Show HIS START IN LIFE rr WAS A GOOD ONE AND WAS THRUST ON H M BY ACCIDENT the incident winve iipp bened K a henl E tate auctioneer land ot Fols otten III KyeK loMen 1 I owe my start in life to the fact that an estimable old gentleman forgot to put bis eyeglasses in his pocket one morning said a prosperous business man from a sister city its rather a curious story he wont on and ill tell it aa briefly as possible A good many years ago when I 1 was a young fellow of 23 or thereabouts I 1 drifted into louisville in search of a job that materialize and the upshot of it was that I 1 found myself practically broke in a city up to that time I 1 had always worked for email wages and biad never succeeded in accumulating as much as 50 but I 1 had an abiding faith that if I 1 could once get hold of a modest stake I 1 could launch out for myself and make some money one morning when I 1 was wandering about with only two or three silver dollars in my pocket looking for a chance to go to work at anything that might offer I 1 dropped into a big down stairs room where some real estate was being sold at auction A large crowd was present and there was an indescribable feeling of tension in the air that warned me something unusual was about to happen while I 1 was standing there only vaguely interested the auctioneer who was quite an elderly gentleman put up a piece of improved city property and after a considerable pause received a bid of I 1 could see that the smallness of the amount excited surprise and I 1 was also aware of a commotion in one corner where half a dozen previous bidders were gathered together in an excited group they seemed to bo quarreling about something and meanwhile the auctioneer was indignantly appealing for a respectable spec table offer make it 2500 he shouted does any gentleman bid 2500 lie looked directly at me and I 1 made a gesture of denial thank you he exclaimed greatly to my surprise the gentleman over there bids 2500 and it I 1 can help it no combination of buyers Is going to be allowed to dictate prices at this sale with that he suddenly knocked down the property to me no sooner was this done continued the story teller than a great uproar of protests arose from the group in the corner they insisted that they had been given no chance to alj but the auctioneer stood firm and calling me to the platform requested my name and address and a 20 per cent cash deposit on the 2500 by hat time I 1 realized of course that borne extraordinary chance had thrown a fine piece of property into my handset hand sat a traction of its real value and I 1 did some quick thinking ive sent a messenger for the money I 1 said as coolly as I 1 could and ill have it here in 15 minutes the auctioneer looked at the clock all right he replied ill give you that limit then I 1 took a desperate chance I 1 pushed through the crowd which was already interested in the next sale and beckoned to a little fat man alio had been one of the loudest kickers a few moments before look here I 1 said drawing him aside do you want to be my silent partner for an hour or sov what ayou mean said he 1 I gave him the truth in a dozen words now let me have that deposit money I 1 added and well share the profits whatever they are the little man looked at me shrewdly this Is a big joke on all of us he said grinning and I 1 guess ill risk the deal at the same lime he counted out and put it in my hands I 1 raced back to the desk with the cash clinched the sale and before noon had the deed in my possession then to make a long story short my silent partner offered me 1000 cach for my interest and as 1000 looked about as big as a mountain at eliat stage of the game I 1 promptly accepted that thousand fortunately tuna tely placed gave me the start that has kept roc going ever since nut what about the eyeglasses did you say why the auctioneer as I 1 afterward learned was very nearsighted and on the morning to which I 1 refer lie biad forgotten his glasses that was why he mistook my gesture of disavowal for a sign of assent and forced me in spite of myself into a good thing I 1 never understood the exact true inwardness of the deal but the facts in the rough were that a clique of speculators had formed a combine to keep down prices but owing to bamo bomo misunderstanding failed to bid promptly on the property which I 1 secured the auctioneer was on to the game and anxious to break it up hence his precipitancy in knocking dawn the lot to yours truly I 1 beard later on that my portly silent partner made out ot alie transaction but I 1 begrudge him alir money the he gave me on haltli morning ans worth fully 10 arr cent a minute new orleans times democrat |