Connecticut western news., 1893-09-28
THE MISSING COAT.

DOOhkoopor Ol Iu6 luIuDerluS oSUdDllSu- ment of William Winston 6 Co. MT. Winston is theresident partner and man. ager of the business. The other mem, bers of the firm live in the city and at. tend to the sales of lumber which we send to them by vessel.
 One cold evening as 1 was preparing for home I heard footsteps outside, and presently tall, stout, well dressed man with small travelling bag in one hand and shawl over his arm entered the office. was alone. I had already put on my overcoat and was turning dowr the light.
 "Good evening"" said the man, walk ing up to the stove and kicking the damp CT open with his foot. "Has Winston gone to the house%
 answered that he had.
 "Whewl I was afraid of it." He drew out his watch. '1 shall not have time to go up," he said "The train ii due in 15 minutes"
 "Is there anything can do?' asked.
 Il wanted to leave some money with Winston. intended to stop in town g day or two, but have just got dis patch that calls me home"
 "What name, sir?"
 Anderson of Andersonville."
 knew him then, though I had seen him but once before. He had been one of our best western customers. 1 say had been for the reason that during the last year his payments had not been SC prompt. In fact, he was considerably behind, and MT. Winston had that very day told me to write to him and "punch him up little" as he expressed it. The letter was then in the breast pocket ot my overcoat.
 "You can leave the money with me, sir; will give you a receipt" said. He seemed to hesitate, which nettled me. never blamed anybody since however.
 "How much is my billp" he asked, ey, ing me sharply.
 "Eleven thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars and twenty-three cents," answered promptly, for had struck the balance not more than half an hour be- fore
 "Humphl Less than supposed. Write me out receipt for that amount"
 He left the stove and came and looked over my shoulder while I wrote.
 "It is all right, MT. Putnam. 1 know you now You've been with Winston a long time. I can tell your signature any where"
 He drew from an inside pocket wal let and counting out II piles of bank notes he told me to count them. It was short and easy task, for each pile con tained just 100 bills. The balance was in fves and twenties.
 At this moment we heard the whistle from the station. Anderson sprang fo1 his travelling bag, and giving me nasty handshake was off I closed the doo1 and counted the money again. Finding it right, l wrapped piece of newspaper around it and slipped it into my overcoat pocket. did not feel easy to have SC much money about me, but as MT. Win ston's house was at least mile distant 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 ant walked over to extinguish the light. Al did 80 saw on the floor the receipt wrote for MT. Anderson. Hehad dropped 1t in his hurry. 1 put 1t in my pocke and thought no more about it, only tha I would mail it to him. l would hay, done 1t then, but as the last mail for tha day had gone on the train which tool MT. Anderson I could do it just as wei in the morning. Then, too, I was il something of hurry that night, for had an appointment with young wom an whom hoped would be my wife be fore many months.
 I hastened to my boarding house, at my supper, and then went over to tn home of my intended bride, wearing tn coat with the money In it, as I did no feel easy about leaving it in my room | Carrie was at home, and leaving my coa and hat in the hall, went into the par | Tor. At 10 o'clock when I prepared t, leave, Carrie went into the hall for m. | coat and hat that I might put them ol by the fire, but she came back with onl, my hat.
 "Why, Fred" she exclaimed, "yol l certainly did not venture out such night as this without an overcoat~
 ''No coatI" cried in a dazed way, fo the thought of the money flashed upol me so suddenly that it almost stunne, me. The next moment I tore past he like madman, as I was. The coat wa gone Then was unnerved. graspe at the stair rail and caught it just i time to support myself. Carrie cam running out, har face pale with alarm.
 ''Oh, Fred, are you illr Let me cal mother and the doctorl You are a white as 8 sheet"
 "No, no, Carriep' entreated. "There am better now"
 And was better. was strong all a once-desperately strong. And wha brought about this changer That simpl receipt which had in my pocket Ar derson had nothing to show that tn money had been paid, and was not m unaided word as good as his? I wa foolish enough to believe that coul brave 1t through, and I grew confder and quite easy at once.
 "There, Carrie" I said quietly, T al much better now. The room was to warm, guess So some sneaking thie has lodged in and stolen my coat? Vel let 1t go. It was an old one. and no1 I'll have better one."
 But you must not go out without, g. pvercoat," the dear girl answered, "an If you will wait just moment will ge you one of fathers coats to wear home. She did so, and started for home. Yo may guess that my slumber that nigh was not sound nor refreshing. I neve passed 8 more miserable night.
 "Why, Fred, you look as though yo met legion of ghosts last night" sai MT. Winston as he came into the offic the next morning. What Is the ma terY'
 "I did not sleep well.' 1 answered s~&Ah A ~xv.41m