The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-14
ITO LOOK AT TIL EBOOKS."
An Explanation That Led the Book
keeper to Depart in Haste.

keeper to Depart in Haste.
A prominent Louisville lawyer who
was in the city recently on business
told this curious little story one even
ing, while chatting with some friends
in the Grunewald lobby: MY pet fad
for many years" he said, has been
what is called the extending of books.
I select some standard work, prefera-
bly, a work of history, and begin to col
lect letters, autographs, pictures, maps.
printed matter, documents and any
thing else obtainable connected with
the subject treated. Eventually l. have
the original book taken apart and re-
bound with all my supplementary mat
ter, and single volume Is sometimes
extended to a dozen. 1t is very fas-
cinating hobby, and If / went into de-
tails / would never get to my story.
What I started out to tell you was
this: Five or six years ago l was on
the train going to Toledo to atthend to
some legal matters, when I fell In with
very agreeable elderly gentleman,
who turned out to be furniture manu-
facturer living in Middle Ohio. Some
thing turned the conversation to books,
and the old gentleman remarked casu-
ally that he was extending copy or
Irving's Life of Washington. BY a
remarka bic coincidence I was just then
engaged on exactly the same task my
self, and, needless to say, we both be-
came deeply interested BY the time
we reached the manufacturers home
town he had persuaded me to stop over
te Dt-Ir
he sid, confined severl fine specimens or
extended books We arrived late in the
afternoon and before going to his house
we dropped in at his downtown office.
A very serious looking, middle aged
Scotchman came forward to greet us,
and was introduced by my friend as
the manager of the furniture works
TIM going to keep Mr.. ------ with US
for day or so,' said the old gentle
man, pleasantly. I want him to take
a look at my books The Scotchman
grunted some vague reply and in few
moments we started for the house.
"I was most Hospitality entertained"
continued the lawyer, land the library
intensely interesting, but next day l
had to go on to Toledo, and the whole
episode eventually faded from my
mind One day last summer, however,
ii was unexpectedly recalled by a
meeting with the old manufacturer
himself whom I bumped into In the
80 r'T'- ,~r'- houeo IN -
Louis. He recognized me at once, and
the first thing he asked was whether |
had finished with my copy of Wash
ington.' Then ne took me by the arm
and drew me aside. I'm very glad I've
met you,' he said, because l want to
tell you OF a remarkable affair in
wien you played unconsciously an i'm
portant part. Do you remember the de-
tails of your little visit to my town.
Fairly WE'LL I replied, in surprise.
Then perhaps you recall melting the
MANAGER al our office? hem continued.
Certainly, said l. "A sour looking
Scotchman, with reddish hair Exact
lvt he exclaimed. Well, he decamped
that night and has never bsen seen
since We thought he was sick at home
for a couple of days, so he got good
start He was short a trifle over $20,-
900, but he had covered up his tracks
so neatly that l was at a loss to know
why he ran away until / received let
ter from him, posted in Mexico, and
making a clsan breast of the whole af-
fair. 1t seems that he mistook you for
an expert accountant and gathered
from some remark I made about look
ing at my books that I had engaged
you to examine the ledgers. Accord
ingly he took time by the forelock. 1t
was pretty serious loss he added,
but 1 regard the incident as providen-