Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-04
THE MISSING COAT.

Inever told anybody how very, very
near was to death that night, just
n year ago; but as l; can now look
hack and calmly recall each thought,
each word, each act, will write it
down as a warming to all who may
find themselves similarly circum-
stanced, hoping, with all my heart,
that the number may be few.
In the first place, my name is
Frederick Putnam. am, and have
been for the last ten years, the fore
man and bookkeeper Of the large
numbering establishment of villa
Winston u Company, and hope to te
for another decade, unless something
better turns up Mr.. Winston is the
resident partner and manager of the
manufacturing part of the business.
The other members 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
! was preparing for home, l heard
footsteps on the crunching snow out
side. and suddenly the Office door
few open, as though some one in
haste had given it a push, admitting
q tall, stout, well.dressed man, with
q small travelling bag in one hand
and shawl thrown over his arm
l was alone, Mr.. Winston having
gone home some half All hour before,
locking the safe, in which we kept
our books and papers, and taking the
key with HIM as usual. l 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 mang
bustling up to the stove. and kickins
the damper open with his foot. "Ha,
Winston gone to the hou se:"
l anSw red that he had
'Whew! I was afraid of it,"
He drew out his wAtch-a very fine
one, l thought.
II shall not have time to go up"
he said. 1.-The train is due in fifteen
minutes"
as there anything I can do?"
asked.
Il wanted to leave some money
with Winston. 1 intended to stop in
town day or two, but l have Just
got a dispatch that calls me home. "
"What name, sir?"
Anderson, of Andersonville."
knew him then. though l had
seen him but once before. He h I'd
been one OF our best West customers
say had been for the reason that
during the past year his payments
mad not been so prompt. In TACT, he
was considerably behind. and Win
ston had that very day told me to
write to him, and punch him up a
little" as he expressed it. The let
Ter was then in the breast pocket OF
my oyercoat.
'YOu can leave the money with
me, sir, and l will give you a
receipt
lie seemed 10 hesitate, which
nettled me somewhat never
blamed anybody since, however.
GLOW much is my bill?n he asked,
cycling me sharply.
1 answered promptly, for I had
struck the balance not more than half
an hour before.
Eleven Thousand seven hundred
ara fifty dollars and twenty three
cents"
"Humph. Less than l supposed.
write me out a receipt for that
amount"
He left the stove and came and
looked over my shoulder while l
wrote.
1t is all right, Mr.. Putnam. l
KNOW you now. You've been with
Winston long time. l can tell your
signature anywhere"
lie drew from ar inside pocket Il
large black wallet, very round and
luli' and counting out eleven differ
ent piles OF bank-notes, he told me
10 count them. 1t was short and
easy task, for each pile contained just
loo oils. The balance was in t1ves,
tens' and twenties, and took more
Time TO count them; but at last we
got 1t so that 10th were satisfied.
AT this moment we heard the
whistle from the station. Anderson
sprang for his traveling-bag, and CIV
ing me hasty hand-shake was off on
Tue run. closed the door and counted
Ine money again. Finding it all
right l wrapped piece OF newspa-
per around it, and slipped it into my
oVercoat pocket. l did not feel quite
easy to have SO much money about
me; but as Winston's house was at
least mile distant concluded to
keep 1t until morning. when l could
deposit it in the bank.
l closed the damper again, drew on
my gloves, took the office key from
tne nail just over the door, and
stepped up to put out the light AS
oid so, l saw bit of paper on the
noor' which on picking up saw was
Ine receipt wrote for Mr., Anderson.