The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-03-08

dent. Ny concern was not diminished
by observing that he had removed his
boots from his feet, and was standing as
he had come up-in his stockings. My
first impulse and act was TO take the
water out of his hand. Not being quite
ready to use it, put the envelope of
money on top of il, as the most conve-
nient thing to keep it hot. did not
turn the supcrscription dovnwards, be.
cause feared it would betray the aus.
picioH, which l now positively enter.
tanned, OF evil intentions on the part of
my entertainer, who had quitind the
room as noiselessly as he had entered.
imagined a 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. | recalled the
mans countenance wildly 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 l first alighted
at the house it struck me l had seen
him before, and after some moments of
further and profound reflection, 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 thu ough the dis
honest of friends whom he had helped.
l remembered him as have been spo-
ken of as being disguised with trade,
and having sought home in the will.
derness with his family, and earning
q living literally by the sweat Of his
brow.
There were but two bed rooms in the
house, both on the same door. a pas
sage which commenced at the head of
the stairs dividing them. While the
thoughts which i have related were
passing through my mind, l heard
voices in the other bedroom, and
quietly opened my door, which my host
lad closed behind him. Standing out
in the passage. could distinguish a
mans and woman's voice. At first
their language was unintelligible, but
gradually my ear became accustomed to
the duty endeavored to put it to, and
l 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. Ny 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-
luctant man was being urged on by the
less sciupulous 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 my
own apartment and caught at the en-
velope, intending to hasten it out Of
sight. In my eagerness to grasp it, it
fell 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 had seen it
was impossible to fasten the door, save
BY moving some Of the furniture against
It. l became convinced that as yet
everything was safe, and yielding to a
feeling of curiosity, drew the money
from the envelope and counted it over.
There were ten onc.thousand dollar
bills was astounded, and for time
forgot the fear that so recently har-
assed me. looked at the memoran.
lum on the back Of the envelope. 1t
vas "$5 ,0O0." The letterwa 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
| counted it. had been used to hand.
ling large sums, and counted large
sums of money daily; but I actually
found more difficulty in arriving at the
actual count of the ten bank bills be- |
fore me, than ever before or since en-
in any sum, however large |
DR. however numerous the notes. Final |
", putting chair against the door, l |
spread the notes out singly on the lit
lie table, in a row, and counted them |
With my finger then made two rows of |
i've notes each, and again counted
hem. finally, though slowly, became
satisfied that had in my possession
double the money was expected to
deliver to my employers agent. Temp
alton entered my soul. Five thousand
dollars would relieve me of all debts.
Here it was within my grasp. l had
but to seal up the envelope by re.wet-
ling the waters, inclosing half the
money, and deliver it sealed to the
lgent, and my trust would be, to all APP
,earance, faithfully discharged. Once