The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1904-06-24
MONEY RETURNED,
Claude Beeler Receivers TWEEN
ty-Five Dollars
After the Finder Habit a Year.
Story of a Young Mans
Struggle to be Honest.

lkockpOrt, tlnu.l JOuTndl'J
Claude Beeler, living near Silver
dale, recovered last week a pocket
book containing nearly twenty-five
dollars that he had lost year before
and had long ago given up. The
pricklngs OF conscience would not
quiet and the finder returned 1t to
make peace with himself. Here Is
the story of the loss and recovery OF
the money.
Last June, while Mr.. Beeler was
hauling crushed rock for construction
of the macadamized road leading TO
Silverdale his purse slipped from his
pocket In some way and was lost on
the road. Diligent search was made
but no trace of the missing money.
An advertisement was inserted In the
Journal which brought no reply and
Mr.. Beeler gave 1t up as lost thinking
that perhaps the purse had been bur
led underneath load of rock some
where along the road. This was the
end of the search. About seven
O'Clock on Tuesday evening of last
week Mr.. Beler, who was sitting In
a room at his home visible from the
highway, heard someone exclaim out
side, "Yes that's the man sitting In
there" A knock brought him to the
door and he ushered In two men both
strangers, and one very young.
The visitors Introduced themselves
and after a little conversation the
young man said:
"Mr. Beeler, you lost pocket book,
didn't your"
eyes," replied Mr.. Beeler, 81 did
about a year ago while was hauling
rock but I have never heard of It."
"Well l found It," said the young
man frankly, and with some show of
eagerness, "and I have been wanting
to give 1t back for months, but have
been away and have had no chance.
Here's clean breast of the matter,
something that has worried me aw-
fully.
"My home is not In this part of the
county as l live near the border, but
last spring after had completed the
common schools l wanted to get mon.
ey to 60 away to school and being
poor came to Rockport to work. The
day you lost your pocket book 1 was
near Powers corner and found 1t ly-
Ing In the road. Thrusting 1t into
my pocket before anyone could see
me thought what great help 1t
would be to me In going to school.
"Shortly after you came along In.
qulring If anyone had found the mon.
ey. My heart leaped into my mouth
and beat fercely for some one would
accuse me. You passed me but the
Image of the light complexion man
with dark team OF horses has haunt.
ed me continually and l would have
known you any where from the men,
DRY of that meeting. When we ar
rived here In front of your house l
told this man that there you were.
~ hardly seemed to realize my
crime but when fall came l went
away to school. A great revival was
In progress In the town. l became
repentant and Joined the church. Then
the weight of this sin grew intolera-
BILE. l must pay 1t back, so l worked
mornings and evenings and saved the
money, determined that the first
thing for me to do on getting back In
this country would be to hunt you
out and make amends. Here Is the
twenty-five dollars, though l feel
owe you more.
Mr.. Beeler was taken aback with
surprise but urged that the young
man accept FIVE dollars as a reward.
This he at first refused to do, but
finally, on being pressed to take 1t
and use 1t In the good cause OF his ed
ucation took the reward. Thus was
stllled the "wee sma' voice" and the
young man went away light.hearted
as II from under heavy load