The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1893-09-14
THE MISSING COAT,

My uame is Frederick Putnam, hs'
been the LIST ten yesrs foreman aud ool
keeper OF the lum bering e,t,blishment {
Wlilsm Winston 4 Co Mr. Winsioa
the resident partner snd msnsger Of sh
business. The other mem bers Of the tirC
live 10 the city and attend 70 the sale
Of lumb,r which VIZ send 10 them by We.
als
Oae cold evening as | ss' pr psring 10
home | heard footsteps outside, aud pre-
seu,lg tsll stout, we'll dressed man viii
ssm,ll travelling big in ole hand aud
shawl over his .rm entered the fice.
was aIou. bad already put on my ov, r
coat snd was t1rniUg down the light
God evening, said the man. walking
up to the ,toge and kicking the dsmper
open with bis foot Has Winston gone to
the houseY
lsnvvered that he h.d
Whew! was afraid OF it. He drew out
bis watch. 'hslI not hsve time to get
up, be said. The train is due 10 fifteen
minutes
is there anything | can do? ask
| ed
wanted TO leave some money With
| Wiutton. | Intended to stop 10 town 3
day or two, but have Just got dispatch
. thst calls me home,
Whit nsme, sit?
Audertol, Of AnderoavilIe
| knew him ther, though bad seen
LIN but once before. He had been one OF
our beet western customers. | say had
been for The reason tbs. during the last
year bis payments h d not been 90
ulompt. In fact he was ronsiAo-.h'- =
behind, and Mr. Winston had that very
day told me TO write 10 him and punch |
him up a little, as he expressed It, The
letter was then 10 the breast pocket Of my
overcolt
You eau leave the money with me. sir,
will give you receipt, said. He seem.
blamed any body since however.
How much is my bill? be asked eyeing
me sharply.
Eleven thousand, seven hundred and
fifty dollars and twenty three cents, Ian.
swered promptly, Tor hid struck the
balance not more than hall an hour be
fore
Humph Less tlau / supposed Write
me ont a receipt for that amount.
He left the stove and came and looked
over my shoulder while wrote,
1t ali right, Mr.. Putnam. | know
you now. You've been with Winston =
oug time can tell your signature any,
where.
he drew from bis inside pocket val ct
nd counting out II piles OF bank notes
le told me to conut them. 1t WAS a short
nd easy task. for each pile contained just
300 bills. Tue blsnce vas iu five and
IueDits
At this a oment We hesrd the shis1le
rom the station. Anderson sprst & for
lis travelling bag, aud giving ne bssty
landsbeke vas of | closed the door
.nd counted the money sgsin Finding I
3 night, | wrapped piece OF newspaper .
.rolud It aud slipped it into my overcost
POCKET. did not feel easy TO have so q
much money sbout ne, but . Mr. Wins
on's house was At least a mile distance /
concluded to keep 1t until morning, when
could deposit it ir the back.
drew on my gloves took the Office key
rom the nBil over he door snd walked
,ver to e1tiueuish the light. As did 40
saw 90 the AoOf the receipt ! wrote for '
dr. Aud,rson he bad dropped it 10 his
.urry. put 1t in my pocket snd thought
10 more atont it, only taat would mail ,
to him Iwonld hsve done it then, but
$ the last mail icr that day bad gone on
be train which took Mi Anderson could II
10 it lust as veil il the morning, Then, o
90. vas 10 something OF hurry tbst d
isht. for had an sproI tmens with u
oaug women 10 hoped would be my II
lie before msLy mUntbs e
| FASTENED TO NY bosriing house, ate II
~ supper, snd then weLt over TO the
ONE Of NY iutandtd b-ide vesring Tia
ost With the MONEY 10 II, A. | did not u
FL es.y about le.Tins 10 ny room. Can o.
le sas al home, aud le,yia my c1s, and
al 10 the bali, weDt tito tue parlor. e'
/ 10 O'Clock shtu prepared to leave, l'
.atfie went IL % the hall Tor ny coat and al
al tbs, might pot them on b. The Ere,
at sben she cane back u,ih OILY my q
a. a.
WY, Fred. she eIel.Imsd, you certainly a
ia not venture oli .uch ,nisht ss ,bis
itbout 40 ovttc a. q
No eosif crisd 10 dtz'd v.y. i.r cl
he thougbtoi ibs mouey h..hsd apon me
,addeuiy that 1t sluost siubued ne. E,
he usIt nom.aI | tore ps't her lite ei
lG1msn. a. | "a The coat vas gone il
'beu ~as uus' rrei, sr,ptd al the b
.air rail AID e,agui Iasi in time TO iup'
trt myself. Carrie cane runong ou', Il
Ct ace pale With ,l,ru, Il