The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-07-19
SELECTED STORY.
The Missing Coat.

y
year ago; but as l can now look back
and ,calmly recall each thought, each
word, each act, will write it down as
a warning to all who may find them
selves similarly circumstanced hoping,
with all my heart, that the number may
be few.
In the first place, my name is Fred
erick Putnam. j am, and have been
for the last ten years, the foreman and
bookkeeper of the large numbering es-
Enlistment of William Winston e.
Company, and hope to be for another
decade, unless something better turns
up. Mr.. Winston is the resident part
ner and manager of the manufacturing
part of the business. The other men,
bers of the firm, of whom there are
two, live in the city, at the foot of the
lake, and attend to the sales of lumber,
which we send them by vessel.
This is by far the largest share of
what the mill cuts, though the amount
of our sales directly from the mill to
supply the country to the west of us is
quite large.
Well, one cold evening, just as l
was preparing for home, / heard foot
steps on the crunching snow outside,
and suddenly the office door flew open,
as though some one in haste had given
it push, admitting a tall, stout, we'll
dressed man, with small traveling-bag
in one hand and shawl thrown over
his arm.
l was alone, Mr.. Winston having
gone home some half an hour before,
locking the safe, in which we kept our
books and papers, and taking the key
with him as usual. | had already
closed the damper to the stove, put on
my overcoat, and was just in the act of
turning down the lamp-but, of course,
l waited.
"Good evening, SIR" said the man
busting up to the stove, and kicking
the damper open with his foot. 6" Has
Winston gone to the housed"
/ answered that he had.
"Whewl was afraid of it,"
He drew out his watch-a very fine
one, thought.
81 shall not have time to go up," he
said "The train is due in fifteen
minutes"
els there anything 1 can do?" l
asked.
I" wanted to leave some money with
Winston. l intended to stop in town a
day or two, but l have just got dis
patch that calls me home"
What name, sir?"
Anderson, of Andersonvile."
l knew him then, though had seen
him but once before. He had been one
of our best West customers. l say had
been for the reason that during the past
year his payments had not been SO
prompt. In fact, he was considerably
behind, and Winston had that very day
told me TO write to him, and "puuch
him up little" as he expressed it.
The letter was then in the breast pocket
of my overcoat.
You can leave the money with me,
sir, and l will give you receipt"
He seemed to hesitate, which nettled
me somewhat. l never blamed any
body since, however.
How much is my bill?" he asked,
cycling me sharply.
answered promptly, for had struck
the balance not more than half an hour
before.
eleven thousand seven hundred
fifty dollars and twenty-three cents"
"Humphl Less than | supposed.
Write me out a receipt for that amount"
He left the stove and came and looked
over my shoulder while 1 wrote.
1T is all right, Mr.. Putnam, l
know you now. You've been with
Winston a long time. L can tell your
signature anywhere"
He drew from an inside pocket a
large black wallet, very round and full,
and counting out eleven different piles
of bank-notes, he told me to count
them. 1t was short and easy task,
for each pile contained Just 100 bills.
The balance was in fves, tens, and
twenties, and took more time to count
them; but at last we got it so that both
were satisfied.
AT this moment we heard the whistle
from the station. Anderson sprang for
his travelling bag, and giving me hasty
hand-shake was off on the run. I
closed the door and counted the money
again. Finding it all right, wrapped
piece of newspaper around it, and
slipped it into my overcoat pocket. /
did not feel quite easy to have so much
money about me; but as Winston's
house was at least mile distant, l con-
cluded to keep it until morning, when
could deposit it in the bank.
closed the damper again, drew on
my gloves, took the office key from the
nail just over the door, and stepped up
to put out the light. AS did SO, saw
bit OF paper on the floor, which on
picking up | saw was the receipt
wrote for Mr.. Anderson. He had
dropped it in his hurry. put it in my
pocket and thought no more about it,
only that 1 would mail it to him. |
would have done it then, but as the
last mail for that day had gone out on
the train which took Mr.. Anderson, /
could do it just as well in the morning.
Then, too, was in something of hurry
that night, for had an appointment,
and l may as well state here that it was
with young lady who hoped would
be my wife before many months.
l fastened to my clearinghouse, ate
my supper, and then went over to Mr..
Warmers, wearing the coat with the
money in it, as l did not feel easy about
leaving 1t in my room. Carrie was at
home, OF course, as she was eXpectinp