Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-12
My Narrow Escape.

l never told anybody how very very
near / was TO death that night, just a
year ago; bat as can now look back
and calmly recall each thought each
word. each act. think will write it
down as a warning to all who may find
themselves similarly circumstanced,
hoping. with al my heart that the
number may be few.
In the first place. my name is Fred
erick Putnam | am and have been
for the last ten years, the foreman
and bookkeerer Of the large lumber
ing establishment Of William Winston
e. Co., and hope TO be for another
decade, unless something else turns
up
Mr.. Winston is the resident partner
and managsr of the manufacturing
part OF the bus ness. The other mem-
bers of the firm, of which there are two.
live in the city, ut the foot Of the lake.
and attend to the sales of lumb Der.
which we send them by vessels.
This is by far the largest share of
what the anil cuts, although the amount
of our sales directly from the mill. to
supply the eountry west of us, is quite
large.
Well. one cold December evening,
just as / was preparing for home, /
heard footsteps on the creaking snow
outs de. and presently the office door
Hau "a. hnnnh in haa IA
had gwen it push. admitting tall.
stout, well dressed man, with small
travelling bag in one hand and shawl
throw2 Overcome arm.
l was alene-Mr. Winston having
gone TO the ahouse some half an hour
before, locking the safe. in who we
kept our books and papers. and taking
the kew with him. as usual.
had already closed the damper 10
the stove, put on my overcoat and
was just in the act of turning down
the lamp-5ut of course, 1 waited
Good evening, sir, said the man.
busting up the stove, and kicking the
damper open with his right foot ''Has
Winston gone TO the housed
answered that he had.
''WhenP ] was AFRAID of il.
He drew cut his watch-a very fine
one. i thought
II shall not have time to go up" he
said. 1.-The train is due in fifteen MIN
utes."
''Is there anything l can dos" l
asked
Il wanted TO leave some money with
Winston. intended to stop in town
day or two. but | have just got Il
dispatch that calls me home"
What name sir?"
''Anderson. of Andersonville."
/ knew hun then. though had seen
him but once before. He had been
one of our best Western customers. /
said had been. for the reason that dur
ing the past year his payments had
not been so proalpt. In fact, he was
considerably behind, and Winston had
that very day told me TO write him.
and punch him up little" as he ex-
pressed it. The letter was then in
the breast-pocket of my overeoat
You can leave the money with me,
sir. and l will give you a receipt"
He seemed to hesitate. which nettled
me somewhat. / have never blamed
anv body since, however.
"How much is MY billP" he asked,
cycling me, sharply.
answered promptly, for l had
struck the balance not more than half
an hour before:
Eleven thousand seven hundred
and fifty dollars and twenty.three
cents
'.Humph! less than 1 supposed.
Write out receipt for that amount"
He left the stove. and came and
looked over my shoulder while /
wrote.
at is all right Mr.. Putnam. 4 know
you now You've been with Winston
long time. can tell your signature
anywhere"
He drew from an ms de pocket a
large black wallet very round and full.
and counting out eleven different piles
of banknOtes, he told me to run them
over. 1t was short and easy task. for
each pile contained just ten one hun
dred dollar bills.
The balance was i'm fives, tens and
twenties. and 1t took more time TO
count them; but Mt last we got il so
that both were satisfied.
At this moment we heard the whistle
for the station. Anderson sprung for
his travelling bag, and giving me
hasty hand shake. was of on the run.
] closed the door. and counted the
money again. Finding it all right. /
wrapped piece OF newspaper around
il. aud slipped 1t into my oyercoat
pocket
did not feol quite easy to have so
much money about me, but ms Win
st0n's house was at least a mile dis
tant ] concluded to keep 1t until