The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-01
A Mysterious Charity.

There isn't a great deal OF romance In my
business" remarked a prominent Chicago
banker. but now and then something turns
III. out of the ordinary and makes us wonder at
the peculiaIities of those who have dealings
with us. l recall an instance Just now which
is as yet not explained. and will never be. l
fancy, as the chief actor in it was killed some
time ago In a railway accident. never knew
the man personally. but ne was a depositor in
our bank. whose account was n personal one to
the extent of $4,000. He carried that much
as a rule. and the few checks that he made
against it never indicated what his business
was. He was about 80 years of age. and very
rarely came to the bank. Naturally I never
gave him a thought. for 10000 il not a large
deposit In Chicago and beyond his deposit 1
1T happened. therefore. that when one day
received a personal letter from our depositor
when I had read it. I do not recall the exact
wording, but it was to the effect that within a
drawn drs or BY y him a T for $685. SSu and O tsss as she 8 sh Sas
unknown. he wished me to see that she re-
celved the money without trouble. and that
fication in the person OF "a little girl. who would
answer correctly the questions ! must ask her.
gave them, These questions were simple
enough, being only the child's full name. her
az ht to m ass t mqn and T hsp ia 923en' t thS f ~ l p pp,iis
brother who was dead. Five thousand dollars
was a good deal OF money to let go on that kind
OF evidence. but that was all l had. and the de-
positor was in California. so that ] could noe
See him personally.
The next day the. paying teller came to me
with his eyes bullying, saying hat about as
hard q looking case OF beggar woman as lie
had ever seen was at his window with a check
drawn TO the order OF Mrs. Blank by Mr.. -.
and that as he did not know the woman and
the woman did. not know how she was to get
the money. he had come to ask me about il. 1
which she did. bringing a little girl with her.
than the mother was. All she could say was
that she had received the check nv mail from
a man whose name was not familiar TO her,
with instructions to present IL at the bank
and the money would be paid to her. IL she
would take her little girl with her. / asked
the child the questions had been requested
t. ask and she answered correctly each one,
which relieved me Of further responsibility,
and | ordered the check to be cashed. The
woman did not seem to be greatly overcome
by her good fortune. and as l could tell her
nothing Of the man who had given the money
to her. she didn't seem to have any further
use for me and went back to the paying telIer's
window. She asked for the money in $50 bills
and. wrapping IL UP in an old ne wspa per. went
out Of the bank without a word to anybody.
She was no longer at the address she gave
when / sent. a messenger there to make in
quiries. and her benefactor l never saw again,
for he met his death on his way east from Cal
i%fornia. ] fancy he would not have told me the
story OF his life, but ! shall always wonder IL
the name we carried on our books was the one
he had carried in his youth"