The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-04
Accommodating Stranger
Caused a Muddle.
FIXED THE MONEY ORDER
But Did Not Put In Name Of the
Woman Who Purchased II.
WHY SHE GOT A SIGHT DRAFT.

| A peculiar and unusual case was
| brought to the attention of the clerks In
the money order department Of the post
office short time ago and they have
been diligently searching for its solution
ever since, and now they think they have
the problem settled. 1t made lot of
work, but it had considerable interest and
the "hpnting up was attended by lot
OF curiosity.
| A woman had patronized tho Larkin
Soap company of Buffalo, y. Y, to the
extent of $40, and she appeared at the
| postoffice TO get asmoney order to send to
| the Buffalo house. The clerks ascer-
tanned that she could not write and the
| applicant was advised to get some one to
| sign her name for her.
What she subsequently did was beyond
their knowledge, but the investigation
| brought To light the fact that she asked
a stranger to assist her in the dilemma.
She saw kindly looking man stand
| ing in the lobby and as he appeared to be
| able to write a whole newspaper full of
stuff she asked him TO sign the money
| order.
Being gallant he complied with the re-
quest and shortly after the money order
was on its way TO Buffalo. The soap
| company received the authority for the
collection of $40 from Unole Sam, but a
search of their books did not reveal the
name Of any such customer.
The only thing the soap men could do
| under the circumstances was to hold the
money order and await developments.
Meanwhile the soap purchaser in this city
was resting in calm contentmcnt because
che was out of debt. Or she thought she
was, which amounted 10 the same thing
Her ropose in this respect, however
was disturbed the other day by receiving
| from the Buffalo concern n sight draft
! for $40 She did not know what it meant
of course, but someone familiar with
sight drafts gave her the unwelcome
| significance Of the document.
| She made her way to the postoffice
without much delay and explained how
she had sent her money. and then the
search OF the books began. The clerks
! could not find any record of the transac-
ton and her name aid not appear any
| where
1t was poser, as the woman was evil
| IDENTIFY honest and sincere. There was no
doubt that shs hal sent the money order,
but how, when ana wherey
The secret came out, however, when
she explained how the order was signed
The clerks 'tumbled'' TO the fact that
the accommodating man in the lobby had
signed his own name To the money order
The woman did not know the name If
course the bookkeepers could not have
much success searching for a name they
did not know.
That was one Of the lost arts
Meanwhile the soap manufacturers have
tho money order, or u money order, but
they cannot credit the Providence woman
with it because they have no means OF
knowing whether IL Is the one sent by her
or not.
Don't YOU see it NAV come from some
one else who has also bought $40 worth of
soap. If the loser Of the monev order is
credited with the face value by the soap
manufacturers Il may transpire that the
person OWNING The name signed tn tho
order is bona fids purchaser when the
returns from the agents are turned In.
Then the soap mon would be shy Just $40
and in the present state of the soap trade
that is considered serious thing TO place
on the losing side of the books.
There is no immediate means of identi-
flying the money order on tap in Buffalo
with the one sent by the woman from this
city, and it now looks az though that
sight draft will have to be honored.
Paying $40 for SO worth Of soap is no
Joke, and unless the man who signed the
order for the woman in the postofficc
comes forward and gives his name, there
will be ons household where Christmas
presents will he scarce this year.
Speaking about Christmas presents ana
the postoflice, reminds The News that
the Christmas rush at the postoflice has
begnn in earnest. Italians Swedes, Ar
menians, tngether with natives are send
ing reminders Of tho happy time 20
friends abroad ard In the country and
money orders are In demand. ihe average
in average times ~ about % n day, but
the Christoos demand has sent the aver
age up TO 1875 day at the present time,
with assurance that the demand will he
mucn bigger ss the gift bestowing season
] advances.