Year: 1876

4 Missourlan's Mishaps in Chicago.


A Missouri farmer from the neigh
borhood of Kansas City had heard so
much about the wonders of Chicago, that
he decided to come here and see for him
self whether the reports were exaggerated
or not He put in his pocket about $3.50,
which he deemed sufficient TO last about
two weeks, and afford him al the pleas
ures he desired. Then he took the st.
Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad
for Chicago. He arrived Tuesday morn
ing. The first thing that attracted his at
tention when leaving the depot was red
flag hanging from the window of store
on the opposite side of Canal street. The
inside of that store was filled with amotley
crowd, and fellow with green specs was
talking to them rather eXcitedly about
something or other. OF course lie had to
see what the excitement was. He found
that the man with green specs was selling
goods at wonderfully low prices. While
he stood gaping at the strange capers of
the auctioneer, poor, emaciated- looking
fellow walked dejectedly up to the coun-
ter and pulled out magnificent gold
watch. With tears in his eyes, he asked
the auctioneer to sell it for whatever it
would bring. 1t was heirloom from his
father who paid for it $475 some ten years
ago. He would almost as soon part with
his life as with that watch, but-and here
the tears rolled profusely down his cheeks
his wife and ten little ones were crying
for bread, and for their sake he had to
part with it. The auctioneer said he could
not sell so valuable a watch at that time
because the crowd present was not such
as could give fair price for such watch.
lie did not choose to sell the property OF
poor and starving man at great sacri-
flee. The suffering husband and father,
however, was determined to have the
watch sold at once, as he had to have
money to bay bread Reluctantly the
kind hearted auctioneer consented and put
up the ticker. Some one offered ten dol
lars. The face of the auctioneer turned
redder than his hair at such impudence.
Our hero thought it was shame also.
Here was a chance not only to do a good
work and save a family from starvation,
but also to get splendid gold watch at a
bargain. He offered twenty five dollars,
the other man bid ten more, and finally il
was knocked down to the sOfthearted
visitor at the low figure of fifty dollars
IfOuuly anu Clulll pIldully ut iOIhCu ONCl
the money and pocketed the watch.


He crossed Madison street bridge, look
ing with wonder upon the large vessels
and steamers and the fine palaces along
his road He had hardly gone one block
when a finely-dressed young man tapped
him on the shoulder and said: " Hello
Mr.. Jones, when did you arrive in Chi.
cago?n "My name isn't Jones, f." replied
the astonished farmer, my name is
Brown, from Missouri" Excuse me
sir" said the fine-looking individual, 81
thought you were Mr.. Jones, you look Sc
much like him,n and walked off. Abou
five minutes later another gentleman ac
costed Mr.. Brown by his real name. Mr.
Brown was astonished that the man knew
his name, and was overjoyed when hC
heard he was the son of an old friend o
his living in Kansas City. To make {
long story short, the twain sauntered of
together TO see the sights. OF course the
farmer was shown how easily he coulC
increase his wealth few thousands be
fore going back to his home in the wild
of Missouri. He tried his luck, but un
luckily he lost all he had eXceptabout twen
ty-tive dollars. By this time his new
found friend remembered that he had al
engagement elsewhere, but promised L
call for him at his hotel the next morning
| Mr.. Brown was then directed TO hotel
where he passed sleepless night, think
ing over the many wonderful things h
had seen and experienced during the day


He was, however, not at all discouraged
about the loss of his money. Had he no
in his pocket the gold watch which h,
had purchased in the morning, and whicl
he could sell for at least 5000? When h
had dressed the next morning and takel
| his breakfast, he started out again. ii
met his friend of the day before. He wa
glad to see him, and they had severa
| drinks together. The friend urged hin
to try his luck again. This time h
would surely win his money back. ii
never knew a man to lose twice. Th
farmer was willing, but he first had +
sell his gold watch TO get money. III
was directed to pawn-shOp, but he 500


returned with sad countenance, inform
ing his friend that the pawnbroker sal


his watch was brass, and worth abou
one dollar. The young man was great


eXasperated that his countryman SHOULD
have been thus imposed upon. He volun
teered to 90 back to the auction store an


get back the money. The farmer gladl


gave the watch to his magnanimou
friend TO have it exchanged, and returne
to his hotel. He waited for the return {
the disinterested young man until to-day
but the young man did not make his al
| tsGrance. ..r


Our hero began to surmise that hi
friend was a swindler, and he determine


to leave this town as soon as possible
But he had but twelve dollars left, wlil
the regular fare was about twice tha
amount He walked up Clark street t
hunt up railroad Office TO see if he coul


not get ticket for the amount he ha


left. Near the corner of Randolph h
saw a large sign" Railroad tickets a
greatly reduced prices" That was jus
the place he was looking for, In he wen
and told his sad story. Mr.. - told hin
that he had drover's return ticket 4
Kansas City which he would sell him TO
the twelve dollars. He bought the ticket
and before leaving the Office was told tina
he had to say to the conductor that tn
name on the ticket was his. This alarmed
the farmer, and he went TO the AltOl
office to inquire whether the pass wa
good He was told it was not, and tn
clerk Cancelled the ticket, telling him t
take it back and get his money returned
He did as he was told, but Mr.. - re
| fus d TO pay back the money. Afte
considerable begging he consented to re
turn seven dollars. The farmer, how
ever, refused to accept it, and went bacl
to the Chicago ~ Alton Railroad Office
where he related his experience, as givel
above. The managers of the compan


promised him that they woulN take tn
matter in hand and see that his none
was refunded, and would send him back
If MIR. - continues to refuse to retur
the money warrant will be sworn on
against him to-day for obtaining none
under false pretenses. .-Chica9O Tribune
HOW Barney Williams Won His Wife
| LIZ Aumnst 1919 Rarnnu Willinms he