The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-05-24
The Old Mans Story.
From the Detroit Free Press.


chair back from the desk and looked
about the group of reporters roosting on
chairs and tables, Cabling on all sorts of
subjects, as reporters are wont to do at 2
o'clock in the morning, whan che nights
work is near its end. "One of you boys"
he said, "asked me the other day why 1
was cynical and. suspicious of people.
Would you like to know why {"
Instantly there was an affirmative cho
rus, for the boys liked the old fellow,
Notwithstanding he was always too busy
to devote any time to them, and too
hard up to "b!ow them off," as they put
it.
swell, then, listen" be said. ut isn't
a long ntory. When 1 was about 40,
which Is now twenty years ago, l had a
wife and FIVE children, aud was getting
$40 week on morning paper in
western city. managed to exist on that,
but life was net rosy to me, and my wife,
rest her soul, was very delicate, and could
do very little toward helping us out. One
winter was particularly hard one, and
the doctors recommended that I send my
wife to some other climate, If 1 wanted
to see Ter live and grow better. God
KNOWS did, but I was deep in debt then,
and even to save her life 1 could not
raise the money needed I was utterly
discouraged and contemplated suicide,
which was a cowardly relief, but it was
relief, and | had too heavy burden.
l was sitting at my desk one afternoon,
alcne, bsooding over my troubles, when
a man came in and asked for me. 1
didn't know him, and paid little atten-
titn to him. All / noticed was heavy
black beard, long hair, and a pair of
dark blue glasses. 1t was evident, how
ever, that he knew me, although he had
asked ME if / we're the man he was look.
ing for.
"'There's package for you,' he said
laying it down quickly, and before
l could answer he was outside of the Of.
fee.
81 picked it up indifsrensly, for pack
ages came to me often, which belonged
to the Office, but this one had written
across isi, DO not open for thirty min.
utes.' Somebody came in then and
forgot about the package for an hour.
Then | opened it, and what do you think
1 found 2"
The toys made all sorts of guesses to
each of which the old man shook his
head.
"You'd never guess" he said, with a
wan smflc "It was package of new,
crisp 81 800 bills. I counted them fe.
verishly and there were $50 of them.
Think oft, boys" and the old mans
eyes eparkled at the brapce-
"Sl50,0(0, and a minute before was 80
poor thst the dogs wouldn't bark at me-.
I rose up right then and there with a
whoop and danced around the ofice, and
then I told the business manager and
two or three Others and they looked at
my good luck and Congratulated ME,
and away I went fof hothe with my
precious package under my vest hugged
close to my bosom. I know 1 never was
so happy in all my days, for didn't it
mean lifs and health to my wife, home
Tor my children, aud a rest for me with
possibly fine business of my own and
certain independence for all time7 OF
course it did, and t had right to be
happy. At home 1 told the good news
to my wife gradually, and RE fairly
gloated ever the money as it spread its
grateful green light before our. weary
eyes. I'm sure neither one of US slept q
wink that night, 80 eager we're we to
talk ovel our good fortune, and we plan
ed a beautiful future for ourselves, and
an immediate trip for my wife to some
health giving spot. By 9 O'Clock next
morning was at the bank waiting to de.
posit the first money had ever put into
a bank, and I vas pleased to death
thinking how that receiving teller would
look when he saw what nice beginning
I was making, and what a stnpendous
start 1t was to poor newspaper man. At
last the place was open and I went in,
trembling, and handed my package
through the window.
"'I want to deposit that to my cred
it, sale to him as firmly as I could, and
Just as much like was used to 1t as
knew hots.
"He took it, opened it and his eyes
fairly buiged out on his cheeks.
"'By thunder, old man. he said, where
did you set it? I'm gladto zee you in
such luelr.'
"'Oome around into my private Office,
said the cashier, coming to the window,
and I passed in. He asked me to tell
him abott the money and t did so with
as much pleasure as the first time l had
told it, bnt he seemed to be worried
about something. When 1 had told it
all and added that I'd like to have q
check for $500 that morning to square up
my pressing debts he took me by the
hand.
"'My boy he said, I know your con-
dition and know all the trouble you
have had: and you shall have the $500,
but it vii: be personal loan to you. All
that package of money you have re-
ceived 80 strangely is counterfeit
"What more he said I don't know, for
In tninuts everything was dark to me
and when l recovered consciousness
they told me I had been in delirium
for three weeks, aud then gradually, 1