Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-06-24

Twas now in tho heart of New York
without cent and without the power
of appealing to any of my friends for
aid Fortunately / had a gold watch
for which had paid 5000 the year be-
fore 1t never occurred to me that
might pawn it until 1 saw the three
balls on a pawnshop at Third avenue
and Fourteenth street 1 entered the
shop and hooked" my watch for SIS.
With this money in my possession
I regained confidence. 1 had always
been able to make my own way in the
past In fact, 1 had always been a
money-maker- Why not again? So
determined to start anew in life 1
would forget that 1 had ever been
Ralph A Clarke In the future
would be B. R. Benton. The name
came to me like an inspiration.
| read of my escape from The
Knobs, and even dropped into a po-
lice station to see if general alarm
had been sent out for me. Finding
out there was a general alarm for me
and that / might be arrested at any
moment and returned to the sanitar-
ium, / decided I had better leave New
York
I Practically all of the SIS had OBJ
tanned for my watch had been spent
for food and shelter during those
three days. In fact had less than 70
cents when 1 crossed over to Jersey
on the ferry and took the trolley to
Trenton At Trenton / managed to
get a freight train, which landed me
at Perryville, Md.
There a contractor was tearing
down an old railroad bridge, and ap-
piled for work as laborer. The boss
scanned me for a moment. He told
me frankly that he didn't think I'd do,
but that, as he needed men, he'll give
me job. So 1 started to work at
once for $3.50 day. 1 found a cheap
boarding house across the river and
began my career as B. R. Benton For
four weeks 1 worked at this job and
saved enough money to buy a ticket
for Richmond, Va, where 1 expected to
get a position at the American Loco
motive Works.
Succeeded In Business.
was successful in getting employ
ment at the locomotive works in
Richmond, and 1 remained there until
April, 1907. By that time 1 had ac-
cumulated nest egg from my saw
ings, and 1 began to look around for
SOIn0 DSlIeT way OIL making mOHSy
1 answered an lad" and got posi-
ton as salesman with the Columbia
Shoe company, but left it's employ for
better position as travelling sales
man for Smith & Hemenway of New
York. sold safety razors for this
concern all over the middle west and
south. 1 gave my name as B. r. Ben
ton and my home as Richmond
While working for this concern 1
met man who was travelling for the
Parker Chemical company of Chicago.
and through him 1 got job as sales
man for that concern. My headquar-
tiers were located at Richmond, and
my business brought me into contact
with prominent and influential per-
sons there. 1 made good commissions
as salesman and constantly added to
my savings. Two years ago l deter
mined to embark in business for my
self With DIR. w. H. Parker, one of
the leading physicians of Richmond;
DR.. Ferguson of the state board of
health, and two others 1 organized the
Chemical Supply Company. 1 became
its secretary and general manager,
and later, upon the withdrawal of DR..
Parker, its president
AS B. R. Benton 1 became acquaint-
ed with Miss Mamie Proffitt of No.
314 East Cary street. Richmond, two
years ago, and on March 80 of this
year we were married in Washington
by the Rev. E. H. Sven of the Second
Baptist church. So determined was 1
| to forget that 1 had ever been Ralph
A Clarke of Brooklyn that l did not
even reveal my identity to my bride
| until after we were married. Then
| when l was induced to come to New
York and reveal my identity it was no
| longer possible to keep my bride in
! ignorance.
| During the five years / lived in
| Richmond / saw many of my old
| friends, and one of them, Will Ketch-
am of Brooklyn, stopped me and ask
| ed If / was not Ralph Clarke / met
his eyes calmly and told him he was
mistaken. Rowland j. Shines, another
| old friend, was not so easily deceived.
| He saw me in the grill room of
Strumpf's Hotel in Richmond on the
| It'll of last January and Immediately
| hailed me as Clarke l tried to throw
| him off, even insisting that l had new
| er heard the name Clarke before, but
| he knew me too well and 1 was forced
to admit my identity We had dinner
| together and spent an evening talking
| over old times. Before he left me he
was pledged to keep my secret on con-
dition that / meet him in Washington
| on Jan. 80
Returns to His Aged Mother.