Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-06-04
James Parsons, Jr.


blocks long leading off the Strand, and
at the end of three blocks 1t suddenly
becomes Chester street. No. 81 has
twelve rooms in all, and to this number
there came one day poor devil of an
artist named James Parsons, Jr.
Two days later James Parsons, Jr.
No. 2, arrived and took room 8, on the
second door. Two days after No.
came No. 8. He took room 2. on the
third floor.
One would think that the agent who
had rented three different rooms to
three different men of the same name
In the same building in the same week
would have remarked to at least one OF
the Parsons on the singular coinci-
dence, but the receipts were made out
and nothing was said. For two weeks
the three men were ignorant OF each
others identity Then something hap
pened that led to much trouble for all
| Of them. One day as the artist was
painting away the agent of an express
company walked into his room, made
him identify himself by his rent re-
| ceipt and left him package contain
ing $4,000 With him 1t was an ev-
| eryday matter, and after getting the
| signature he went Off whistling. With
the artist It was matter to make him
gasp and turn pale and wonder II
house had. fallen on him. On the en-
velope It was recorded that the pack
age was sent by Thomas Parsons OF
Oxford. The artist had never been In
the town or heard of the sender.
The artist waited three days for
letter, but none came. His first thought
was to communicate with the sender
His second was to keep and enjoy
what the gods had sent him. He Clean
ed his brushes. put away his easel and
walked out and locked the door'behind
him. Then he went to the BARRIERS and
had his mustache shaved OF, to the
clothiexs and INDUCED In the purchase
of a new suit, and when he took lodg-
inRs It was In q street four miles from
Tryon row. He had vacated just In
time, He had not been gone an hour
when the expressman, accompanied by
a policeman, knocked at his door. In
hunting for the man who had walked
out the others Of the same name were
discovered. What was more, each one
claimed that the package was for MIN
and began to bluster and threaten.
The artist had always figured that u
he found himself rich he would pain'
a painting to astonish the world. His
figuring went to pieces In the face OF
facts. He quit the brush forever, as
: he hoped, and went to the country Z
) loaf and fish and pass for a million
aire. While the police were looking TO-
: him in London and having all the sea
3 ports watched the man OF paints wa
S only thirty miles away and payint
court to young widow who had beel
: left a public house. Within a mont
: he proposed marriage and was accept
# ed, and the newly welded pair went o.
d a bridal tour through France an
! Switzerland.
Meanwhile, as a matter OF cours'
l. Thomas Parsons of Oxford had bee
!. communicated with. He was me
% chant and had sent the money TO d
y brother in the city for a special Of
n iect. The brother was named Jane
Parsons, Jr. He was not at 81 Tryo
row, but at 81 Chester street, whiC
. was the same thing, with differenc
-, That made four James ParsOnses WI
III were mixed up in the affair, wi
Thomas Parsons on the outside. VINE
the artist did not return to his roon
II was realized that he was taking q
n vantage of the mistake. A reward W
he offered, and some Of the best dete
a. tive talent was put ON the case, o
d. weeks and months went past and the
n was no news. 1t was believed IN
IS Parsons had got away to North
n South America, and the case had be
= practically dropped when he was u
- en- into custody In a curious mann
The newsboy who had brought his eve
ing paper to the studio had been mu
interested in the paintings lying aDo
Il" II they were daubs to others, u
20 were the height of art to him. Havl
ns seen and talked with Parsons i've
De- six times, 1t was not at all wonder
Sc that he should remember him. W
ro- other boys OF his class he went do
to the Derby when the yearly ev
came or. By that time Parsons
bis bride had returned from the "
ding trip, and he was blowing In
last of the fortune. Nothing had b
too good for the couple while abroa
e 1t was while he was seeking to pl
~ small bet that the newsboy spot
the artist He was a keen little c
and followed Parsons home. Upon
return to the city he went to the
press company. which had meanw
I'M been forced to make good to the r
emit. party, and offered to give the a
liant away for $500 In cash. He was at I
; ar turned over to the detectives
nc,s t,cked up. They worked every sol
ana scheme to get his information for I
,ort lug, but at the end Of three weeks
aatt gave up In despair and advised th'
press company to pay the money.
mus until 1t was put In the hands of hi
tlaer would the boy locate the l