Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-01-21
A STROKE OF FORTUNE
The Bit of Good Luck That Over
took Barney 0'Connor.
WEALTH THRUST UPON HIM.
Ths Visitor That Called to See the Man
Who Had Been injured-The Sight
That Greeted Him and the Hasty
Proposition He Handed Out.

t"eh SsNehCd dnG h1G
Proposition He Handed Out.
Several years ago two brothers
named Mcdonald were In business In
Halsted street Among the habitues
OF their establishment was man
named OCounor. man named All
derson then was claim agent for the
street railway company that cUnuected
Halsted with Chicago.
Barney O'Connor was happy-go
lucky chap who didn't worry much
about anything. He was partial t.
bis beer. had no kith or kin TO be re-
sponsible for. cared little for clothes
and worked only when It was absn
luteiy essential. which wasn't often
Mcdonald Bros. liked to have Bar
ney around on account OF the wit b,
had brought with him from the oulG
sod. and so they found little tasks fol
him to do. One day Barney was loaf
ing around McDonald's about half ii
Illuminated and In an extremely rosy
frame Of mind when they decided
they wanted some goods over in tn,
city. Barney was delegated 10 go after
them. He stopped at the corner buffet
hoisted another one and took a car fol
the loop.
The car was crowded fore and aft
and Barney got Oh the aft He didn't
get much more than halfway Oh The
step when there came q Jolt The
crowd surged back on Barney. and he
with several others. was dumped int,
the street. Barney suffered worse THAI
the rest. as he was underneath. Bur
he wasn't hurt badly. He was knock
ed unconscious. but after they carrieu
him into a store and threw cold water
on him be came out OF IL In gooO
shape. All that remained were a few
cuts
The conductor. however. was ex
cited. He was new at the business
and when he took the names and ad
dresses of the victims of the crash ht
got considerably balled up. Perhaps
he made Barney's injuries a 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 aIsc
visited a drinking place on Randolph
street. II was there that he learned
that night at saloon on lower Hal
sted Celebrations q this sort ap
pealed to Barney. and he resolved to
be on hand.
He 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. Fisticufrs followed forensic
froth. and O'Connor 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 hin
wouldn't take long to tell 1t was
the completest ws|loping 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 at 1t, 80 he stayed in bed
About o'clock In the afternoon the
landlord Of the rooming house came up
and told Barney man wanted to see
him. Seldom had Barney had visitors,
and bis curiosity was aroused. But
1t wasn't strong enough to induce him
to get up. He told the landlord to
have 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.
1T get out Of this on less than ST..
600 I'll be lucky" he told himself
Then he proceeded to business.
1T kind O. bunged you up, didn't
itY' he began as a feeler. He couldn't
say less, for he had conscience.
well. some." acknowledged Barney.
not grasping the pertinence of the
question. but realizing its truth.
"You know, 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.
and we want to see If we can't fix
this up for you for getting hurt. We
want to do what's right; but. of course
you understand
Barney saw great light. 1t made
him forget his woes.
do yez mean ye want to pay me fer
fallin' of the car yistiddy?" he asked
That's the idea," answered Ander
son.
well. here l am" said Barney,
How much am l offeredT
Anderson hesitated.
"Uh-er-l think-er-how'd two fifty
strike you"
Il think it's worth at least five," be
replied.
Now. look here" explained Ander
son, III you fight this case it'll cost
you at least 500 for a lawyer You
might get $500 In trial, and still
again you might get nothing. It's al
ways a good Idea
ID yez mean ye'll give me $250T
interrupted OConnor. sitting up quick
Iy despite his aches.
That's It," replied Anderson, so fas
cinated by the picture of wars horrors
portrayed by Barney's face that ht
failed to notice the surprise in hi
tones.
"I'u take it." said O'Connor in 4,
hurry. Bring 1t to me all in quar-
ters."-Chicago Tribune.