Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-29
HAD MONEY TO BURN.
Mrs. Samuel HudGeston is Shor
Changed by Bonfire.

Mrs. Samuel HudGIeston is Short
Changed by Bonfire.
In spite of repeated warnings some
people still persist in trusting straw
tick far more than a national bank as
safety deposit vault. and this charac-
teristic cost Mrs. Samuel Huddleston,
who resides at BIG Iowa avenue in this
city, just $125.50. Had it not been for
swc little boys and the honesty of
their parent the amount would have
been $3.50. AS it is Mrs. Huddleston
| is very well pleased to receive even a
part of the money, and will doubtless
in the future profit by her experience
of this week in regard to the care of
| the coin of the realm.
Some time ago Mrs. Huddleston had
| $3.50 which she wanted to put in Sc
cure place, where no robbers could find
it and where she could get it whenever
| she chose. knowing exactly its loca-
ton. So she deposited it, in pocket
book. inside of a straw tick she was
using on bed in the house. The
IHuddleston household was not troubled
by burglars and although at first there
had been some anxiety on the part of
| the woman regarding the safety of the
family treasury, it gradually wore
away as time went on.
| On Tuesday Mrs. Huddleston was
doing little housekeeping and in
the course of the work it came time
for her to empty the old straw from
the ticks and refill them The rich
tick went the same as the penniless
ones, and Mrs. Huddleston, all un-
thinking. built a bonfire and stood by
lit, watching while the flames licked
lup the straw and incidentally the
lions share of the $3.50. The ticks
were refilled and all went well for a
time.
While the bonfire was still smould,
ering the two little sons of S. Ander.
son. who resides at 1920 East Main
street, and is foreman at the Burling
ton round house, passed by it on their
way TO buy steak for the Anderson
dinner table. They stopped to watch
the fire and found that by thrusting a
stick into the straw they could stir
the dying embers into blaze This
! they did until the straw and ashes
We're pretty we'll sifted. About this
time one of the lads CHANGED to spy
a bright object on the ground and
picked it up. The little fellows could
not recognize it as anything they had
ever seen before but nevertheless il
Hooked like suitable plaything and
Ithey decided to look for more. After
! poking around the pile of ashes fol
some time and finding several yellow
and white objects they went on to the
meat market, made their purchase
and returned home. carrying theil
prizes with them.
The father noticed that the little fel
lows had odd playthings and on his
: asking for an explanation they forkef
lover $54.50 in gold and silver coin,twc
$40 gold pieces being in the lot. The
youngsters explained that they haC
found two more pieces like a So gold
piece they pointed out, but had sivel
one away to playmate and had trad
ed another for a ball bat to a second
lad. This indicates that they haC
: S64.50 when they left the discarded
bonfire, and that bills amounting t.
S115.50 We're destroyed by the flames
Mr.. Anderson brought the money tt
the Courier Office Tuesday eyenins
with the request that its discovery BIZ
: advertised in the Coulier's want col
umns. He had no idea as to Whose
property it was but strict honesty
prompted him to try to reimburse, il
part at least. whoever had lost thu
) money. The want ad appeared in las
evenings Courier and during the ev
5 ening MIR. Huddleston, whose wife hat
discovered the loss. called to inquire
about the money. He was highl,
pleased when he learned of the natur,
of the find although it is much les.
than the original amount. 1t was re
: turned to the rightful owners. who will
!. probably be more careful in the futur,
regarding their money