HOW MARK TWAIN WAS SOLD.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2662, 2 June 1908, Page 7

HOW MARK TWAIN WAS SOLD.

Mark Twain, as a prince of humorists, has played many a joke on his friends in his time. But occasionally the tables have been turned on him. lie was once on a lecturing tour in Virginia City, which he was visiting, not for the first time.

. The first lecture passed off brilliantly, and the humorist left the lecture-hall with his pockets Ml of money. ■ '•■ ,' ' 1

On his way back to the hotel, he was set on by armed men and had to deliver up everything. Arrived there, he thought it best nOt to say anything of the adventure. Before retiring to rest be called for some refreshment, and being without a cent, about him, ho asked someone in the barroom to lend hira. a dollar or two.

The request was straightway refused. Then he applied at the bar for something to eat. and was told he nmist put the money down first. As he had no money, he thought he had better go to bed supperless, when, to his utter astonishment', the price of his room was demanded beforehand. '

"I will pay to-morrow," he said ; but as that did not satisfy the landlord he had to leave some articles of his attire in pledge. I In due course he finished his lectures, and prepared to leave the city, not. too well pleased with the treatment he had -received.

Just as he was starting a deputation of miners waited on hira and asked him whether he would take charge of a valuable packet 'for them, to be left at the next station* They had heard of Mark Twain, .'and. knew they could trust him with untold wealth.

Greatly flattered by the mark of confidence, lie took charge of the packet. Jsut the more lie thought of the .strange incident—such a contrast to the way in which he had been previously regarded—the greater grew his surprise that he, of all persons, should be selected for such a purpose.

He determined to open the packet and see what it contained. In it he found all the money and valuables of which lie liad been- deprived, together with a short note intimating that as he had played many a practical joke on the inhabitants of the city in former times, they did not see why they should not play one on him in return.— "Great Thoughts."