The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-08-31
bob"
INGERSOLL'S LOAN

pestered by a horde Of pensioners,
said young attorney at the Lawyers
club. In addition to the regular par
asites that prey upon him continually
are occasional needy ones that appeal
to him at every opportunity
In this respect the late Gel Robert
G. Ingersoll was probably the most
annoyed man of his time Generous
to fault toward his friends, his big
heart was touched by appeals from
the most casual stranger I doubt il
there was a city in which he lectured
where he did not leave behind part of
the money that he had earned upon
the platform / ought to know some
thing of this, for | myself made a
touch on the colonel, and he respond
ed to it like the gentleman that he
was.
1T was down in Memphis about ten
~ears ago. How | happened to be
here is nobody's business. 1t is
enough to say that was stone broke
'riendless and desperate. | even en-
We'd the swearing, half-naked steve
aores down at the river wharves, as
they stood in line to receive their pay,
only to hustle off and lose their money
In a crap game. Ny hotel bill at the
Peabody was worrying me a lot 1t
wasn't big but | had nothing with
which to pay it. ] scarcely had nerve
enough to go in and eat my meals, and
! never would have stepped up to the
desk if hadn't been compelled to ask
the clerk for my mail in the hope
that letter might contain check
that would relieve my misery.
"One day / noticed in the hotel
lobby lithograph likeness of Col. In
nouncing a lecture on The Mistakes
of Moses. But this time it furnished
an inspiration. / hated to confess it.
| had met Col 1ngersoll in the days Of
my prosperity. year or SO before.
But the meeting had been Of the most
casual sort and gave me not the
slightest claim upon his friendship
doubted if he even remembered me.
Such was my necessity, and so low
had my self-respect ebbed that ! de-
termined to join the vast army OF
leeches that followed him
"On the night of the lecture, which
was given the next evening, / went
around to the stage door and gained
admission by stating that l was
friend of the famous orator. A stage
hand tyov a., rfv,er a
at the close of the lecture handed my
note to Col. Ingersoll.
Il can see the noble old chap as he
came out into the wings to meet me.
He evidently had met my kind before,
but he was patient and courteous
I don't remember you he said,
but tell me what can do for you
Tell him! unloosed the tongue of
my woe and let fly. told him had
to have 500
"'That is pretty large sum for one
man to ask of a stranger. he remons-
trated gently.
Il admitted it, but pleaded the
harder
Very well, he weakened, handing
me the bill Only remember that
am not so rich as many think am.
Hundreds of persons ask me for
money I can't give them all twenty.
dollar bills. Some day l may need
this SO if you have any luck hereafter
send it to me. ] may have to pass it
on to some other poor devil
tfV4hof Of he
me over the rough hill of my hard
luck. Inside of year / was in Wash /
ington with a good job. One day and |
it happened to be pay day for me, /
was coming down the elevator of the
old building formerly occupied by the
department of justice on Pennsylva-
MIA avenue, not far from the White
House. The elevator shaft was dark.
and l did not recognize two men that
entered the car as it stopped at the
floor below the one at which / had
stepped in. When the passengers got
out at the ground floor ] noticed one
Of the men stop and hand quarter to
an old apple woman who was sitting
On the stoop outside the door beside
her basket
THE giver of the coin was Col In
yersoll. A feeling Of shame swept
,ver me- had not returned the
money that had been Of such benefit
o me in the crisis of my life ] had
i25 in my pocket, and I knew my land
ady would be lenient with me- so
rev bold The colonel was Just get
ing into his carriage at the curb.
Col. Ingersoll.' I said. stepping up
o him. don't suppose you remem-
,er meg
No he replied, just a trine sus-
iciously, I don't believe I do
Well,' replied i believe you
aid that once before. but this time I
ont think you will regret having me
efresh your recollection. First. take
his $40, and I'll explain myself.
Il did. and l don't think I ever felt
1ore proud of having pulled myself