The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-06-02
A Voluntary Subscription
pris,nal.l


peotleuan with q long pocketoooS
In his hands, running over q Thick
batch Of bills. So far as ! could see
they were 500 bills, and judging from
the thickness OF the pile there m'iss
have been twenty or thirty Of them.
loft the bank and stood on the Sidewalk
waiting for trolley car. Just az one
came along the Old gentleman came
up and got into It I taking seat on
the side opposite him. He was'a rest
less little man, frequently changing his
position, and during the ride be took
the pocketbook bad seen him han
ding at the bank from q SIDE pocket
and stuffed 1t into bis coat tzsl pocket.
This he doubtless did from nervous
ness. for his tail pocket was not as
safe place Tor bis treasure as the SIDE
pocket. and in transferring It be DIS
played 1t to the passengers
Presently he signaled the conoucrof'
who stopped the chr at the next corner
and the old gentleman got out- The car
had not gone on farther than DOCK
before I noticed the pocketbook lying
on the sent be had left ! sprang for
II rushed to the door and, without
waiting for the car to stop. Jumped on.
Running back block. / came to q
trolley line crossing. A car had stopped
and was Just moving on when l came
up. On its rear platform stood the
man I was looking for. BY the time
reached the corner the car was NOV
Ing 30 rapidly that was doubtful OF
my 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 OF, making sure that he was not
among them. He did not leave the car
till be had gone several miles into the
country-in fact to the terminus OF
the trolley road. When hs did 30. my
car was 30 far behind that l could
barely see him get into carriage and
drive away. On reaching tho terminus
| described him to Z cabman, wno
knew him, had seen him come In and
drive away, and be agreed for - to
take me to the gentleman's place,
mile distant. I was driven there and
In between two splendid pillars that
formed the gateway to a magnidcent
country ser.
Meanwhile I had run over the con-
tents OF the pocketbook and found II
contained $4,000. I concluded. TOR
safety, to divide the amount between
my various pockets. and there being no
one on the platform except the mo
torman was not observed 10 doing 20.
Before getting out OF the cab ! retrans-
ferred the amounts to the pocketboOk.
Now, am not a person to accept .
reward for returning found property.
but l wondered what the old man
would do to compensate me for my
| trouble. That u. how would be con-
trive to induce q gentleman. who could
not be rewarded - one In the ordi-
| nary walks Of HE. TO accept some
token OF his appreciation. I found him
| having Just missed his treasure and
In great Distress. When I producsd
his pocketbook be seixed II eagerly.
danced about, cried q lfttle then re-
mesnbering me asked me to be seated
Az had laft Q matter q impogtance
to follow him and was eager 10 get
back to Il I declined and was taking
my leave when he thrust his bod Into
biz vest pocket took cot two dollar
bill and handed 1t to me.
ri see" said, tor the csbthan.
You are right Il would Be an ungra-
cious act for ma not to permit you to
bear any expense attending The return
Of Jour property."
| turned and, jumping into the cab,
rode away.
| had been 20 incensed at being o.
fefed 50 a. Z reward for % much
trouble that ! left without asking the
owner to count his money. He In turn
was % excited that be had foeg0tteu
to do %. Insdnctively ran my handa
through my pockets to see that I bad
replaced all the money and In my
tight hip pocket found eve 800 bilIs
directed the driver to return. but b.
had no sooned started 10 do 20 than
changed my mind The old man should
pay some one for my troub3a.
i A friend Of mine-a hdy-is vesJ
much interested In. q day nursery.
told her the circumstances Of my ind
gave her the $500 TO return TO the Oh
gentleman. suggesting that shs al
him for q donation. She cheerfullJ
acquiesced, took the money and gsttina
into her carriage drove 10 the owners
residence. Gaining an interview sh<
presented the cause Of hsf nursery and
asked for q contribution.
i Contribution. madam he exclaimed
I'm impoverished Only yesterday
lost $500" And b told her oe his ex
perience with his poekstbook. sh<
asked him to describe the man wh<
had returned It and he did 20.
4; what Will you give my nuroexy,'
Shs asked II I SECURE ths rstnEn d
your $500r
] Anything you ask.s
"HaRr
ssc-A o~s~s xn-aa