Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-04
FOUND NEARLY A MILLION.
Novel Erperiesc~ OF /. seruswoman
In the Trea.nry Deparfmrnr

Novel Erpertesc~ OF a scrubuonan
In the Treasury Department
In 1862 Sophie Holmes was employ.
ed by General Spinner. the treasurer
Of the United States. as a temporary
charwonan- She was assigned 20 The
rooms Of tie issue division 10 sweep
and dust one afternoon In April OF
that year Aunt sophie was hard AZ
work sweeping and scrubbing the
floors when she came across 2 large
bundle which she supposed was waste
paper and was IN the act Of throwing
II IN the basket 10 Dc burned when she
decided 20 Investigate IL She was
amazed and almost frightened out OF
Der wits 20 discover several dozen rolls
OF $1,000 bills. $4,000 IN all By
some unexplainable mistake this pack
age OF money vas overlooked and
even when the accounts were balanced
IN the evening Il was not missed aud
General Spinner. believing all 20 be
secure had locked the safe and gone
out with an easy conscience.
Aunt Sophie OF finding all OF this
wealth unEuarted- decided 70 remain
IN the room until some one with au-
thority 70 accept the money should AZ
rive So. 20 allay all suspicion. she pre-
tended 70 - working very hard but
always remained near the money. She
was afraid 20 leave the bundle 70 seek
General Spinner. and not knowing the
guard. she thought Il best not 20 trust
him with her secret She thought q
going out and carrying the bundle OF
money with her, then II occurred %
her that the guard not knowing her.
might examine the package and. OF
finding It's valuable contents. either
kill her and escape with the wealth or
suspect Der OF theft There seemed but
one thing for Der 20 do. 20 stay and
guard the fortune with her life II nee
essay
About 9 O'Clock one OF the guards Cd
tered the room and on finding Aunt
Sophie still there, asked:
Still al work.
Aunt Sophie began 20 sweep with an
Of her might and main Yes" she an
swered- but III soon - through. ."
And she made such e dust that the
Waterman was only too glad 20 escape.
She swept the dust and dir into a Pile
and then scattered il over the eoor
again in an effort 10 appear 10 be very
busy No more watchmeD disturbed
her. aud finally. out OF sheer exhaus-
ton she sat down 20 rest and soon
dropped asleep
About midnight she awoke. hearing
q noise IL the hall She was friEhten-
ed and. rising. she groped her way 70
the spot where she had hidden the
money. wedging Il in between two
desks Then she seated herself Oh Il.
determined 20 stay there TIL General
Spinner. who slept In the building.
should arrive. In this cramped posi-
ton she slept until O'Clock IL tie
morning. when she heard a soft foot
fall 10 the hall and. listening. she
thought she recognized the step &
General Spinner. In a trembling voice
she called bis name.
General Spinner was known as the
watchdog Of the treasury" a name
given him from the fact that he had z
habit Of wandering through the build
Ing Al al hours OF the night 70 see thar
everything was al right In the silence
and darkness Of the night this low,
trembling voice OF woman frightened
the general. although be was not an
acknowledged believer in ghosts On
discovering Aunt Sophie wedged In be
tween two desks his fright was turned
into surprise. The relief from the re
spOnsibility almost unnerved Aunt So
phie. and she began 10 cry. She could
not explain the situation. only muir
muring. oh. General Spinner. don't
60. don't co.
Finally. when she had become quiet
cd and could tell her story and luvesti
cation proved II 10 be correct. the truth
dawned upon the general and II Is said
that be swore black and blue al every
thing in. about and near the treasury
Not until be had relieved himself II
this manner for nearly an hour did b,
allow Aunt Sophie 10 20 home. Til,
money was finally locked up in his pr
vafe safe 10 await the next days inves
tigation. Several days later Aunt SO
phie was sent for and complimenteC
for her falthfulness and as a token o.
/ gratitude was given a life appoint
ment.-W Washington Post