Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-04-21
A VERY QUEER MAN.
He Couldn't Take Care Of a Package
Containing a Great Deal of Money.

The other day, as L was on my way
from Detroit TO Buffalo, and while oc-
cupying a seat in the smoking car for a
few minutes, l found a paper parcel
kicking around under my feet. 1t was
but natural that l should pick it up and
make an examination, especially as the
only other man in the car sat at the far
end. What was my horror when i
came to unroll the paper to find a
package of greenbacks marked S5, ,O0O
staring me i'll the face! 1t quite took
my breath away and sent cold shlyers
mp and down my spine.
1t was my money. l had found 1t,
and / would keep il. But what on earth
could l do with 5000? 1t was too
much for poor man, and not enough
for a rich one. 1t wasn't enough to
skip the country on, and yet too much
for poor man TO have in bank. / was
wondering if it wouldn't be best TO put
500 in my pocket and throw 81 500 out
of the window. when third man made
his appearance in the car. He spoke to
the man at the end. and then came
Sauntering up to me and careleSsly in
quired:
Haven't found a paper parcel con-
tanning 5000, have you?"
''Why. yes; L picked it up off the
floor two minutes ago"
-'Oh, YOU did? | was sitting here,
and l suppose the burned thing worked
out of my oyercoat pocket. That's
three times I've lost that internal pack
age since | left Chicago. Allow me to
present you with $40 bill for your hon
eSty."
''Oh, no, no, l am not honest. L
should have walked off with the whole
bOodle.''
well. shouldn't have blamed you.
In Your place I'd have had this money
i'll my boot legs long ago. Say, come
back into the coach and have sip of
wine and a chat with me-"
We went into the parlor car, and he
produced a flask and proved himself a
whOlesOuled, good-natured fellow. We
had been converSing for half an hour,
when the conductor came alopg with
that same paper parcel, containing that
same 5000, and said to my friend:
Hang it, Why can't you take care
of this money? What's the use of leaY-
ing it living around in this nanner?'
Il declare, but believe did lay it
down on the seat over there when l was
unlocking my travelling bag. l told
my brother ! ID lose the internal thing
before got TO Buffalo, but he has an
idea that express companies are not
safe.'' =
When the conductor had gone, this
abSeQt-minded man turned to me with
a pleading look on his face, and said:
My dear sir, please take care of this
money for me until we reach Buffalo" :"
But I'm a stranger TO you"
That's nothing. | shall certainly
lose it on the train. Come. now, be a
good fellow"
/ took it to oblige him. At Niagara
Falls he got off TO secure view, and
when the train started up he was left
behind. Before reaching Buffalo he
telegraphed me:
Am very sorry to trouble you, but
hope You will wait in the station until
arrive"
And l waited in the Buffalo station
six long hours before he calhly slouched
in and said:
''If I'd been you I'd have gone off
with the money, and perhaps taken the
baggage with it. You don't know how
very grateful am, and l want you to
accept this diamond pin as token of
my esteem"
But
Il shall lose it within a week if you
don't take itn he protested.
When he was ready to go 1 put the
money in his oyercoat pocket, fastened
il with pins, and he went away saying:
IF don't leave the oyercoat some
where I'm all right. Farewell, fellow
batchelor, farewell. "