The herald., 1893-06-14
THE MISSING COAT.

u1tNo Dtcu btlo ts4bb ~ YEARS lOfbiudh dilN
bookl1eeper Of the numbering establish
ment of William Winston & Co. Mr..
Winston is theresidert 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 wo
send to them by vessel.
One cold evening as was preparing
Enrhnme heard footHteps outside, and
presently tail, stout, well dressed man
with a small travelling bag in one hand
and a shawl over his arm entered the
Office. was alone. had already put
ON my overcoat and was turning down
theiight.
'4Good evening" said the man, walk
ing gup to the stove and kicking Tho damp
en- open with his foot. elias Winston
gone TO Tire houseT
Ianswered that no had.
"WhewI was afraid of it," He
drew out his watch. II shall not have
time togo up" be said. "The train is
dnoin 10 minutes"
11s there.anything can dor asked.
II wunted to leave some money with
Winston. ! iutended TO stop In town o
day or two. bnt have Just got ads
patch that calls me hotne."
'sWhat name, sifP'
s.Anderson of Apdersonville
KNEW him then, though hs1 seen
him but once before. He had been one
of our best western customers. I say
had BEEN for the reason that during the
last year his payments had not been no
prompt. In fact, no was considerably
behind, and Mr.. Winston had that very
daytoad mo to write to him and punch
himup little,' as he expressed it. The
letter was then in the breast pocket Of
my overcoat.
''You can leave the money with me,
sir; win give you q receipt" said. He
seemed to hesitate, which nettled me.
never blamed anybody since however.
GLOW much Is my billY' he asked, ey-
hg mo sharply.
'eEleven thousand seven hundred and
City dollars end twenty-three cents" l
answered promptly, for l had struck tho
balance not more than half an hour be-
fore.
"Humphl Less than l supposed. Write
me out receipt for that amount"
He left the stove and came and looked
over my shoulder while wrote.
"It Is all right, Mr.. Putnam. I know
you now. You've been with Winston
long time can tell your signature any
where"
He drew from an inside pocket wal
let and counting out II piles of bank
1o fclI ma fr1 tlor,,
o short and easy task, for each pile con-
tanned just 100 bills. The balance was
in fives and twenties.
AT this moment we heard the whistle
from the station. Anderson sprang for
his travelling bag, and giving me hasty
handshake was Off closed the door
and counted tho money again. Finding
it right, | wrapped piece of newspaper
around it and slipped 1t into my overcoat
pocket did not feel easy to have SO
much money about mo, but as Mr. Win
Bton's house was at least milo distant
l 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
/ did so saw on the floor the receipt /
wrote for Mr.. Anderson. Hehad dropped
itvin 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 forthat
day had gone on the train which took
Mr. Anderson / could do it just as we'll
In the morning. Then, too, was in
something,of hurry that night, for
had an appointment with o young wom-
mn whom hoped would be my wife be-
fore many months.
l hastened to my boarding house, ate
my supper, and then went over to the
home of / intended bride, wearing the
coat with the money in it, as l did not
feel easy about leaving it in my room.
Carrie was at home, and leaving my coat
and hat in the hall, went into the par
lor. AT 10 o'clock when l prepared to
leave, Carrie went into the hal for my
coat and hat that | might put them on
by therfre, but she came back with only
my hat
"Why, Fred,' she exclaimed, ''you
certainly did not venture out such q
night as this without an overcoat?"
mo coatp cried in dazed way, for
the thought of the money flashed upon
me SO suddenly that IL almost stunned
me. The next moment tore past her
Hike a madman, as was. The coat was
gonel Then / was unnerved. grasped
st the stair rail and caught it just in
time to support myself. Carrie came
running ont, her face pale with alarm.
''Oh, Fred, are you i'll? Let me cali
mother and the doctori You are as
white as o sheet"
mo, no, Carried" entreated. "There,
am better now"
And | was better. was strong all at
ce-desperately strong, And what
brought about this chsnge2 That simple
receipt which had in my pocket. An
1erson had nothing to show that the
money had been paid, and was n3t my
unaided word as good as his9 / was
foolish enough to believe that ] could
brave it through, and grew confident
Rud quite easy at once.
"Therc, Cerric," l said quietly, ~ ann
much better now The room was toe
warm. i guess. So some sneaking thiei
has lodged in and stolen my coat? Well
let IL 50. Il wss an old one, and now
III have ~ better one"
49, sVu li.asa ,... go oat without e.
pYcrcoat, Che dear r!ri answered, San.
fe y4o,, ,rti1 x-eft it.;t g 7,,o,,,a,+ will r-a