The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-01-02
THE MEANEsT MAN.
he Hns Been Found Mt Los Angeles,
California.

The worst thing about some stories
is that they are lies. The worst thing
about this story is that it is literally
true. The mcanest lman in Los An
geIcs has been found, the case has
been proved and Next" has been
cllled. 1t is doubtful, in fact, whether
q meaner man will be found anywhere.
The story needs no embelishmcnt.
The simple facts are bad enough, and
thisis just the way the events occur
red.
a well known woman went out rid
ing Il few days ago. She had her
.pockctbook with her. The pockctbooll
contained some money. Therefore it
is unnecessary to explain that the
woman was not out shopping She
lost the pucletbook When she came
home she told her husband about the
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 il mans voice was heard To make
the usual inquiries, after which lie
said:
4 found Il pocketbook today con-
tanning a card bearing your wife'S
name. ! supposed the book belonged
to your wife. l have it ut my Office. F."
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 poc!lctbook called
at the office OF the woii-ktlowil gentle
man who had tcicploncd. He was
presented to fine looking person who
was said to be the one who owned the
found property. The husband dcs-
cribed the p0rtgnOnnaic accurately.
including The contents, ana the finder
graciously acknowledged tnat the des-
cription was correct.
The book was then produced and
was promptly recognized.
= attn very much obliged to you for
telcphoning us or your iird,n said the
gratilicd visitor; then, rs d matter Of
course, lie added: Now, how much
do owe you for your kindncss?n
The other looked serious for {; mo-
ment, and then replied slowly;
well. hardly know just how
much to say. Well, let's say-no. It's
up to you"
To say that the husband of the
| pOckc tbook loser was surprised would
be putting it mildly Had he been
haggling with a pickpockct, street
gamin or Il ggar he would not have
been in the ,yst taken abacll. Rut to
hear that sort of a cool bid for pit
tance from Il well dressed, grown-up
man who had done an ordinary kind
ness such as might he rcturnable any
hour was more than he was prepared
for.
When he had recovered his breath,
lie saiG..... -. ,...,a,,c aid, d,.,l..
5l,F ~, .t.rAr.. a,ratvfsr. i, -
| life, and has sr/6ho idea Of the rules Gus
! tomary governing such cases. / should
feel better il you would name the
amount yourself".
The man looked still more serious.
Taking Il pencil from his pocket, he
heean. to make figures on Il piece Of
papor ;l4
'ilct'S Scc,i he said, musingly, as
he eyed the pockctbook Pretty good
poclictbook, slightly worn-say, one
fifty. Contents, three dollars and five
cents total, four tifty-iive. We might
split the diii say two dollars
And Inc looked mp at his victim with
tile innocence Of Il child.
The man dug into his pocket speech
leSsly, and handed out 81, and started
for the door. lie thought he had had
the experience of his life. Not So If
the mans diminltiyencsS had been eX-
haustcd, his nerve hadn't. Reaching
into his vest pocket, he drew out IL
card, handed it to the stupifed caller
and said:
Heres my card. In case you
should ever want anything in our line
we would like to have you remember
the man who found your wfc's pock-
ctbOOk. Los Angeles Herald.