The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-19
Lo. AngeIe., Meane.t Wan.


The worst thing about some stories
is that they are lies. says the Los An
geles Herald. The worst thing about
this story is that 1t is literally true.
The meanest man in Los Angeles 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 well known woman went out rid
ing few days ago. She had her pock-
etboolI 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
formant did not say At any rate,
that evening the family telephone bell
rang and on answering it a mans
voice was heard to make the usual in
quiries, after WHICH he said:
81 found a pooketbook to-day con-
tanning a card bearing your wife's
name. supposed the book belonged to
your wife. have it at my Office"
The thanks of the relieved family
were freely poured over the wire, and
sleep in that household was sweet that
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 graciously
acknowledged that the description was
correct
The book was then produced and was
promptly recognized.
II am very much obliged to you for
telephoning us of your find" said the
gratified visitor: then. as matter of
course, he added: Now, how much do
1 owe you for your kindness?''
The other looked serious a moment,
and then replied. slowly:
well, l 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 it mildly. Had he been hag-
CLING with pickpocket. street gamin
or a beggar he would not have been
in the least taken aback. But to hear
IndL SOrL OF a COOL DlQ IOr RlJIdnCe
from a well dressed, grown up man
who had 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, / never paid a reward in my
life, and have no idea of the rules
customarily governing. such cases.
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 piece of pa
per-.
Lets see." he said. musingly, as he
| eyed the pocketbook. Pretty good
| pocketbook. slightly worn-say, one
fifty. Contents, So 50-total. $3.50. We
might split the diff-no, say So
And he looked UP at his victim with
| the innocence of a child.
The man dug into his pocket speech
| lessly and handed out 50, and started
| for the door. He thought he had had
| the experience of his life. Not so. II
the mans dimirutiveness had been ex-
| hausted, his nerve hadn't. Reaching
| into his vest pocket, he drew out a
card, handed it to his stupefied caller
| and said:
Here's my card. In case you should
| ever want anything in our line, we
| should like to have you remember the
man who found your wife's pocket
| book"