The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-04-01
The Fable of the Liar

himself of scheme to have little fun
Accordingly, he inserted an advertise
ment in one of the leading dailies, as
follows: "Found-Twenty dollars in
paper on Blank Street, between Ave
nues and s. Loser may secure by
communicating with G. B., 127 East
Dash Street"
During the afternoon that followed,
the thief received numberless and sun
dry visitors. A had lost twenty-dol-
lar bill; B, two tens; c, one ten and two
fives; D, four fives: E, one ten, one five,
and five ones; and so on.
Now, at just about the same time, a
thief, finding himself on the tattered
edge of imp-cuniosity, and having worn
quite threadbare all the little
practices at his command, conceived a
plan to possess himself OF the twenty dol
lars. So he got together numerous Of
his pals, and dispatched them separate
ly with strategic directions to the
house of the liar.
When the last had been received and
interviewed, the liar called them all to-
gether and spoke as follows: Gentle
men, regret exceedingly that you ali
have all met with SO great loss, and l
have no doubt that others at this very
moment enjoying the fruits of your mis-
fortune. further regret that am un-
able to restore to you your money,
doubtless hard earned, but unfortunate.
y my find happens to be in the nature
of New York Exchange"
Thereupon he dismissed them from
his house and retired to his easy chair
and the solace of cigar, amused great
ly over the huge success of his ingenious
scheme.
Presently there came tap at his
door, and the footman ushered in a
man-one who was decidedly OF diff
fereut type from any of his predecess-
ors.
"You stated in this mornings
Times " he said, 'thst you had found
twenty dollars in certain locality. l
lost twenty in the same place."
"Mine was New York Exchange" "
said the liar, unguardedly.
I'm very sorry to hear it," returned
| the Man Who Was Honest, ''because
the twenty lost was gold certif-
cate"
The Liar regarded him curiously and
critically for second. Then he drew
from his pocket crisp yellow bill and
held it out "Here is your certificate, ="
he said, Il am glad to know that there
is one honest man in the world. l lied,
merely TO catch you"
The Man Who Was Honest thanked
the Liar heartily and took his departure
without more ado.
When he he had gone the Liar laugh
ed long and loud over the turn his
clever Jest had taken. considering
that did not pick upa cent" he mused
Sits pretty hard to pay twenty dollars
out of my own pocket, just through a
Quixotic feeling of generosity. How
ever, suppose am perfectly satisfied
with the exchange. It's something to
know that there are honest men walk
ing the earth"
The man who was honest went
back home, hugging his good luck and
his twerty-dollar certificate to his
bosom. On the strength of it he
changed his clothes and sailed forth
ia a place for amusement.
Thrusting his hand in his pocket for
change, he drew forth-not one certi-
ficate, but two-just alike.
"By the Eternals!' he CALCULATED.
$50 hadn't lost it after ALL" He
stared at the bills oddly for minute,
then slipped them quickly back into his
pocket.
1T isn't his, anyway" he argued, she
doesn't need it half so much as do,
and as long as it was already lost |
might just as well be the one to profit"
Moral: This goes to prove that liar
may also be royal good fellow, and
that an honest man is not always above
stealing-while the thief occasionally
gets left.-St. Louis Republic.