Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22
Story of a Roll of Currency Which Was Dropped

time. and Briggsy was glad of 1t, and as this agreeable thought came to temper the bitterness of his reflections he felt conscious of a drowsiness which was ex-- ceedngly merciful. and so he fell asleep. fully dressed, upon his bed.
 He awoke refreshed and with a better courage in. the early morning, and after a bite of breakfast he walked toward the factory with strong and increasing reso- lution. He saw nothing of the detectivs nor of MT. Hallett He had vaguely expected that they would be waiting for him at the factory gate. One or two men looked at him peculiarly. but he encoun- tered no unusual incident until he was inside the factory when a man from the office met him and told him to 70 to MT Hallett's private room. This summons was like the closing of prison gates be- hind him. but he obeyed 1t readily.
 He had decided to make no further offer to return the money piecemeal. He would earn. 1t some day. That was all he knew about the matter. People were per mitted to earn a little money in prison he had heard. Anyhow, he would do, his best. The money was spent. It couldn't be got back even if Carter were found out
 In the ofice were MT. Hallett and the detective One might have supposed that they hadn't moved since Briggsy was there last their attitudes being precisely as he remembered them. .- 1, MN
 Well, Briggs said Hallett, "have you brought the money?' a8
 'No," replied the boy q haven't brought it, and can't bring it. It's gone But you'll get it some day; that I'll swear to-" ..
 Briggs" said the "old man" sternly, you didn't take that money, but you know who did, s
 Briggsy drew himself up to his full height, which was a little more than Ave feet He slapped himself on the chest.
 "Im the man." said he. Lock me up"
 I@L- smiling. .r.t l
 We've found where the money went" he said.
 Briggsy turned faint -l.
 Don't you believe itl" he said.s "You just listen to me, and I'1I''- s.n.,v M
 ''It went to buy piece of apparatus for Miss Mamie Carter. a very bright. nice. honest little girl. as see her. said Hal- lett. ''she called on me last evening" ''She-called-on--youi"
 'Yes," said EIallett; ''she came with heA brother. He was there by her request distinctly by her request"
 He looked up at the detective, whe grinned
 You see,' continued the "old man." ''our little friend, our poor little friend who is lame, happened to hear about some money that had been lost and being bright and of the feminine gender she jumped to conclusion. So she had it out with her brother and the upshot of it was that he brought her to me with the walk ing machine in her hands, for, of course she couldn't wear it after she'd found out how she'd come by it.
 "Well," continued HaIlett after a pause 'that was sight to draw tears from our friend here"-he jerked his thumb at tho detective-"who doesn't weep often, as I'm well convinced Miss Mamie was afraid the man who sold the machine wouldn't take 1t back and pay full price but she was going to earn the difference herself. Now, 1t just struck me sudden. ly, as she was making this proposal, that she could earn the money easier If she had the harness to wear, so begged her to keep it. And then her brother and l got down to business and settled our lit- tie affair upon some such basis as you proposed yesterday afternoon. So therel be trouble ..'.
 "And now, Briggs, word to you. Don't l try to palm yourself off for a thief again You look too honest. You couldn't fool-- | why, you couldn't even fool a detective. He saw through you in a minute. Go back to work now, and we'll say no more about 1t. You did wrong. It's always wrong to shield a criminal or to help a misguided man to walk in the way of the transgressor. But confound you. Briggs, I rather like you for it." "