The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-10
A Voluntary Subscription


in his hands, running over thick
batch of bills. So far as | could see
they We're 500 bills and Judging from
the thickness of the pile there must
have been twenty or thirty Of them. /
left the bank ana stood on the sidewalk |
waiting for a trolley car. Just as one |
came along the old gentleman came |
up and got into it. taking seat on |
the side opposite him. He was rest
less little man, frequently changing his |
position. and during the ride he took
the pockctbo0k had seen him han
ding ut the bank from Il side pocket |
and stuffed it into his coat tail pocket. |
This he doubtless did from nervous
ness. for his tail pocket was not as
safe a place for his treasure as the side
pocket, and in transferring 1t he dis |
played 1t to the passengers.
Presently he signaled the conductor
who stopped the car at the next corner
and the old gentleman got out. The car
had not gone on farther than block
before noticed the pocketboOk lying
on the seat lie had left. | sprang for
it, rushed to the door and. without
waiting for the car to stop, jumped off.
Running back a block. l came to a
trolley line crossing. a car had stopped
and was Just moving on when | came
I'D, On its rear platform stood the
man was looking for. BY the time l
reached the corner the car was NOV
ing so rapidly that | was doubtful of
nv ability to catch it. Another was
coming. and jumping on its front plat
form kept my eye fixed on the one
in front. The old gentleman soon went
| inside, but | watched every one who
got off, making sure that he was not
among them. He did not leave the car
| till he had gone several miles into the
country-in fact. to the terminus of
the trolley road. When he did so, my
car was SO far behind that could
| barely see him get into carriage and
drive away. On reaching the terminus
| | described him to caDman, who
| knew him, had seen him come in and
! drive away, and he agreed for " to
take me to the gentlemnn's place, a
mile distant. | was driven there ana
in between two splendid pillars that
formed the gateway to Il magnificent
country seat.
Meanwhile | had run over the con
tents of the pocketbook and found II
contained 5000. | concluded, for
safety, to divide the amount between
my various pockets, and there being no
one on the platform except the mo-
torman | was not observed In doing so
Before getting out of the cab retrans-
ferrcd the amounts to the pocketDook.
Now, | am not a person to accept
reward for returning found property,
but | wondered what the old man
would do to, compensate me for my
trouble. That is, how would he con-
trlve to induce gentleman, who could
not be rewarded as one i'll the ordl-
nary walks of life, to accept some
token of his appreciation. l found him
having Just missed his treasure and
in great distress When | produced
his pocketbook he seized it eagerly.
danced about, cried little, then re-
Numbering me asked me to be seated.
AS | had left a matter of Importance
to follow him and was eager to get
back to it | declined and was taking
NV leave when he thrust his hand into
his vest pocket, took out two dollar
bill and handed it to me.
II sec" l said, for the cabman.
You are right. 1t would be an ungra-
cious act for me not to permit you to
bear any expense attending the return
of your property"
l turned and, jumping into the cab,
rode away.
l had been so incensed at being Of
fered 81 as reward for so much
trouble that left without asking the
owner to count his money. He In turn
was so excited that he had forgotten
to do So Instinctivcly lsran my hands
through my pockets to see that l had
replaced all the money and in my
right hip pocket found five 500 bills
= | directed the driver to return, but he
. had no sooncd started to do so than
changed my mind. The old man should
pay some one for my trouble.
A friend Of mine-a lady-is very
much interested in Il day nursery.
told her the circumstances of my find
gave her the $500 to return to the old
gentleman, suggesting that she ASK
l him for a donation. She cheerfuliy
. acuulesced, took the money and getting
l into her carriage drove to the owners
u residence. Gaining an interview she
l presented the cause of her nursery anC
asked for contribution.
Contribution madam" he exclaimed
;, Pm impoverished. Only yesterday
u lost $500" And he told her of his eX
I perience with his pocketboOk. She
5 asked him to describe the man WHIT
{ had returned it, and he did so.
"What will you give my nursery
she asked, "if secure the return o
your $500"
. anything you ask"
"HalfW
e "Great heavens! Half! Would yo'
e take it all"
Is "Well, | doubt if l can serve you,
|, she said and got up to leave. But tn
u old fellow suspected she knew NOR
u than she would admit and would no
81 let her 90. He finally promised to dc
le nate half the amount if he could sc
/ cure the rest, but the lady assured hin
le -, loo, o,Iy iolying ond yvouI,