Middletown transcript., 1870-08-20

it matter whether | am q stranger or
not ?"
At that moment he caught my eye A
peculiar smile passed over his counte-
nance, and, without moments hesitation,
he said:
There stands gentleman who can
vouch for my being an honest man P
Thus appealed to, l stated that II know
the gentleman only in the way of business
and have reason to know that he is an
honest man. Nor do l consider the ques-
ton one to be discussed. The proof of
his honesty is so apparent in this case,
that am somewhat surprised it should be
even questioned"
AT that moment, gentleman rushed
into the bank in state of great excite
ment, and loudly proclaimed his loss
The bank clerk, in very significant man
ncr, pointing to my friend, said:
That man has found your money, sir,
and will not give it up"
That is false % exclaimed the finder.
~ would not give it up to you, nor to
any man, unless his claim was fully estab-
lished to my satisfaction. If this is the
gentleman who lost it, l shall have much
pleasure in delivering it up. found it,
sir, in the street"
40 thanks! thanks! The loss would
have been my ruin. Give me your ad-
dress, sir, am agitated now, am unable
to say or act as intend to do"
There, sir, is my card" And as he
turned to 60 out, he very politely handed
me one, remarkng, 4" should be pleased
to see you sir" And he left the bank,
whistling, &C know bank whereon the
wild thyme grows" looked at the card
he handed me. 1t bore the name of
"Thaddeus Middleton, United States Ho-
tel"
"Shall I call ?" was the first question
that I mentally asked myself. However,
my curiosity had something to do with
my inclination, and 1 determined to pay
him visit.
We met. 1t was in his room--a room
neatly furnished, as he said, at his own
expense.
81 am somewhat particular" he OBJ
served, "and as I purpose to remain in
this city several years, had this room
fitted up to suit me. There, for instance,
is my bookcase. There is my lounge
Landlords never have such lounges and
this is my choice of a carpet. See, it is
covered with flowers"
"Why," 1 asked, "did you select such
a pattern p
"Well, I cannot say. 1 love flowers,
but my time will not permit me to cult
vatc them in pots, SO l have them beneath
my feet"
Not a poetical idea, I perceive, mas
much as you trample on them"
True, but the poets sometimes crush
flowers by wretched attempts to apostro-
phise them. Now, can use my woven
ones, and imagine them the /" alphabet of
angels" A lady poet speaking of flow
ers, Gays:
They write on hills and fields mysterious truths.
Mine, you perceive, are written here"
" You are philosopher"
"No-simply poet. L write verses
for amusement, only"
When l first met you in New Or
leans"
All, my dear sir, you anticipate me.
Say nothing of our first meeting. 1t was
mere matter of business. There is
something more in this world than mere
labor and worriment. l am still young,
and can now retire from business with an
income of three thousand dollars per an
mum, for which worked-aye, sir, work
ed"
And your business was to"
Find money"
"You surprise men'
"No doubt In the course of ten years
| have realized, from finding money and
returning it to the owners, upwards of
twenty thousand dollars; thirty thousand
l inherited from an uncle"
But how is it possible. sir, to be so
successful"
System, sir, and localities. In Lon
don, l returned to owners upwards of
thirty thousand dollars. In Paris, about
twenty thousand and in Rome-well, in
Rome l did less, but, what may appear
strange to you, l made more. The Pope
returning from ride, lost a diamond
cross. All eyes were on his Holiness
mine were on the ground No one but
myself thought of what might be lost in
such crowd, hence my luch The cross
was set with brilliants, so that in an in
stant l suspected who was the owner.
Nor was l mistaken. His Holiness pre-
sented me with this ring. 1t is valued at
eight hundred dollars"
Strange"
What-my business? Yes, it is Sir,
thousands of dollars are daily lost in large
cities, which the owners never have re-
turned to them. In no one instance, ex-
cept small amounts not advertised, have
failed to find the owner. When l find
ten dollar note, L advertise it-so with
all amounts above that. In many in
stances, as you know, have returned the
money before it was advertised"
+" AS l know !"
How, and where? All! l recollect. l
was in Mr.. Williams office when you re-
turned his pocket-book. l did not think
you saw me-"
All, my dear sir, if you had served