The Somerset reporter., 1891-04-09
HONESTY AND MEMORY.
IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE MAN
WAS GUILTY OF A CRIME.

Evidence Is Not Always Conclusive
Proof OF Gnilt-A Woman Makos Up In
Forbearancc Her Loss of Mnn,ory.
Two weeks ago family of two per.
sons-husband and wifo-rented email
apartment up town and proceeded to
furnish 1t. The carpets were supplied
and laid by a reputable house. Some
thing about one Of them was unsatisfec-
tory, and man was sent to investigate.
The wife-Mrs. L.-was on her way Olt
OF the building to post a letter when she
encountered him. Recognizing HIM, she
sand: "Here is the key; will he back in
FIVE minutes, Go mp and see what can
be done"
No sooner had she got on the street
when she thought suddenly Of roll of
bills, nearly 800, which she had care
lessly left in glove box on her dressing
table. There was nobody In the apart
ment, M no servant had yet been on
gagged. and she was tempted to return at
once to look after the money. But
surely" she thought, that man if hon
est: need have no fear" and she hur
ried on.
In less than ten minutes she was back,
and met the carpet man just outside her
door He stopped and spoke with her
concerning the troublesome carpet, and
promised speedy remedy. They epa-
rated and she entered her apartment.
Almost mechanically she went to her
dressing table and raised the lid of the
4 = -,
DAMAGING EVIDENCE
Without delaying an instant she hur-
ried into the hall and down the stairs.
overt;aking the CARPET man as he had
reached the street.
will you come back n moment,
please?' she said.
He did so at once. When they were
again in the apartment she faced him.
~ curious thing has happened When
went out this morning left IL roll Of
-S90-in that box over there. 1t is
gone now"
Tho man did not seem to understand
DOR moment. well, ~ be said unmean-
ingly.
Well" repeated MrR L.. there WINS
nobody in the apartment but
The man interrupted her. "God,
madam" he said earnestly us the signif-
canoe of her words dawned upon him,
"you don't think | took your money!
II don't know what to think" replied
MIS-. L.; Tho money was there and now
it in't'
But Tn an honest man." he went on
i've got Ii lc girl Do you think I'd
ateal? Why. I've been eight years with
So-and-so. They know my character.
Look around for your money. Perhaps
your husband took it
That is possible" said Mrs L. "Will
you como with me to his office and find
OUT
He acquiesccd and tho journey down
town was lnade Mr.. L. had not taken
the money. The man was greatly dis
turbed.
You can search me" he said. "Thercs
my own money producing small wad,
cleft from my last weeks wages.
haven't another cent about me-" And
he turned his pockets inside out.
Mr.. l.. was impressed with the mans
appearance and carnestness. Mrs. l..
was puzzled and her money was gone.
CASE OF POOR MEMORY.
However, nothing further was done mt
the time, and the man went back to his
work asking only that he and not they
report tho occurrence Mt the carpet deal
cr's shop. Mrs. L. went home and ran
sacked drawers and boxes, moved fur
niture, and opened trunks in u vain
search for the money. Several days
passed, when, on going TO an upper
shelf in wardrobe, Mrs. LIS attention
was attracted to towel pinned i'll a roll.
What was that she wondered. She took
IL down and opened it. Inside was a
discarded wallet, and in the wallet the
missing bills.
And they had been put there by Mrs
L. herself. She recalled, on seeing them,
that the night before the man came she
had thought juat before going to bed,
that il was careless, with so many per
SONS coming and going in the course of
the settling process, to leave money loose
in box on the table. and she had clabo-
rately thought out this hiding place.
Then she had slept, and by morning had
lost nil recollection of what she had done.
1t was late Saturday afternoon when
she found the money, and storming, but
it must be related to Mrs. l.. credit
that she did what she could. She sent
dispatch to the man in care of his firm
stating that the money was found. On
Monday she went to the shop and OK
planned the matter to tho superintendent,
asking that the man be asked to come
to sec her He did 80 and received an
apology for the imputationo on his honesty.
Then Mrs. L. tried to reimburse him
for his "loss of time;' this he would not
permit. The money was found-that
was all he wanted. So it all ended hap
PLY. But the story may be taken as
forcibly illustrating the uncertiin valne
Of two things-a woman's memory and
circumstantial evidence, Her Point Of
View in New York Times.