The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-01
%, roUxD IN A SLEEPING CAR.
Eusene Field In q Story About How n Name
Honesty Was Tested.

Eugene Field In n Story About How n Mans
Honesty Was Tested.
"what would you do II you were to find
$4,000 in n sleeping car ?" man who had the
courtesy Of the Club, asked one of the members.
"why do you say in a sleeping car " re-
turned the member. "why not leave that on
What has that to do with 1T"
That's part Of the story" rejoined tho
guest, land. what is more. the story concerns
poor Eugene Field. That ia, he was In the story.
And I reckon It was his honesty that spoiled
! one mans anticipatlons."
"weli, 1 had the card issued to you. and you
have some rights; 20 on /" said the member.
There was q crowd going up from st Louis
to Kansas City. Eugene Field. Tom Parks, n
prominent politician in the State; Gen. HouEh,
afterward on the Supreme bench in Missouri:
Col. James N. Burnes. q Congressman, and
several others. were in one sleeper. When the
train got to some point-I don't remember the
name now-one of the sleepers was cut out Uf
the train. and several people who were In the
coach with Field ana his party, had to leave
that coach and get into the one that was to be
cut out. A passenger who was In the same
coach with Field aud his friends. had stepped
into the smoking room In order TO make way
for some people who wero going into tho coach
that was about to be cut of. AS he did 80, he
saw q pocketbook on the seat. and, of course,
picked It up. Any man would do that. The
man put the wallet into his pocket and sat
down. When the train was under eadwsy
again, he opened the pocketbook. 1t contained
five $1,000 bills. n few private papers, ON
which there was nothing to indicate the name of
the owner; a lock of hair in y tiny envelope.
end y tiny ring In which there was q setting of
q peculiar stone.
"Asthet train drew near Kansas City the finder
OF the pocketbook grew uneasy. At first he
had calculated tn hippsalf. Ho n,ved N m prtunua
of 81 200 on q little home. and he was engaged to
be married. Tho engagement had been twice
postponed on account OF his financial condition.
Here was n way out of 1t all. No one could ever
possibly know how he obtained the money. +:
Men who have become hardened by crime
tell us thu heir first offence was the most diff
cult. This man had never done any wrong OF a
criminal character, but the more he thought of
his possession of this money and keepsake, the
more his conscience smote him. He knew
Field by reputation. He left the smoking room
and went to the seat where Field was stretched
out and introduced himself. A pleasant chat
resulted. and 1t came about, singularly enough,
that Field said something about having to
write a birthday poem for 4 little girl In Denver.
He complained that he had not been able to
qualntance opened the pocketbook and took out
the little braid, of hair and said:
Maybe this will help you
Field looked at 1t and said something tender
about 1t. Your little girls hair p he asked.
The new acquaintance said no.
1T 10 the same shade of hair as that of the
little girl for whom 1 have to write this poem,'
Maybe this will help you he said.
Field took IL and almost instantly raised
Singular! up r s,ss stone IN an this sI rine is M sns on ,his on is
Of the kind | ever saw like the one which is in
telling you. | was, with her father when he
oouRhti IT, And he WAS on this train this morn
Ing and got Oft at the station where they cut
buried his wife and is on his way back to
Dsnver to his LITTLE girl; wh9 is there with her
left TO write the poem for the little one. Really,
my friend. you have come to my relief in time.
All this brings back to me the little one who
The stranger remained for a few moments
sought Field again. = and asked him aHD" the name name of Of
his Denver friend and where he could be
seached by wire; Field was not certain where
ntely. but he could ascertain when he got to
III wisn.'' said the stranger, you would try
TO find where he is. l have his pocketbook. con.
tanning IS. 900 this braid OF hair. and this ring
sion nh Of ,hs 1 plSpsr,S! hf fi.le b. cane sp s ,Tss P 9osred
into those OF the stranger. and he said:
The m ssiaS Ds .n sf GFo oos Know "s s ear,s nns eI bs, he
friend Of Field. When the train reached if Kser
sas City, Field and the stranger went to the
telegraph office and q message was rushed over
the wires To a certain station. to be delivered TO
The pocketbook was left with Field to forvard
IN case It should be the property OF his friend.
Fields message was answered. The property
was thar of his friend. 1t was forwarded. The
f Fieia ,oI Rs' e5 re, t = tic TO f call upon Field and
strangers name. and even his face. but that no
never could forget the incident, and that it
created a peculiar sensation which he could not
stances, but r never told Field did"