The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-06-24
MI MARROW ESCAPE.

never tOiu any yDOQY now very
rery near | was to death that nigh
. just year ago; but as can nov
look back and camly recall eael
thought, each word, each act, / thiRE
| will write it down as a warning Il
all who may find themselves similarly
cireumstaneed, hoping, with all my
heart, that the number may be few
In the first place, my name is Freder
rick Putnam. | am and have been f0l
the past ten years, the foreman. and
book-keeper of the large numbering
establishment Of William Winston 4
Co., aud hope to be for another de.
cade, unless something better turns
lup,
Nj. Winston is the resident part
ner and manager the manufacturing
part of the business. The other
members of the firm, to which there
are two, live in the city, at the foot
of the lake, and attend to the sales Of
lumber, which we send them BY yes
sells.
! This is by far the largest share of
what the mill cuts, although the
amount Of our sales directly from the
mill, to supply the country to the
west of rs is quite large.
Well, one cold December evening
lust as | was preparing for home, /
heard footsteps on the creaking snow
outside, and presently the Office door
few open, as though some one in
haste had given it a push, admitting
a tall, stout well-dressed man, with
small travelling bag in one hand,
and shawl thrown over one arm.
/ was alone, Mr. Winston having
gone to the house some half an hour
before, locking the safe in which we
kept our books and papers, and tax
ing the key with him as usual
l had already closed the damper
of the stove, put on my overcoat, and
was just in the act of turning down
the lamp-but of course / waited.
"GoOd evening SIR" said the man
busting up TO the store and kicking the
damper open with his right foot.
HAS Winston gone to the house?n
l answered that be bad
when? / was afraid of it"
he drew out his watch very
fine one thought.
Il shall not have time to go up,
the train is due in ifteen minutes.
''Is there any thing / can do?n /
asked.
Il wanted to leave some money
with Mr.. Winston. intended to
stop in town day or two but | have
just got a dispatch that calls me
home.S
What name, sir?n
Anderson of Andersonville.
| knew him then, though / had
seen him but once before. He
had been one of our best western
customers l say had been for the
reason that during the past year bis
payments has not been so prompt. |
In fact he was considerably behind
and Winston had that very day told
me 10 write to him, and punch him
up little" !" as be expressed it. The
letter was then in the breast pocket /
Of my overcast"
"You can leave the money with |
me, sir, and | will give you a re-
ceipt"
He seemed to hesitate, which net /
tied me somewhat / have never
blamed anybody since, however.
"HoN much is my bilI?p be asked
eyeing me soarply.
| answered promptly, for l had
struck the balance not more than
half an hour before.
Eleven thousand seven hundred
and fifty dollars and twenty-five
cents"
"Humphl less than I supposed.
Write out receipt for that amount.
He left the stove and came and
looked over my shoulder as | wrote.
1T is all right, Mr.. Putnam /
know you now. You've been with
Winston long time. / can tell your
signature anywhere"
He drew from an inside pocket
large black wallet, very round and
full, and counting eleven ditferent
piles of bank notcs, be told me to run
over them. 1t was short and easy
task. for each pile contained just ten
one hundred dollar bills
The balance was in fves, tens aud
twenties, and it took more time to
count them; but at last we got it, so
that both were satisfied.
At this moment We heard the whis-
lie for the station. Anderson sprung
for the travelling bag, and giving me
a hasty hand shake, went of on the
run.
closed the door and counted the
money again. Finding it all right
wrapped a piece Of newspaper
around it, and slipped itinto my over
.oat pocket
did not feel quite easy to have so /.
much money about me, but as Win
tons house was at least q half mile
listant concluded TO keep it until
morning, when ] could deposit it IN {
be bank.
/ closed the damper again. drew
N my gloves, took the Office key from
be nail just over the door, and step i
d to put out the light As ! did so Q
saw bit Of paper on the aOor, .
which, on picking up / saw was the !
eceipt ! wrote for Mr.. Anderson. {
lie had droped it in his hurry. /
'ut il in my pocket and thought no c
nore about it, only that / would mail 4