Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-12-27
A STROKE OF FORTUNE
The Bit of Coed Luck That Over
took Barney 0'Connor.
WEALTH THRUST UPON HIM.

That Greeted Him and the Hasty
Proposition He Handed Out.
Several years ago two brothers
named Mcdonald were in business IT,
Halsted street Among the habitues
Of their establishment was man
named O'ConnOr. \ man named An
derson then was claim agent for the
street railway company that connected
Halsted with Chicago
Barney O'Connor was a haDDy-go.
lucky chap who didn't worry much
about anything. Hc was partial TO
his beer, had no kith or Kin TO be re.
sponslble for. cared little Cor clothes
and worked only when il was abso-
lutely essential. which wasn't often.
Mcdonald Bros liked to have Bar.
uey around on account OF the wit he
had brought with him from the ould
sod. and so they found little tasks for
him To do. One day Barney was loaf
ing around McDOnalds about half H.
Illuminated and in an extremely rosy
frame Of mind when they decided
they wanted some goods over in the
city. Barney was delegated to 20 after
them. He stopped at the corner buffet.
hoistcd another one and took car for
the loop.
The car was crowded fore and aft.
and Barney got on the aft. lie didn't
get much moro than halfway on the
step when there came Jolt. The
crowd surged back on Barney. and he.
with several others. was dumped into
the street Barney suffered worse than
the rest, rs he was underneath. hut
he wasn't hurt badly. He was knock
cd unconscious. but after they carried
bin into a store and threw cold water
on him he came out of IL I'm goo0
shape. All that remained were few
cuts.
The conductor, however. was ex.
cited. lie was new at the business.
and when he took the names and ad-
dresses OF the victims of the crash he
got considerably balled up. Perhaps
he made Barney's injuries little
more grave than they really were.
After O'Connor got over his dizzi.
ness he went on uptown and bought
his stuff for the McDonalds. He also
visited drinking place on Randolph
street. IT was there that he learned
OF a clam bake that was 10 be held
that night at saloon on lower Hal
sted. Celebrations of this sort an,
pealed 10 Barney, and he resolved 10
he on hand.
lie was. They had a lovely time.
Along about II o'clock the festivities
became superjoyous. and arguments
arose. Barney was in the midst Of
these. Fisticufs followed forensic
froth. and OConuor was numbered
among the slain.
How he got to his room he couldn't
explain coherently. He sure was some
beat up. What they didn't do to him
wouldn't take long to ten. 1t was
the completest waIlopiug he ever had
experienced.
He slept late. When he woke up he
wished he could have slept later. He
found moving undesirable after an at
tempt or two mt it. 50 ne stayed in bed.
About O'Clock in the afternoon the
landlord of the rooming house came up
and told Barney a man wanted TO see
him. Seldom had Barney bad visitors.
aud his curiosity was aroused. But
1t wasn't strong enough 10 induce him
to get up. He told the landlord to
nave the man sent up to the room.
Anderson. out to settle early and
avoid the rush, came in and took a
look at Barney. He nearly tainted.
"Jt get out OF this on less than ST.
900 I'll be lucky" he told himself
Then he proceeded TO business.
ut kind O. bunged you up, didn't
itE' he began as feeler He couldn't
say less. for he had conscience.
Wen, some" acknowledged Barney.
not grasping the pertinence Of the
question. but realizing it's truth.
you know, a suit always involves
lot OF delay and trouble, and the
company has better facilities. and it's
better for the plaintiff to settle
"Wot are yez talkin about?" Barney
broke in.
why, I'm from the street railway
aud we want TO see If we can't fix
this up for You for getting hurt. We
want 10 do what's right. but. Of course
YOU understand
Barney saw great light 1t made
him forget bis Noes
DO ycz mean ye want 90 pay me fer
nlln or the t4ti' yiStiGdrH' he asked.
.&Ihots the idca." answered Audcr
sou.
We'll. here am." said Barney.
How much am ! oIcrodt"
Anderson hcsitatpd.
"Ub-er-I thinS or how'd two ffiv
strike youF"
y think IT'S worth 90 least eve" No