Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-03-01
JOHNS LUCK
BY JAMES G. JOHNSON.

oSeAhco W w iuthgs ne was taNHH
boy. or rather his face gave the Inn
preston Of largeness; just as his
waistcost does now. In those days be
had pendulous cheeks and his legs
bulged at the line of bis shoe tops. so
that the other boys called him
FATTY"
When he went on an errand he
never hurried himself about II. Of
course. but his luck had given him
lnduIgent parents. so that instead 0f
giving him the licking most boys would
have got. they gradually refrained
from sending hIm-unlesa they were
In no hurry themselves. II goes with.
out saying that he was never 10 y
hurry to get up 10 the morning. There
was one Fourth Of July that he did
get MP at four O'Clock. but he was 80
lelsurely about his dressing that the
other fellows went OF TO dre Their
cannon without him. John arrived on
the scene just In time to go back and
tell his people about the accident. He
was the only one Of the six who wna
not hurt.
Another time he went out with
crew OF young reprobates 20 loot the
orchard Of a particularly grained
farmer. He was Mp In the tree when
the alarm was given. but he cnicu,
lated TINT there would he time 10 80.
cure few more apples before thu
farmer arrived.
"Get move on you. Fatty" sung
out a fellow criminal below. "He's
a-startln' 10 rum"
"Awl What's the hurryTr said John
reaching for an outlying limb. There
was no reply TO the question. Tor the
boy had hed The farmer saw them
stringing out In the direction OF the
fence. overlook and coruered them
From his perch IN the apple tree John
witnessed those unfortunates come
one by one. beneath the horny palm ~
the farmer. and saw them hoisted an
tremendously over the fence. A. their
howls died away IN the distance. John
quietly descended and made on thu
other way.
John got through school somehow
but he was no forced plant lie wns
In no hurry about going 20 work. hui
eventually took a cierksbip IN the local
grocery Ills employer dispensed with
his services et the end ~ q month
and suggested 70 his father ghul ~
liical Influence should he exerted to
secure the young man position ~
some claim department IN Washington
where his peculiar tlnt0ry talent
would be appreciated. Johns father
thought the idea WAS good. bus he
didn't happen TO have The political In,
auence no he sci bis son 20 Studying
law with a conservative practitioner
u was intensely aggravnting 20 the
brilliant and energetic young men Of
the community. those who rose early
and worked late and moved around
~ " they had some object 10 life. 90
see YAnderpoot, who had no brHns 20
speak Of 10 burning ambition TO dis
tinguish himself. becoming one Of the
solid" element He drawied IN his
speech and he dawdied through what
he called bis work. but all the good
things seemed 70 come bis way.
He married, Of course. lie was IN
no hurry about II. but be got the pref.
tiest and brightest young wornaa IN
the state. What she saw Ia him II IL
hard TO any
One evening John was loafing 10 his
Office when Dave Hinsicy broke ia.
breathless and hntleas and gaNpIng
Fire !"
AT your house, Judge" he added
"Your wife told me 20 hurry down and
get you. don't reckon therein be a
stick saved II somethIu' aint done
pretty aoon."
John took one foot down FROM bis
desk.
els the hose company thcrsT-
"Yes. but there Amt no water"
"ID that case. Dave. | guess the
only thing we can do is 10 let 'er
burn" And he put hts foot up sgaIn.
or course he was heavily insured.
Johns title OF Judge" was purely
honorary. but there IL no doubt that he
would have attained judiciary donors
In course Of time--he was ia no hurry
If II had not been for his Investment
IN Guayquil Central stock. That would
have been his limit. however. Beyond
the bench be would have been found
ont. Guayquil was down 10 a pretty
low ebb and 0 friend Of Johns who
had inside Information. urged him 10
buy at once. as n was certain TO rise
John said he would. but he deferred
his purchase from sheer inertia until
II went down still lower. OF course
II would 80 down. As soon as be had
bought II began 10 rise. That was be.
cause John. like the idiot he was, had
put every available cent he had 10 the
world Into Il. One day the friend with
inside Information wired him 10 sell
AZ once. The stock had gone up be
yond all expectations. and n John had
realized then he would have made
close on TO 100000. and have been
comfortable for the rest OF his days.
AS II was, he put the telegram into
bis pocket and went on with the pc
rusal Of a judgment transcript.
That evening he said to his wife
"Parkins wires me to sell that South
American railroad stock. but | guess
there Is no hurry about H."
Well, what John did make ON that
stock was over $500 900. and he owns
most OF the town now. He quilt gam
bling 10 stocks.
It's disgusting the luck some people
! have.