The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-16

abr exclaimed Mr. Williams, Opening
the book. All right, sir; thank you
sincerely; but how did you know
Your name, sir, written there, and other
papers
'Ah, yes, Bob calling the boy. run
Immediately up to the BuHetpV Office, and
stop the advertisement. Run quick
Now, sir. excuse me, take this seat, hand
ing him chair. and will write you a
check for the reward offered
Reward sir was not aware that you had
offered one.'
True"
The young man quietly seated himself,
took up paper and began to read.
There, sir, is the check; it is the a
mount offered for the recovery of the book
and its contents don't hesitate.'
Hesitate T exclaimed the recipient, 4
never hesitate, for this, sir, IS n.y 6uSi-
ness &c.,.
Raising his hat gracefully. and twlrling
a gold-headed cane, he went out whistling
the same air he did on a previous occa-
sion.
What did the fellow mean asked Mr.
Williams, by its being his business2 He
is not pick-pocket'
then related my loss, and the return
of the money, andwe all came to the con-
clusion that it was really MYSTERIOUS piece
of business
frequently met the man, but never ex-
changed words with him, as had serious
doubts in regard to his mode of finding
money. And yet if he were rogue, why
not retain the money? Here lay the mys.
terry.
One of the most fashionable ladies o.
New Orleans, a Mrs. Whitney, lost a dia.
mond ring valued at fifteen hundred dol
lars. 1t was returned to her by this man
for which he received one hundred anC
fifty dollars. Another lady lost anecklaet
equally valuable, and from the description
she gave of the person who restored it, i
was the same successful finder. Perhaps
1 was the only one who noticed the extra
ordinary coincidence in this man being tht
fortunatefnder of so much valuable prop
erty. The reason probably was, that from
the moment he made use of the exression
1T is my business connected him will
subsequent cases Of similar character
Can money finding be made business
Ifso, how? Here was man returning
property to its owners, valued at thou
sands, for which he received merely hun
dreds. He certainly was honest, but b,
what peculiar process did he arrive at tn
result of their carelessness, making it tn
source of his means of living? My cum
osity was aroused. At the theatre, oper
and other places of amusement I .invaria
bly, met him, he was invariably alone. o.
the street he walked as ifhe had lost some
thing.
On one occasion met him in the read
ing room of the st. Charles Hotel. 7
my surprise, hesswas in warm disput
with several persons upon the subject {
the crevasSeS, one of which had but recent
ly occurred. soon discovered that
was not only well read but perfectly cor
Versant with hydraulics and mechanic
1 remember one remark he made, whic
came very near, subsequently, being feal
fully confirmed He said
The time is not far distant when you
beautiful city will be at the mercy of tn
Mississippi river, and the bend at Cairo,
ton will be the source of danger
The very next day large dry goOd
house had its bank book returned, whic
a boy had dropped in the street, contain
ing eighteen hundred dollars. The youn
nan who found it received two hundre
dollars, and when the proprietor thanke
him, in addition, he quietly remarket
it is my business and left the store whist
ling. There is no luck about the house
Itwas evident that the man was in
fair way to make fortune; and his e1
traordinary luck at finding money an
valuables, while it astonished me for il
singularity, satisfied me of his honest,
The mystery was, how came these thing
in his way2