The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-28
Los Angeles
MeaneSt Man
Hos Angeles Herald.l

NLOS Angeles Hefdtd.)
The worst thing about some stories
is that they are lies. The worst thing
about this story is that it is literally
true. The meanest man in Los An
geles has been found, the case has
been proved and Next has been
called. 1t is doubtful. in fact, whether
a meaner man will be found anywhere.
The story needs no establishment. The
simple facts are bad enough. and this
is just the way the events occurred.
A we'll known woman went out rid
ing few days ago. She had her pock-
etboOk with her. The pocketbook con-
tanned some money. Therefore it is I'M
necessary to explain that the woman
was not out shopping. She lost the
pOcketbOOk. When she came home she
told her husband about the loss. AS to
whether he scolded her or not my in
fOrmaDt did not say. At any rate, that
evening the family telephone bell rang
and on answering it mans voice was
heard to make the usual inquiries.
after which he said:
I found a pOcketbOok today con-
tanning a card bearing your wife's
name. 1 supposed the book belonged to
your wife. L have it at my office.
The thanks of the relieved family
were freely poured over the wire, and
night.
Next morning the husband of the
woman who lost the pocketbook called
at the office of the well known gentle
man who had telephoned. He was pre-
scented to a fine looking person who
was said to be the one who owned the
found property. The husband described
the pOrtmOnnaie accurately, including
the contents. and the finder graciousIy
acknowledged that the description was
correct.
The book was then produced and was
promptly recognized.
I am very much obliged to you for
telephOning US of your find" said the
gratified visitor; then, as a matter of
course. he added; Now, how much
dc I owe you for your kindness?"
The other looked serious for a mo-
ment. and then replied, slowly:
We'll, 1 hardly know just how much
to say. Well. let's say--nO. It's up to
YOU
To say that the husband OF the pock-
etboOk loser was surprised would be
putting il mildly. Had ne been bag
Cling with a pickpocket, street gamin
or a beggar he would not have been IN
the least taken aback. But to hear that
sort of cool bid for a pittance from
well dressed. grown up man who bad
done an ordinary kindness such as
might be returnable any hour was
more than he was prepared for
When he had recovered his breath
he said:
Why. I never paid a reward in my
life, and have no idea of the rules Gus
tomarily governing such cases. I.
should feel better if you would name
the amount yourself"
The man looked still more serious.
Taking a pencil from his pocket he be-
gan to make figures on a piece Of pa
per.
Let's see he said. musingIy. as he
eyed the pOcketbook Pretty good
pocketbook slightly wOrn-say, one
fifty. Contents. three dollars and five
( cents-total, four fifty-five. We might
split the diff-no, say two dollars"
And he looked up at MS victim with
the innocence of a child
The man dug into his rocket speech
lessly and handed out 81, and started
for the door. He thought he had had
the experience of his life. Not so. If
I the mars diminutiveness had been ex
! hausted. his nerve hadn't Reaching
into his vest pocket. he drew o.. a
card. handed il TO his stupefied caller
and said.
Here's my card. In case you should
ever want anything in our line. we
should like 10 have you remember the
man who found your wife's pocket
book"