The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-16
Select STORY.
THE MONEY FINDER.
BY CoLLEY CIBBER.


Business called me to New Orleans in
the winter of 1886; I found the Crescent
City alive with people, although the vel
low fever and cholera of 1928 had near
ly decimated it. 1t was now full of life,
animation, and business. Crowds of peo-
pie of an evening, filled the hotels and
theatres, while the practicing pickpockets
were reaping golden harvests from their
nefarious trade. made it a rule both
from the necessity of the case, and safety,
to carry very little money about me- On
one occasion, however, thirty-hve dollars
mysteriously disappeared from my pocket.
The fact casually told a reporter of the
PicGylt11e, who having nothing more of
Importance to write about, placed the
following in his city column.
Our friend, COlley Gbber, was quietly
robbed ofhis pocket book last evening, leav-
ing him minus thirty-fve dollars. Colley is a
philosopher, and bears his loss with stocial
Indifference
l felt somewhat angry upon reading
the article, and in the course of the morn
ing intended to call and havesome seri-
Gus talk with the reporter.
As 1 approached the office on Camp
street, saw my man talking with gen
tleman. The moment he saw me he shout
ed out, only asreporters shout when a lit
tie excited;
'Ah, here he is
Yes Ireplied, here am, and you are
the
No more words, COlley; this gentle
man has found your pocket-book.
Stop, sir said the stranger not so
fast. found a pocket-book. 1t is for
this gentleman to describe its contents. I
would observe however, that the insinua-
ton thrown out in the article by the writ
er, that you were quietly relieved of it, is
entirely gratuitous I found Il, SIR
The money, sir, contained in the pock-
et-book was twenty dollar note on the
Planters Bank of Louisiana, a ten dollar
note on the Canal Bank, and five on the
Farmers and Mechanics Bank of Phila-
delphia.
'Sirthere is your property And hand
ing me the book, he remarked-'It affords
me much pleasure to restore it.
The appearance of the man, well dress
ed, well spoken, and evidently well edu-
Gated, made me hesitate about offering
him a reward
He seemed to understand my hesitation,
as he very quietly remarked with a
smile
4 see that you hesitate about paying
me for my trouble-hesitate no longer.
Finding money and restoring it to the
owner is my business
l looked at the man in surprise.
Your business p
Yes, sir But have no txed per cent
age. 1 leave that to the parties
There, sir, as the amount is not large
one will that sufice2 handing him the
ten dollar note.
Fully, sir; the FIVE would have been
sufficient. Good day, gentlmen, and a
way he went, whistling an air from the
last opera.
Well exclaimed the Reporter, that is
about the coolest piece of business I ever
witnessed. What does it mean?'
1T means simply this-that he made the
excuse of its being his business, to take
the reward, nothing more
So the matter rested, and I was minus
ten dollars, which I considered he wa:
fully entitled to.
My business at New Orleans at that
period was of a commercial nature, and
which brought me in connection will
men. A large commercial house met witt
a most serious loss. One of the partner
while at the post Office, dropped. his pocket
book containing some fifteen thousand
dollars in notes and checks A reward O
one thousand dollars was offered for its
recovery, witbits contents intact. On the
morning after the loss happened to be IL
the Office. Be it understood that the ad
vertisement was for the evening papers
consequently no one was yet acquainted
with the liberal reward offered for honesty
Wewere speaking of the loss, when who
should enter the store bat the Money
Finder Heidi not see me, as was sit
ting somewhat back.
is Mr.. Williams in p he asked.
That is my name, SIR
And this. Ipresume, is your property.
handing him pocket-book.