The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-01
THE MISSING COAT.

OF the Lam DSrlnS eSlaOlisl-
ment of William Winston d Co. Mr..
Winston is the resident partner and man.
ager Of the business. The other men,
bers of the firm live in the city and at
tend to the sales of lumber which we
send to them by vessel.
One cold evening Is I was preparing
for home | heard footsteps outside, and
presently a tall, stout, well dressed man
with a small travelling bag in one hand
and q shawl over his arm entered the
office. | was alone. | had already put
ON my o~vercoat and was turning down
the light.
Good evening" said the man, walk
ing up to the stove and kicking the damp
err open with his foot. Has Winston
gone to the house,
answered that he had.
"Whewl | was afraid of it," He
drew out his watch. Il shall not have
time to go up" he said. THE train Is
due in 15 minutes"
as there anything | can dor asked.
~ wanted to leave some money with
Winston. | intended to stop in town a
day or two, but | have just got a dis
patch that calls me home"
"What name, sir?'
Anderson of Andersonville."
/ knew him then, though | had seen
him but once before. He had been one
OF our best western customers. | say
had been for the reason that during the
last year his payments had not been so
prompt. In fact. he was considerably
behind, and Mr.. Winston had that very
day told me to write to him and punch
him up a little" as he expressed it. The
letter was then in the breast pocket of
my overcoat.
"You can leave the money with me,
sir; | will give you a receipt" ! said. He
seemed to hesitate, which nettled me. /
never blamed anybody since however.
How much is my bill?" he asked. ey-
ing me sharply.
Eleven thousand seven hundred and
fifty dollars and tw~enty-three cents" ]
answered promptly, for | had struck the
fore.
'Humph! Less than | supposed. Write
me out a receipt for that amount"
He left the stove and came and looked
over my shoulder while / wrote.
ut is all right. Mr.. Putnam. | know
you now. You've been with Winston a
long time. I can tell your signature any
where"
He drew from an inside pocket q wal
let and counting out IL piles of bank
notes he told me to count them. 1t was
u short and easy task. for each pile con.
tanned just 100 bills. The balance was
I'm fives and twenties.
At this moment we heard the whistle
from the station. Anderson sprang for
his travelling bag, and giving me a hasty
h~andshake was off. closed the door
and counted the money again. Finding
it right. / wrapped a piece of newspaper
around it and slipped it into my overcoat
pocket. I did not feel easy to have 90
much money about me, but as Mr.. Win
ston's house was at least a mile distant
I concluded to keep it until morning
when | could deposit it in the bank.
drew on my gloves. took the Office
key from the nail over the door and
walked over to extinguish the light. As
q ulu 81 L saw ou Vic iOOT tHc ECCGipt i
wrote for Mr.. Anderson. He had dropped
it in his hurry. | put it in my pocket
and thought no more about it, only that
would mail it to him. | would have
done it then, but as the last mail for that
day had gone on the train which took
Mr.. Anderson | could do it Just as well
in the morning. Then, too, / was in
something Of a hurry that night. for
had an appointment with a young WON
an whom | hoped would be my wife be.
fore many months.
FASTENED to my boarding house. ate
my supper, and then went over to the
home of my intended bride, wearing the
coat with the money in it, as | did not
feel easy about leaving it in my room,
Carrie was at home. and leaving my Goa,
and hat in the hall, | went into the par
lor. AT 10 o'clock when | prepared te
leave. Carrie went into the hall for my
oat and hat that | might put them or
by the fire. but she came back with only
my hat.
WHY. Fred" she exclaimed, 'yo,
certainly did not venture such
night as this without an overcoaty
mo coat" l cried in a dazed way, TO
the thought of the money flashed upo1
me SO suddenly that it almost stunne,
me. The LEI moment ! tore past he
like a mailman, as | was. The coat wa
gonel Then | was unneryed. graspe.
ut the stair rail and caught it just i
time to support myself. Carrie cam
running ont, her face pale with alarm.
''Oh. Fred. are you i'll? Let me ca
mother and the doctori You are a
white AZ a sheet"
mo. no Carrie!" | entreated. ..Thers
I'm better now"
And ! was better. | was strong all q
once-desperately strong. And wha
brought about this change? That simpl
receipt which / had in my pocket. Ar
derson had nothing to show that til
money had been paid, and wss o m
ided word as good al | WI
81 .sh enough TO believe ta.l | coul
brave 1t through, and ! grew confidei
md quite easy at once.
There, Carrie" I said quietly, Il Al