TO find some means of bet
tering his condition. Strollng along Il
street aimlessly with his hands in his
pockets, he came to stone front dwell
ing. from the stOOp of which protruded
n red flag. denOtin2 an auction. There
is something in this symbol when hung
| from such a place denoting trouble.
Ten to one those who have lived in the
house died or failed in business or met
| with some calamity to render the sale
| necessary. Possibly it was some such
| thought that led Bughee to enter He
| found splendid house with fine furni-
| ture of an olden type that was to be
| sold under the hammer. He looked the
property over with the critical eye of
one who was considering whether it
| was good enough for him.
\ crowd was gathering. and present
| Iy the auctioneer mounted table and
| cdiltu lOE IL blji. GNOillt one Slul lttl W III
an offer of $4,000. which was not half
the value of the property. The bidding
was spirited till $4,000 was reached
| when all but two bidders dropped OUT.
| One of these seemed determined to Sc
| cure what was evidently Il bargain.
| and the other after wing with him
| till the figure of $4,000 was reached
| n on1 h1rnyU
at this iuncture Bushnell Bug1ce
| felt a stiff piece of paper slipped into
his hand. and a downward glance told
| him it was a bank bill. At the same
time man standing next to him whiS-
| pered to him to bid against the Win
ner Bugbee. who was getting hungry
for his breakfast, Obeyed. He raised
the other bidder to S3S,5O0 and. seeing
| him about to weaken. looked around
for the man who had employed him
| for dummy He was nowhere TO be
seen. When he turned again he saw
his opponent leaving the room, and the
auctiOneer called to him:
What name, Sir?'
There was not the slightest CULVER in
the successful bidders voice as he an
swered. Bushnell Bugbee."
"All right. | want q check for 10 pes
cent of the purchase, or $3.50"
AT that moment a man came hurry
ing into the room to learn that the sale
was over and the property knocked
down. He got his information from
the auctiOneer. and Bugbee saw the
latter point in his direction. Before he
could remark upon the auctiOneer's re
quest for q check the disappointed man
approached him and requested to see
him in another room.
"Do you wish this property for youl
own use or as Il speculation?" asked
the late conner
II would prefer to live in it," replied
Bugbee truthfully.
at belonged to my father. My broth
er lived in it. but speculated in stocks
and lost all his money. | returned
this morning to find the old homestead
was about to he sold. l have made
money on the Pacific coast and don
, want to see the house or furniture G,
out of the family. Please name /;
, sum that you Will take for your bar
> gain"
> Nothing would induce me to stanC
in a mans way to recover the home
of his ancestors" said Bugbee. Il
, you will name a sum you cOnside
this home worth to you. 1 will accep
it."
This is indeed generosity" said thu
, other. Il have not asked what yol
paid for ii, but had been here in TIM
would certainly not have stopped
bidding under $4,000. l will cheerful
ly give you that price for it and thanl
you very much
1.-THE favor is mine," replied Bugbee
gin the opportunity to restore one
home to him. Your check FOR S11,JO
is all you are indebted to me-
The man drew a check book from hi
pocketbook, wrote check for tn
amount and handed it to Bugbee ant
then drew another for S3S500, whicl
he gave the auctioneer. Pressing Bug
= bees hand gratefully. he left the house
+ Mr. Bugbee has since become i'm