Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-07-30
me to where she lives -

eS 1 can. IL NOu Cdu Nd4G dOOU'
five minutes, until my boy comes down
to take care of the station, I'll drive
You over there I've got to deliver
telegram about a mile beyond her
house, and l am going right by it.
thanked him and said would ac-
cept his kind offer. The house l had
been sent to was close by the station
ran over to it, and by the time l re-
turned the agent was waiting for me
with his blackboard and roam horse.
The house l was in quest Of was
about a mile from the railroad, and
when we reached it my companion
pulled up his horse and l got out. The
dwelling was little white affair which
stood back some distance from the road
and was well shaded by trees.
pulled the bell and the door was
opened by a gentleman.
as the lady of the house in?' | IN
quired.
well, replied the gentleman with
laugh, 1--WE don't happen to be fortu-
nate enough to have lady in this
house but perhaps there is something
l can do for you.
Il am looking for lady who lost
her pocketbook on the train one day
last week. The station agent drove
me over and said she lived here.
During the conversation he had mo-
toned me to enter, and found myself
in a small parlor not by any means
luxuriously furnished.
Let me see the pocketbook per-
haps ! can identify it, said the man
looking sharp at me.
81 have not brought it with me.
ooh, YES, you have, !" he said, walk
ing toward me.
Indeed, I haven't" l replied NOV
ing uncomfortably in my chair. 81
was sent direct from the store on an
errand to a house below here, and |
had not tune to 90 home and get the
pocketbook "
Without another word he caught
hold of me with his strong hands, felt
in every pocket of my clothes. Hay-
ing satisfied himself that | had told
the truth, he burst into hysterical
laugh, turned on his heel and left the
room. as he did so he closed the door
after him, and I heard the key turn
in the lock.
I sat like a piece of marble. was
afraid almost to breathe What could
this strange action mean Why had
he locked me in? | sat motlonless for
a long time-at least it seemed long,
and finally heard footsteps hastily
approaching. The key turned, the
door opened quickly, and gentleman
entered with an agitated look on his
face.
"Tm afraid my brother has fright
ened you" he said kindly. e" 1t was
most unfortunate that l happened to
be out in the barn when YOU came.
The poor man is insane, and this Is
one of his bad days. Was there any
thing said about money
Yes, | told him had found
pocketbook, and had been told that the
owner resided here.
"Ah, yes, that would start him.
Money is his mania. I hope you will
not mention anything that has occur
red here. We are very sensitive
about poor Bob's condition. We came
out here to be quiet
was much relieved to hear his ex-
planation, and l explained why had
called. He told me he was sorry he
could not help me, but he knew of no
such lady as | described.
returned to the station on foot,
after writing out notice to the effect
that l had found pocketbook on a
certain train for New York.
expected to hear from the notice
every day and no word came. | felt
more guilty than ever, and promised
more than once never to do dishonest
act again. What unhappy days had
spent, and what sleepless nights Sup
pose my mother should hnd the money
in my drawer? Or, worse still, sup
pose it should be stolen At last /
decided to make a clean breast of the
whole matter to my mother, and that
night l told her everything. She
heard me through in silence.
"Well, my boy, am glad you re-
sisted the temptation to spend the
money. only see one thing to do
1t is not safe to keep 50 much cash in
the house tomorrow l Will take it
down to the savings bank and open
an account in your name. If the
o,rnar can ha found n Will he an easy