Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-05-01
James Parsons, Jr.

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 s, on the
second floor. Two days after No 2
came No. 3. 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 a package contain
Ing $4,000. With him it was an ev-
eryday matter, and after getting the
signature he went off whistling. With
the artist II was matter to make him
gasp and turn pale and wonder If a
house had fallen on him. On the en-
velope II 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 off to the
clothier's and INDUCED in the purchase
of new suit, and when he took lodg-
ings 1t was In street four miles from
Tryon row. He had vacated just In
time. He had not been gone an hour
when the expressman. accompanied by
policeman, knocked at his door In
hunting for the NAN who had walked
out the others of the same name were
discovered. What was more each one
claimed that the package was for him
The artist had always figured that IT,
he found himself rich he would paint
painting to astonish the world. His
figuring went to pieces in the face of
facts. He quit the brush forever. as
be hoped. and went to the country to
loaf and fish and pass for a million
aire. While the police were looking for
him in London and having all the sea
ports watched the man OF paints was
only thirty miles away and paying
court to young widow who had been
left a public house. Within a month
he proposed marriage and was accept
ed, and the newly welded pair went on
a bridal tour through France and
Switzerland.
Meanwhile, as a matter of course.
Thomas Parsons Of oxford had been
communicated with. He was a mer-
chant and had sent the money to his
brother in the city for a special OBJ
ject. The brother was named james
Parsons, Jr.. He was not at o. Tryon
row, but at 81 Chester street which
was the same thing, with difference.
That made four James Parsonses who
were mixed up in the affair with
Thomas Parsons on the outside. When
the artist did not return to his rooms
it was realized that he was taking adj
vantage of the mistake. A reward was
offered. and some of the best detec-
tive talent was put ON the case. but
weeks and months went past and there
was no news. 1t was believed that
Parsons had got away to North or
South America, and the case had been
practically dropped when he was tax
IN into custody in a curious manner.
The newsboy who had brought his even
ing paper to the studio had been much
Interested in the paintings lying about.
If they were daubs TO others. they
were the height of art to him. Having
seen and talked with Parsons five or
six times. it was not at all wonderful
that he should remember him. With
other boys of his class he went down
to the Derby when the yearly event
came off. By that time Parsons and
his bride had returned from the we'd
ding trip, and he was blowing in the
last OF the fortune. Nothing had been
TOO good for the couple while abroad.
1t was while he was seeking to place
a small bet that the newsboy spotted
the artist. He was a keen little chan
and followed Parsons home. Upon his
return to the city he went to the ex-
press company. which had meanwhile
been forced TO mako GOOD 70 tha xt,xt.