ut reading, and which was only for five years
instead of six, a discrepancy that I did not discover until I came to
read it over at home that same evening to Mrs. Anson, and then, having
still the most implicit confidence in Mi. Spalding, I said nothing about
it, relying on his promise to protect my interests.

In the meantime the grounds now used by the club on the West Side had
been purchased, and I presume a payment on them made, and I was informed
by Mr. Spalding that I might either swing the deal myself or else sign
away my interest, which amounted to a little over one-eighth, but that
in case I took the latter course, the club would pay dividends instead
of putting the money into real estate. It seemed a little strange to me
that I should be asked to swing a deal that A. G. Spalding and John R.
Walsh were unable to handle, and being unable myself to do so I signed
away my interest, but, alas! those promised dividends are still in the
dim and misty distance, and my confidence in A. G. Spalding has dwindled
away to nothing, and not unnaturally, as I shall have no difficulty in
proving.

After I had been released by the club Mr. Spalding still posed as my
best friend, and the affection that Damon had for Pythias was not
greater than that I bore for him. I had not then learned the full nature
of his duplicity, nor was it until some time later that it dawned upon
me. In the meantime Mr. Spalding had set on foot a project to give me a
money testimonial, and had called a meeting at the Chicago Athletic Club
for the purpose of perfecting plans for the same. This I refused to
accept for the reason that I was not a pauper, the public owed me
nothing, and I believed that I was still capable of making my own
living. At that meeting A. H. Pratt, who represented me, read the
following letter that I had written for the occasion:

To My Friends--The kind offer to raise a large public subscription for
me, the first notice of which I received by a chance meeting with Mr.
Spalding the afternoon preceding its publication in the daily papers, is
an honor and a compliment I duly appreciate. Implying as it does the
hearty good will and close fellowship of the originator of the movement,
A. G. Spalding, causes me to regard it higher. There are times when one
hesitates to receive favors even from friends, and at this hour I deem
it both unwise and inexpedient to accept the generosity so considerately
offered. A. C. ANSON.

This t