The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-12-10
THE LOST POCKETROOK

'Found-A pocketbook, containing sum of money. Owner can have same by applying at Room 43, Blank Build ing, and identifying" That was the advertisement which MT, Bilton recently inserted in "The Star" He had found dark green purse on the sidewalk while on his way to the office, and, after advertis- ing 1t, went on his regular business. The next morning a group of men and boys stood about the door to his office, and he was regarded eagerly by the watchers when he passed in. The of- flee boy immediately announced that man wanted to "see about that pocket book" The man, who was long on whiskers and short on cuffs, was ush- cred into the office, and MT Bilton asked:
 Well, did you lose a pocketbook?"
 Yes, sir; and it had some money in it." When it came to a question of col or the visitor hesitated and finally said black"
 How much money did 1t contain"
 Well CT, I can't say exactly" re- piled the visitor.
 Was there more or less than ten dol lars?'
 "Yes-that is, there was-more," said the man, breathing deeply, as if he had cast the die.
 Tt is not yours" said MT. Bilton. Good morning"
 The man with the whiskers walked out and joined the group. A shabby young man, wearing a golf cap, next essayed to prove ownership. He said the pocketbook was not black, but a "sorter reddish weller that some people might call brown" In fact, 1t might be called by any of those names.
 In answering an inquiry as to the amount contained in the purse, the young man said q can't place it ex- actly, but I know there was between five and ten dollars in it"
 Its not yours Good morning. said the business man. affably.
 The young man with the golf cap walked down the street with those who waited outside. There ain't as much as five" he told them, and t ain't red nor weller nor brown You guessed black. didn't you, Whiskers?'' "Tain't black" replied Whiskers.
 The next person to appear to MT. Bill ton was young man with a pink shirt, blue striped cuffs and green tie. He wore damaged yellow shoes and smoked a cigarette. Good morning" he said. T lost a pocketbook, y'know and I guess the one you put in the paper is it. It was green and had some change in it. There wasn't as much as five dollars, though"
 Was the amount nearer five than one?" asked MT Bilton, quietly.
 "Yes. sir"
 Then this is not your purse, al- though it is green" Well, I guess I made a mistake, '' said the sporty man. T guess it was q little less than two-tifty." No, sir; it's not yours" said the business man. Good morning."
 Mir Bilton had three other visitors within a half hour who stated that they had lost dark green pocketbook, containing a sum variously estimated at two dollars, one dollar, and fifty cents The last visitor in making his report to his companions said; Say it just makes me sick. That guy ain't been doing d thing but having the laugh on us while we was a-lyin' to beat the hand. Say! How much dc you guess was in that pocketbook? One cent Yes, sir, One cent! and the pocketbook aint worth that much. De bloke just put in the ad to get a laugh | on somebody. If it hadn't been foi 1 that. he said. it wouldn't been worth while to put it in the paper at all. - | Washington Star