Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-07

A0ooy W use IL, put the envelope OF
money on top of it, as the most conve-
nient thing to keep it hot. l did not
turn the superscription downwards, be
cause feared it would betray the sus-
picio2. which 1 now positively enter
tanned, Of evil intentions on the part of
my entertainer, who had quittnd the
room as noiselessly as he had entered.
l imagined great many ways in which
he could have become acquainted with
the cause of my journey, and came rap
| idly to the conclusion that my employ
ers funds were in danger. That they
were actually so became evident before
the night had passed. l recalled the
mans countenance vividly to my recol-
lection, and examined from memory
his features, so as to make some esti-
mate of the, character with which /
had to deal. Physically he was more
than my equal. When first alighted
at the house it struck me had seen
him before, and after some moments of
further and profound reflection, l dis
tinctly recalled him to my mind as a
merchant who had dealt with our firm
during my earlier connection with it,
and who had fallen through the dis
honest of friends whom ne had helped.
| remembered him as have been spo-
ken of as being disguised with trade,
and having sought home in the will.
derness with his family, a nd earning
a living literally by the sweat of his
brow.
There were but two bed rooms in the
mouse, both on the same door, a pas
sage which commenced at the head of
the stairs dividing them. While the
thoughts which l have related we're
passing through my mind, l heard
voices in the other bedroom, and
quietly opened my door, which M host
had closed behind him. Standing out
IN the passage, l could distinguish a
/ mans and woman's voice. At first
their language was unintelligible, but
| gradually my ear became accustomed to
the duty | endeayored to put it to, and
| could distinguish that the burden of
their talk was their domestic expenses,
and the general current of their
thoughts was the difficulty of getting
through with certain undertakings
which they had in contemplation. or
had commenced. 1t was evident that
the man was more hopeful than the wo
man. My excited Imagination at once
framed the theory that the treasure in
my possession was designed by them to
solve this difficulty, and that the re-
iuctant man was being urged on by the
less scrup1lous or Drawer woman.
A sudden movement of one of them
toward the door caused me to retreat
INTO the room. heard the bolt of
their door move, and supposing it was
to unfasten it, | hurried back to INV
own apartment and caught at the en-.
velope, intending to hasten it out of
sight. In my eagerness to grasp it, it
tell tumbling with the wafered side up
permost and opened! The waters had
been so far dissolved by the heat and
moisture as to split in two, leaving
one-half of each There were three) on
the flap, and the other half of each on
the body of the envelope. Meanwhile
there was no sign or sound of inroad
into my room, of which l had seen it
was impossible to fasten the door. save
by moving some of the furniture against
1t. L became convinced that as vet
everything was safe, and yielding to
feeling OF curiosity, | drew the money
from the envelope and counted it over.
There were ten one thousand dollar
bills | was astounded, and for a time
forgot the fear that so recently har-
assed me. 1 looked at the memoran.
dunn on the back of the envelope. It |
was "$5, 000." The letterwas open before
me. | read it over. 1t named five
thousand as the sum inclosed. There |
was evidently an error. | counted it
over again. Ten thousand dollars was
the sum before me Again and again
l counted 1t. l had been used to hand |
ling large sums, and counted large
sums OF money daily; but | actually
found more difficulty in arriving at the
actual count of the ten bank bills be-
fore me, than | ever before or since en-
countered in any sum, however large
or however numerous the notes. Final
ly, putting chair against the door. l
spread the notes out singly on the lit
tie table, in row, and counted them
with my finger then made two rows of
i've notes each, and again counted
them. | finally. though slowly, became
satisfied that l had in 1ny possession
double the money l was expected to
deliver to my employers agent. Temp
tation entered my soul. Five thousand
dollars would relieve me of all debts.
Here it was within my grasp. 1 had
but to seal up the envelope bv re, wet
ting the waters, inclosing half the
money, and deliver it sealed to the
agent, and my trust would be, to all ap-
pearance, faithfully discharged. Once
the thought occurred that possibly it
was trap set for me by my employers.
But their confidence in me was un.
bounded, and the suspicion was dis.
missed. l do not attempt to glaze over
the dishonesty of what l contemplated
but l had been SO increasingly worried
and annoyed by domestic troubles arts
ing from limited resources, and SO per
secuted by creditors, that l almost ar
gued myself into the conviction that
appropriating the money was simply
authorized selfdefense. I would nav
all my debts, get clear of the world
once more, insist upon my wife's adopt.
ing my views of living, save money. get
into business for myself, and finally pay
back the sum.
l concluded to leave the envelope un.
fastened until morning, SO as to give
myself that much more time before