The Clerk Who Stole Everything to Run Away

Harry Ludlow, who for two or three years past has held a clerkship in a business firm in this city, is just now being discussed by those who delight in gossip. Ludlow had been in Seattle for a long time, living with his mother and little sister, until the organization of the Seattle Minstrel Company, when he was selected to do the difficult part of 'end man.' After the collapse of the minstrel business, Ludlow set himself down to the dry goods trade, and gave good satisfaction to his employers. But at an off-hour, he made the acquaintance of a frail woman residing at Georgie Howard's house of prostitution on Washington Street. This acquaintance grew into friendship, and the sparks that kindled were fanned into a flame of love. They commenced laying plans to fly to other regions where they might enjoy each other's society without molestation. The woman could barely scrape together sufficient funds to pay the landlord and buy her own ticket. How the young Lothario was to replenish his depleted coffers sufficiently to get away in good shape became a very serious question. He told his mother that he had been discharged and must go to California to look for work. On Saturday, he got hold of a certificate of deposit belonging to his mother, and unbeknown to her, he went to the bank and drew out every dollar she had except $5. The next day, he and the object of his affections took passage on the steamer for San Francisco. When the steamer left, the mother, suspecting that all was not right, went to the wharf to talk with her son, but he had hidden himself on board and could not be found. The mother looked for her erring son but found him not. The gong sounded and she was hurried ashore, broken both in heart and purse, and driven almost to distraction by the realization that her son had started on a mad career of vice.