The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-02-28

10 SSSeS~
TMBLAZONED in large gilded |
X letters, over the door of a big |
IL department store on Archer
Ave-, one may read: "John Fay:
General Merchandise" Several years
ago while presiding over chair in
tonsorial parior, directly opposite this
store, became very we'll acquainted
with Mr.. Fay. He had been, in his
own words, man of the world-that
is, he had travelled far and wide, and
followed various vocations. The re-
suit was that his narratives were es-
pecially interesting to me, and a few
of them, rehashed, may be interesting.
l shall prepare them during leisure
moments, and circumstances may con-
nive to prevent my getting them in
regularly. With this explanation l
proceed with this story.
"You may have observed" began my
friend. "that the early friends and &C
quaintances of q person seldom exhibit
any interest in his career until his
fate comes to a crucial turning point.
Then their interest may be simply of
indifferonoo o. scnri0nity ty.---.. .Chara--uas
Ned Allen, for instance. first met
Ned in the smoking car of Southern
Pacific passenger train. He was
salesman for Chicago furniture house
and was genial, large-hearted young
fellow.
GAS we were both on the road and
met pretty often we became good
friends, 1 incidently, learning his his
tory. He was born and reared on a
farm in an Eastern state. But at an
early age lost his parents in railroad
wreck. He then began the battle of
life. Being an optimistic lad he made
host Of friends, who, to hear him tell
it, were greatly pleased to see him
work his way up to the position of
travelling salesman. But as time rolled
on his early friends forgot him and
were, in a way, forgotten. He was do
ing fine, and back in Chicago was
pretty girl who rejoiced in Ned's career,
for, be it understood, they were en-
gagged. 1t was then, about the time
we met, that he experienced crisis
that would have unnerved the best of
: us.
"It was on Friday that we planned
to spend the following Sunday in
Boonsville, but as our routes made II
necessary for US to part temporarily
we concluded that If we could make
connections both of US would arrive al
Boonsville Saturday night. However
Ned failed to show up Saturday night
and supposed he had been unable te
make connections. So concluded te
spend Sunday with some friends living
> in the town.
"About eight o'clock Sunday morn
ing as was seated in the hotel Office
checking up some papers, the dool
: swung open and in came Ned. Aftel
greetings he began to explain why h
had been unable to get to Boonsvill'
Saturday night. Washout, poor roads
or something; anyway he had scarcel!
Q started to explain when in came a mes
8 tsenger boy with telegram. The DO.
Q spoke to the clerk asking If gent b.
: the name of Allen was at the hotel
u OF course, as Ned hadn't registered ye
+, the clerk said no. But Ned arose an,
n said: Beg pardon; that's my name
9 Accordingly, the telegram was hande'
Q to him, and after paying the boy b
+ turned to me and said: Jack, Eli be
q you ten cent cigar that this is mess
age from Jennie
J. "Now having had similar message
% sent to me during my counting days
s. I knew that the next best thing is
q good smoke. watched his feature