Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
THE
£1,000,000 BANK-NOTE
AND OTHER NEW STORIES
CONTENTS
| PAGE | |
|---|---|
| The £1,000,000 Bank-note | 1 |
| Mental Telegraphy | 41 |
| A Cure for the Blues | 77 |
| The Enemy Conquered; or, Love Triumphant | 114 |
| About all Kinds of Ships | 193 |
| Playing Courier | 225 |
| The German Chicago | 253 |
| A Petition to the Queen of England | 277 |
| A Majestic Literary Fossil | 287 |
THE £1,000,000 BANK-NOTE
When I was twenty-seven years old, I was amining-broker’s clerk in San Francisco, and anexpert in all the details of stock traffic. I was alonein the world, and had nothing to depend upon butmy wits and a clean reputation; but these weresetting my feet in the road to eventual fortune, andI was content with the prospect.
My time was my own after the afternoonboard, Saturdays, and I was accustomed to put itin on a little sail-boat on the bay. One day Iventured too far, and was carried out to sea. Justat nightfall, when hope was about gone, I waspicked up by a small brig which was bound forLondon. It was a long and stormy voyage, andthey made me work my passage without pay, as acommon sailor. When I stepped ashore in Londonmy clothes were ragged and shabby, and I hadonly a dollar in my pocket. This money fed and2sheltered me twenty-four hours. During the nexttwenty-four I went without food and shelter.
About ten o’clock on the following morning,seedy and hungry, I was dragging myself alongPortla