The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-03-01
i BROWN PAPER pARcaL

/ am going TO tel III pam,
straightforward way how it happen
led. Tom SAYS that | may make the
story public, if | think his expert
ence will serve as a warning to any
one. He has been kind enough to
give me several particulars OF the ai-
fair which he has hitherto retrained
from speaking about. To be sure,
more than a year has passed, and
the edge OF poor Tom 5 modification
has become blunted, but there was
time when any reference to the
unlucky affair OF which | ana going
to write, in his presence, caused him
great annoyance.
Our factory-in the Office Of which
/ / am employed as book-keeper-is
in the village Of Dash, several miles
! from New York, on the line OF one
of our well known railroads. The
company employs nearly two hun
dred men. and the weekly payroll
amounts to about Twenty-Five hum
dred dollars. ig
Every Saturday fef fsnseral years,
Mr.. Lucas, the Junior fsgtner of the
firm. mas been in the isabit OF going
to New York By the noon train TO
draw that amount ins small bills
from the bank, returning by the
train leaving the citysa 2eoclock.
.sJshis ;.-7r-,<;,~ff ~,s<ys}aifneti-
Mr.. Sloman, the senior partner, as
he entered the Office one Saturday
morning, and threw himself into a
chair. "Mr. Lucas has sprained his
ancle and cannot 90 to New York
for the money, as usual. l suppose
/ must 90, though I'm so busy that
l don't see how ] can spare the
time"
Il will 20 if you wish" l said,
though I'm rather behind-hand
with posting, as yon know, sir.
Sill
mo, nor he exclaimed. Il
would rather 90 myself than spare
YOU"
4 say" interposea Tom Sioman,
who Lad been seated at his fathers
desk reading the morning paper for
the last hour, 'Ill 90 If you like,
sir"
Tom had been enjoying his col
lege vacation for about fortnight.
Two-thirds of each day he spent in
lounging about the Office, and it
was in some degree bis fault that ]
was behind with my work. | liked
Tom. He was well-intentioned
fellow, but just little egotistical.
He loved good companionship, was
talkatiye, and made acquaintances
easily. His iayorite theme of con-
versation was Thomas Sloman, Jr.,
and that gentleman's shrewdness
and sagacity he held in very high
esteem.
@Thc man who wishes 10 over
reach me-" lie used to say, must
yet up early in the morning
"I'll 20 If you like, sir" said Tom
to his father, I've nothing else to
do, and I'd ike to ride to the city
and back"
Mr. Sioman cleared his throat, as
was his habit when anythingannoy-
ed him, and looked thoughtfully 1T
his son.
Il don't know" he said thought
fully.
"Why, I'd like to GO said Tom.
twenty-five hundred dollars is a
large sum Of money" said his faith
er. 'and you know, Tom, you are
rather needless sometimes.
The young man made no reply,
but his face flushed angrily and he
began impatiently tapping his boot
with his little bamboo cane.
There are a good many sharpers
in New York City, as you know"
added Mr.. Sioman, "and man who
carries money with him there needs
to be very cautious and very care
ful."
"Mv dear sir" said Tom, whom
this remark had touched in a tender
spot. Il Aatter myself that | can
bring that twenty-five hundred dol
lars from the bank in New York to
this place without losing it. | think
I'm sharp enough to-"
80, I'm well acquainted with
your opinion on that point" laugh
ed Mr.. Sloman, sand it is for that
very reason that / hesitate TO trust
you. And besides, Tom, as | said
before, you are often needless in
what you do
"You treat me like a child. faith
sr," grumbled Tom.
swell, well,' said Mr.. Sloman,
nlpatiently. "we'ye talked enough
about it. You may &c, Tom, but |
must caution you 10 be very careful
with the money, and with whom
you come in contact while you have
1. Only week ago Mr.. Lucas was
followed from the city by a fellow
whom he thinks intended TO rob
lim. You cannot be two careful.
Toms reply was 2 supercilious
;mile. / could not help being anus
d at his sublime self-confdence. An
lour later Be stepped on board the
y -