The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-01-02
THE MEANEsT MAN.
.Hc Has Been Found ut Los Angeles,

The worst thing about some stories
is that they are lies. The worst thing
about this story is that it Is literally
true The lneaneSt man in Los An
geIcs has been found, the case has
been proved and Next has been
called. 1t is doubtful, in fact, whether
II -meancr nan will be found anywhere.
The story needs no effbeiiShmcnt.
The simple facts are bad enough, and
this;s just the way the events occur
red.
a well known woman went out rid
ing Il few days ago. She had her
pocketbpok with her. The pockctbooi
is unnecessary to explain that the
woman was not out shopping. She
lost The pocketbooll. When She came
home she told her husband about tho
loss AS to whether lie scolded her or
not my informant does 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:
Il found a pockctbook today con-
tanning Il card bearing your wife's
name. ! supposed the book belonged
to your wife | have it ut my otlice.''
The thanks Of the relieved family
were freely poured over the wire, and
sleep in that household was sweet that
night. i
Next morning the husband Of the
woman who lost the pocEctbook called
at the Office Of the wcll-known gentle
man who had telcphoncd. He was
presented to a fine looking person who
was said to be the one who owned the
found property. The husband dcs-
cribed the portsnonnaic accurately,
including The contents, and the finder
graciously acknowledged that the dcs-
cription was correct.
The book was then produced and
was promptly recognized.
Il ain very much obliged to you for
tclephoning us Of your iind." said the
gratiiicd visitor; then, as a matter OF
course, he added: Nov, how much
10 l owe YOU for your kincness?"
The other looked serious for a mo-
ment, and then replied slowly:
We'll. | hardly know just how
much TO say We'll, let's say-no. It's
up to YOU"
To say that the husband of the
pockc6book loser was surprised would
be putting it mildly. Had lie been
llaggling With a pickpoclict, street
gamin or a bcggar he would not have
been in the least taken aback. But to
hear that sort Of cool bid for pit.
tance from we'll dressed, grown-ur
man who had done an ordinary kind
ness such us might be rcturnable any
hour was more than he was prepared
| for.
When lie had recovered his breath
Ae saIaa;,, s; ',.i';.. srs. 80: 1sva-:
Ilife, and lldSSIaho Idea of the rules Gus
tomary governing such cases. I shoulc
feel better if you would name th5
amount YOURSELF.
The man looked still more serious
Taking Il pencil from his pocket, ht
began TO make figures ON piece OF
! paper 90.
Iict'S sec,'' he said, musingly, as
he eyed the pUckctbook. Pretty goot
pockctbook, slightly worn say, on,
lifty. Contents, rhrcc dollars anu five
cents total, four tfty-iive. We NIGH,
split tho dilf-no, say two dollars
And he looked up at his victim will
the innocence Of a child.
The man dug into his pocket speech
lessly, and handed out So, and started
for the door He thought he had hat
the experience OF his life. Not so. II
the mans diminutivencss had been cx
hauSted, his nerve hadn't. Reaching
into his vest pocket, he drew out /;
card, handed it to the stupiticd caller
and said
Heres my card. In case vol
should ever want anything in our lin.
We would like to have you remembcl
the man who found your wifc's pock
ctbook. - Los Angeles Herald.