The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-11-07
BEFORE DAY
rorlrlnal

salaries into good many little ones.
Ny salary kept coming down TN at
last, just before setting out ON my re-
turn from trip. / received a note from
my employers stating that my services
would no longer be required. What |
was to do, how support my wife and
child, / did not know. My train did not
leave for several hours. and spent the
time In a hotel lounging. The distance
to the depot was but tlye. minutes
walk. but started half an hour be-
fore traintime and had twenty-five
minutes TO wait there. Seating myself,
watched the people coming and going
or waiting, as l was. A young man
with the curious combination of red
hair and black eyes passed before me.
went to the ticket ONCE and purchased
a ticket. He carried q suit case. There
was nothing remarkable about that.
for nowadays every one carries suit
cases. Indeed one OF my own was
resting ON the seat beside me. When
the train was called, entered a
sleeping car, where 1 found the young
man with the red hair and black eyes.
He was putting his belongings into a
berth directly opposite to my own. In
due time all went to bed and the lights
were turned low.
In the middle of the night awak-
ened with the stopping of the train,
which, by the by. always wakens me.
and, hearing loud talking in the rear
end Of the car, looked out to see what
was the matter. The young man who
had occupied the berth opposite me
was leaving the train in company with
man who carried his suit case. In
moment all was quiet, and l turned
over and went to sleep again.
arrived at home on a very gloomy
morning. and It was gloOmIer still
when l announced to my wife that
was out Of position. She was
plucky woman and, instead Of despond-
Ing, by her cheerful behavior did what
she could TO brace me. After breakfast
II didn't know where we were TO get
dInner-I went down to the store
and wound UP my affairs there. AS
had overirawn my salary there was
nothing due me. was too discour-
aged to so out and look for new JOB
SO returned to my home to talk mat
tiers over with my wife.
She met me at the door with an ex-
preston OF supreme wonder mingled
with fear.
George" she said. what does this
meanY
Have you yielded to temptatOn2"
"No."
money!"
what money"
you do with your clOthesG"
FOR heavens sake. tell me what
you're talking about"
Come upstairs"
She led the way to our bedroom. and
there open on the bed was the suit
case with several bundles OF bank bills
In it which had been packed In some
old clothing.
Dora" / said, some one has
changed suit cases with me. 1t looks
as IL a bank had been robbed and the
thief on the eve Of arrest had found It
convenient to turn over the proceeds TO
me. Where Is the morning paperE
She brought the paper, and there on
the first page was the heading ARREST
OF the Tenth National Bank Cashier"
Then came an account of how de-
faulting cashier had been caught In a
sleeping car the night before. The
treasure had not been recovered.
THAT'S the explanation" said, and
gave Dora an account of the young man
with red hair and black eyes. Some
time before his arrest he had undoubt-
edly changed suit cases with me. The
article closed with statement that the
reward of 10 per cent of the money
recovered offered by the bank had been
doubled.
counted the bills and found S74,542
in ali. The reward would be Sl5.0OS.4O.
| took Dora III my arms ana danced
with her around the room.
Have. you lost your sensesY she
asked MS soon as she could get away
from me.
No: there is big reward offered
for the recovery OF this money. All
we have to do is to take it to the bank
and get the reward"
called Carriage-which ] had no
money OF my own to pay for-and, put
ting the bills back in the case, accom-
panied by Dora, drove to the Tenth
National bank. Arriving there, left
Dora with the treasure and, going into
the bank, sent my card to the presi-
dent. When admitted, l told him the
story much as have told It here.
"Did you count the money!" he
asked.
'There is but So missing" he said
"Where is it now?"
I'm charge of my wife In carriage
at the door,"
Bring it in"
When returned with the treasure,
the president was writing check. He
opened the case, called teller to count
the money and when 1t was finished
handed me the check, which was, as l
had figured 1t, Sl59os.4O. waved 1t