The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-11-11
RANTON MISSISSIPPI FRIDAY. NOVEMBER IL.

telling of my shame and dishonor.
| stood looking after the tramp as
he walked away, when a hand
was laid on my arm. and | turned
20 confront the leading merchant
of The town. knew him we'll aud
favorably, although he had never
been a patron OF our institution.
"Lonk here" be said, as we walk
ell along arm in arm, 'rve always
done business with Gleason be.
cause | found found everything all
right, bnl Pm going to begin with
You to morrow. Gleason is as good
as gold himself, but | don't fancy
his new cashier. He's a high roll
er, hear, and come day he may
tuin up missing, with all he boo
die he can carry. No lear OF that
in your case"
And | had 100000 all packed,
and was only waiting for train
time TO become the meanest and
most contemplate robber ever
heard of in the State
Livery body is speaking in your
praise" he continued, "and YOU
deserve all that is said. Just keep
a level head and you'll find the
road TO honor and wealth."
When he left me | had to lean
against dead wall for support.
The sound OF his footsteps was
still in my ears when | suddenly
felt that was saved. There had
been terrible struggle of con.
science, but right had lriumphed
at last. | was pulling myself to.
gether to return TO the bank, when
a woman accosted me by name
and said (:
"How lucky happened to see
you! | was on my way down to
Blacks to see if he wouldn't lake
charge Of this package till io.mor.
row. It's money ! got only two
hours ago-$2,O0O"
"Come in here and III give you
receipt"
"Never mind that. We all know
you and trust you.
Her parting words gave me
shiver. How little they knew me (!
A hundred rods away was cvi.
dence 10 make me an object OF
contempt to every man, woman
and child IN The community! |
had one more trial to undergo.
Almost at The door of the bank |
met two business men of high
standing who were holding an ami
mated conversation.
"Heard ihe ews!" asked one
as came up. u4-.f
"What Is iti'
"You remember the clerk in my
brothers office in Philadelphia
who skipped out two years ago
with 100000? Well, he's been
overhanled. He went to Peru, no
do doubt expecting to have grand
times. 1t seems that everybody
soon knew he was a thief, and he
was an object of general contempt.
He wandered about, always a
marked man, and at las, was so
overcome with shame and degra.
dation that he asked to be arrest.
ed an sent back. He was despised,
insulled and plundered, and did
not lave one hours solid comfort
out of his stolen funds. He will
60 to prison for ten or fifteen years,
and he might as we'll die then.
Say, isn't it a curious thing that
men will so destroy themselves 2"
''rake your own CASE" added
the other, as he placed a hand on
my shoulder. "You are young,
but respected, trusted and honor
ed, and on the sure road to wealth.
You might crib 100000 from The
bank and get away, but would
that compensate you for the sacri.
fceg No! Even a million
wouldn't. Itell you, the man who
has to outlaw himself 10 enjoy his
plunder must see days when he
would almost give his life TO be set
back in the position he once held"
l passed into The bank and care
fully locked the door behind me.
Ny knees were so weak that had
TO rest for a good twenty minutes.
Even my hair was sopplng wet
with perspiralion. When 1 felt
strong enough l carried the satch.
ell to the vault, opened the doors
an1i replaced the money, and it
was not until the iron doors were
locked again thatI felt sure | had
won. There would be no watch.
man that night. l had planned it
so. / took off my coat, kicked Oft
my shoes, and made myself com
Portable in an arm chair. l Gid not
feel sleepy, but when the day por-
ter came at 8 o'clock IN the morn.
ing to relieve the watchman l was
sound asleep. 1t got 10 The ears
of The officers that l had sacrificed
my night because Of the death OF
the walchman's wife, and the pres.
ident feellngly SAID:
"Bless the dear boys He's a
man out of a million y
| Am still cashiers Well, never
mind about that. | nm still re.
garded as an honest man, and
doubt il you could make any Of
my business friends believe that
had ever been tempted for an in
slant.
In this part OF the country we
think a farm of 100 acres is a