Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-06-09
TIA OF TER 81.
OK
\ i II BIZ M. QUAD 4. ! &
BIZ i, |. QUAD i, J,
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
!; Il. erary Press s35 n

One day q tramp who was plainly,
on his last legs staggered into the VIZ
5Iage Of ScottsvilleHand dropped down
In the street In front Of the tavern.
He was. carried into: the hosiery and
a doctor sent for. and IN two days he;
was dead. The verdict at the inquest
was that he had died from sickness
and exposure Nj S3s.
:. When the coroner oyerhauled the
dead wayfarer's pocketsshe found lots
Of simple things and ticket IN
Prussian lottery. This ticket was in
an envelope and had been, kept clean.
It. was for quarterly drawing
that would not take place for mine
weeks yet, and according to its face
it might draw a prize Of S25. OOO.s. No
one In Scottsville had ever seen such
ticket before, and very little was
said or thought about it for three or
four days. or until a certain New York
drummer came to town on one of his
trips. He was appealed to for infor-
nation. and his reply was: s s:sEG =
''Well, guess yes. I've bought
them myself. though I've never had
any luck, Why. I've known four diff
ferent men who have drawn fortunes
In that lottery. Its backed by the
Prussian- government and Is as good
as forty national banks = ss% .ss; s,..:s.
The drummer Great an instant ex-
element about that ticket. 1tsstarted
right In as a main topic Soff converse
ton and held the place. Then a light
ming rod man came along and offered
500 cash. for it; He knew three men
who got their start in life by draw
ing large sums in that very lottery
Three days later hog drover came
along and made an offer of $3.50 for
the ticket. According. to- his story,
one, of the members Of the beef trust
got his first $1,000 from that very lot
terry. Then tin peddler offered his
whole outfit for the ticket.y aud the
town Of scottsville began ,c1:to buzz.
Of sudden the landlord Of the tav-
ern demanded possession Of the ticket,
w ao ohA W lotO uHtt2 tiS uSUtst
him had been paid. A tramp had died
in his house. He had put In bin TO
the town for So. but on thinking 1t
over had concluded that $500 was lit
tie enough. The coroner was an hon
est man. but be might get drowned in
the mill pond and the ticket soaked to
pulp. -. 3~s:
The carpenter who. had made the
five dollar coffin jumped his claim to
$50 and demanded that he, be protected
by having the ticket turned over TO
him. The sexton followed suit. The
doctor in the case who had admins
tered only one dose of medicine had
not made out his bill yet. but when
he did it would, be for at least $50.
1t was a case that had bothered him.
and he couldn't afford to be bothered
for less Than half a hundred. y p
| Then came a day when Sco1tsville
was almost swept off its feet and left
gasping for breath. Along came n Mt
JONES' cattle and hog buyer; He was
no old sport. but he knew, q good
thing when he saw 1T. He always in,
vested IN that lottery. He bad bought
that ticket in the city !. He had lost
1t on the road. and tramp had found
It. He must be handed his, property
or there wonld be such row as that
part of the. state had never heard Of.
Mr. Jones was good buffer. BUT
when it came to taking an oatl, he
faltered and was run out of town;
Then there came Il deacon of THE
church from village a few miles.
away He came in humility and
shame. but still be came His village
| wanted a new church building. but the
members OF, that particular faith Swere
poor in purse. 1t had worried them.
but it worried the deacon worst of alt
| He had figured every way be could,
| but could see, no light until be saw
the advertisement of that lottery: NHe
turned 70 itgas ii: saving clause He
sent money and got the ticker i was
against his conscience. and he tpld
nobody Of it Whatever money tlie
ticket drew was to be freely givpa 10
the erection of the. new church. Tits
was no doubt the true story OF he
ticket. which had been stolen from the
deacoa's2 house by the tramp. but had
# been ten times true it. would not
have been handed over to him. & IS
The day before the drawing. when IL
did not seem that the excitement could
! 60 higher without exploding some.
thing. the drnmmer and the lightning
| rod nan returned They bid against
each other for fhe ticket Perhaps
they understood each oil her but their
t faces were very era ve as{ the bid ding
stopped at 500 Then d huge honfire
| had to be sbutil to relieve the strain.
Few slept that night and next DAY Il
public purse was ma de up 10 send Il
messenge 10 the rify for news of tie
drawing a 81 idnst take the ticket
with ilimot ,no:. ID NAT would be ID III
en- later on by IA K rosyd of honest ana
determined men. each one armed. Is
1 the teeth
/ thee end of the third ssday n the mes
:senger returned lei va etleared he
was assisted from Be ii d III wifi, lei.
der hands He vas assisted ia frln,unf