The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-02-26
I'm old
Mans Story
fOriginal.J

1
one in knit purse with rings, the
other in a money belt. One autumn l
was travelling In the west for the pur,
pose Of buying grain, AMI had with me
a lot OF gold. You see, in those days
the currency wasn't worth much. II
you went into store to buy anything
and planked down ten dollar bill the
| first thing the shopkeeper did was to
pick up magnifying glass 10 see il 1t
wasn't counterfeit The next thing
was to take out Bank Note Reporter
and turn over the leaves to get at the
standing of the bank issuing the bill.
Then, like as not, he would hand your
bill back to you, telling you that he
hadn't any change. That's the reason
l Travelled with gold.
"Well, one day I was riding along a
road when man overlook me and
got into conversation. He asked me
If could give him change for a two
dollar bill, and took my purse from
my pocket, slipped one Of the rings
aside. drew out four Mexican quarters,
Il five frame piece. worth 95 cents, and
half dime. The Mexican and French
coins were common In those days, and
what gave him was equivalent TO -.
"'You carry your money in Il purse
said he. why don't you use money
belt? They're safer
They're so safe that every thief
goes for them the first thing he does.
We may as well use the purse. It's
handler, and If robbcr wants your
money he'll get it anyway
~ prefer the money belt he added,
then began to talk of something else.
AT nightfall we stopped at tavern.
1t was dilapidated place, half the
shutters gone and the porch rotted
away. / didn't like the looks Of the
place, and the landlord was as rascally
looking man as ever l set eyes on.
The room he put me in was In keeping
with the rest. The plaster was half
down from the ceiling and the lock on
the door was broken. hung up my
trousers, with the purse in one Of the
pockets, on the bed post. then pulled
the cotton 'comfort'-that's what we
used to call those things. though how
they got the name ! don't know-up
over me and went to sleep.
I'm the middle Of the night awoke
with the idea that there was some one
In the room. At first / thought it might
be imaginary and had come from a
dread OF the man who had tnken an
interest in where ! Kept my money.
for had gone to sleep thinking of
him, but heard board in the floor
creak and made up my mind that some
one was really moving about. How
ever. valued my life more than nv
money and lay perfectly still. There in
the gloom | saw something white come
toward the bed till it stood within n
yard Of me. l showed no sign of being
awake. and presently an arm was
thrust out. land fumbled for the
pocket OF my trousers, was withdrawn.
ana knew my purse had gone with II.
listened till heard a faint sound
which | knew was the closing of the
door, then, turning over, went TO
sleep"
Ny grandfather, as l have said. told
me this story Il great many times.
though he didn't remember ever hoyip,
told u all, and knew that mt this
point he expected me to express sur
prise that he could take the loss of his
purse so coOlly.
Grandfathc1,,' said, '.how couk,
yoa go to sleep SO easily.
We'll. my boy. had esconcd with
my life, and that made me feel very
20 on. grandfather"
Inc next morning rose carly. mad.
some inquiries about my comrade az
the day before, but when the lapd,or1
toid me he had gone ut dayliybt
didnt manifest any surprise or dis
appointment. feared he might ho in
"aeue with the man and make some
'Acuse 10 detain me. Fortunately /
had the ten dollar bill the thief h,a
gwen me with which to pay him for
my Keeping, and he took It so rcnd,,r
"hnout examining it, that I knew he |
was glad to get rid of me, thinking th,t |
had not discovered my loss in bis |
.ioase lie gave me in change the five |
'T''nc piece and two of the quarters |
Aaa given the thief, and l rode of
leeilng glad to get away from such n
villainous place.
instead OF travelling straight ALONG
me road to the then village of Chicago,
rs would be expected, turned north.
ward at the first road l came to and
mat night reached point where st
'oseph, Mich, now stands. A sloop
went TO Chicago twice week, and in
couple of days crossed the lake and
reached port without accident. There
bought my grain."
My grandfather paused, and knew
nat he had arrived at another polnt
or question.
But, grandfather, where did ron rot
money to buy grain with? thought
ne thief had taken your purse"
so he did, boy; so he did, but he
'idD get any money. You see, hay-
ng to travel that way, every fall III
vas used to filling my purse with sl,o,
overed with few dollars in silver
lnd Kept my gold in money bag
Wrapped across one shoulder and nm