The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18
A MAN OF INTEGRITY.
BY NJ. QUAD.

BY NJ. QUAD.
For thirty years or more had known
myself 10 be an honest man. / mean that
had never wronged fellow man out OF
so much as a penny. though / had had
hundreds OF opportunities. In my busi
ness dealings / had been absolutely square
II not little too liberal and in private
life I have gone out Of my way to prove
my integrity. ] had found umbrellas and
journeyed half way across London to re
store them. / had found small sums OF
money and paid for the s1Rertising cut
Of my own pocket. ! had taken in home
less dogs and fattened them up and sent
them home In cabs. ! had been cheated
In buying cob, but in selling him again
/ had pointed out the spayins. / had
bought South African stocks at - and
sold them at 100, though the market price
was ll0. In buying and overhauling ar
old cabinet / had found papers of value
and restored them without demanding a
reward
II never occurred TO me to pat myself
on the back for an honest man. but In a
general way / realized that I was above
temptation. i must admit that II was a
balmy feeling and that as looked around
upon my fellowmen and knew that not
over one in 10000 were honest-as honest as
was-my self-importance was greatly
added to- Several queer things happened ME
one June day. l had been down 10 OK
ford on little business, and as settled
my bill at the hotel previous to departure
the landlord made mistake of a shilling
-, n - - Il.
OF course. / had 10 make change for
cabby at the depot, and he would have
beaten himself out OF four pence had l
not called his attention 10 the mistake.
A ticket-seller rarely makes mistake. at
least in favor of traveller. but on this
occasion / was given quite bit of change
too much. and though / received only a
grufT word as i returned IL. / had cleared
my conscience. i shared the compartment
with traveller, a man who had hunched-
up shoulders pulled his hat low down.
and seemed 10 sleep for the thirty miles
he rode with me. In the baggage rack
was a paper parcel, but he did not take
it with him as he got out. For twenty
minutes after being left alone / had no
curiosity about that parcel. Then 1t oe-
! cured TO me 10 inspect the contents and
be ready to turn IL over as lost property
on arrival at the terminus
| Ny interest was languid until the parcel
! was opened. ] had anticipated nothing of
value, but what did behold? In that par
| Gel or package were five neat packages of
/ Bank of England notes. each one con-
tanning q, ,0O0 There wasn't so much as a
scrap OF paper with them, nothing what
| ever to prove ownership CT tell how they
| had got there. The wrapper was common
| brown paper and had been used before. 1t
| was a queer find, and / could't make out
whether the money belonged 10 the pas
senger who had just LETT or some one be-
fore him. l had no Idea OF robbery but
laid II all 10 earelessness. After inspecting
the bills. i retied the package and smiled
bit at the CONSERVATION of the loser
His loss would be only temporary. now
ever. The package would be handed over
in London, and he would merely have to
prove property TO OBTAIN possession. He
might wish 10 reward me, but / would
not accept a penny.
II was only when the train ran into the
station that suddenly changed nay mind
As the porter unlocked the door and pass
ed on and / stepped out. the thought
came TO me 10 retain that money. Before
l could argue with myself my legs were
carrying me of. l was meaning all the
time TO give up the parcel, and yet was
hurrying away and dodging among the
crowd | really didn't come tc myself un-
I'll reaching my chambers. and then was
In two minds. Conscience demanded that
| return the money. and the devil whis-
pered TO me 10 retain IL. / lodged be-
tween the two by promising TO return il
as soon as it should be advertised. / even
promised my conscience that / would
make a long journey. If necessary, to re-
store the money. To show You that I
was still an honest man let me say that
when a bill was presented 10 me that
evening for the care of my horse found a
mistake of sixpence in favor of the sta
bic and rcctified it, Yes, / was still hon.
est. and / meant TO restore that money,
but must first be satisfied as to the own
ership.
Next day. to my great surprise and alSo
TO my qualification. no advertisement ap-
peared. 1t was my duty as an honest
man to either advertise or take the money
10 the lost property Office of the railroad
line. You will agree with me that it was,
and yet / brought forward a dozen arglI-
ments to the contrary and didn't do either
one. When week had gone by and no
advertisement appeared, / began TO look
more / felt sure II was mine. At the end
of the second week I was figuring what
Use TO make of il. 1t wasn't exactly that
the find had knocked out all the principles
thirty years had built up. but that had
never before been tempted. Without
temptation / had argued only one side OF
the question After a week had gone by
dared not return the package to the rail-
road, and after three weeks had passed
with no advertisement the money seemed
10 belong 10 me. l said TO myself that
ought TO advertise IL, but j also argued
that il the loser hadn't interest enough 10
seek to recover such a sum OF money,
how could ! be expected TO? Unless yoa
are a strictly honest man, as i knew my
self 10 be. you have no idea OF the many
arguments that can be advanced in favor
Of dishonesty.
At the end Of threeweeks had determin-
ed TO add the ind 20 my bank account and
give IL up when called upon. Aye i would
even pay interest on the sum and any ex-
ira expense the loser had been put to. |
This seemed more than fair 10 me, and I
figured that my honesty had not suffered
one jot. The money would have gone TO |
the bank. as per programme. but my valet |
stepped in. He was not an honest man. |
as am deeply grieved TO say He could |
not stand temptation. Coming across the |
package by accident, he tucked Il under |
his arm and walked OF, and have never
since set eyes on him. ] could not well go |
10 the police and ask them 70 hunt for |
him, and so he had clear road. After
he had disappeared ! could not advertise /
for the real owner and let him take the /
trail and so The dishonest rascal was free /
10 head for America. where, / am told !
honesty Is q scarce article among men
As matter or fact. no owner ever came /
forward or has not up 10 date Thai /
makes the money mine or gives me the 1
usrdtanshiD OF IL. but as IL Is in the /
hands OF dishOnes: valet and as | dare
not put the police after him | am a5 dsl I
our OF pocket and have nothing 70 show
for my sterling integrity OF Character
Sometimes in reviewing this case / doubf
IL IL pays . be honest, but again reflect /
that clear conscience Is ample reward !
for withsIanding temptation