Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-22

(CopyrignteV, lSoo, w eeo'bS i'"i ''"'
re entered the collectors room In
the custom house with eau
tious tread. His shrewd, kindly
l face gave evidence of a mental
.,,,,rele. He was an elderly man and
ss. main black clothes, the turn down
soilar and ready made tie, and the In
Scnsnic,ous braided cord that served as
watch chain, all suggested the sub
s,antial merchant OF the past genera
,,on He inquired fer the collector first.
mi finding that official absent turned
10 The chief inspector of customs.
mir Barnes he said, speaking in a
half whisper, do | understand that
YOU are the direct representative OF the
secretary Of the treasury at this port?"
Hardly smiled the chief. although
have been honored with special miss
sions by that member Of the cabinet
your exact designation is not ma
terial." hastily remarked the visitor.
',You win probably serve my purpose
better than II j We're to see the collector
came ON grave business, and wish,
so far as II is possible, that my person.
atty shall remain In the background"
Barnes nodded,
"You have" said the elderly gentle
man. now speaking very slowly ana
posltory IN the United States treasury
popularity known as the conscience
fund.
Yes" assented the chief, there Is
such thing in the department at
Washington"
Now" continued the other, IF a
sum 81 money were left here for the
conscience fund 1t would be sent to
Washington, but would be credited to
this port DO | state the case cor
rectly?'
you do" said Barnes, politely.
The visitor, apparently satisfied, un-
buttoned his sack coat with great care,
and thrusting his right hand in the in
side pocket OF the garment, drew forth
a long, red wallet He opened this eau
t0usly and pulled out a little pile Of
bank notes. Barnes noted that the
first one was for a thoucand dollars.
and the discovery intensified his inter-
est In the curious looking man before
HIM What was the meaning OF 1t all?
What YVES the fellow driving nt While
he was revolving these questions In his
mind he was aroused by the voice of
his visitor as he counted out the money
"One two, three, four, five, six-thafs
six thousand dollars. believe"
The official examined the money and
nodded his head In assent.
"One two, three. four, four hundred
that makes siSty-four hundred dollars"
yes" said Barnes. arousng himself;
that is the amount Of money you, have
here"
Nov" said the elderly man with a
relieved sigh, 'if you will kindly give
me receipt for that money III not
trouble You am further"
What's it for?" came the astonished
query.
81 said ii was for The conscience
fund, snapped the stranger with
show OF mpatience
$50 you did," agreed the chief IN the |
tone one uses in speaking To a spoiled |
child. TO whose name shall make |
cur this rccelpt?'
Not 10 any name!" hastily exclaimed |
the visitor IL wish II TO DE anony-
mou' | came IN person because |
check was impossible and did not care
TO trust the money to the mails"
quite so quite So said Barnes. IF |
rs agreeable ! shall make out a paper |
SAYING simply that this sum of money
has been RECEIVED from the bearer. to
be credited TO the conscience fund"
That's entirely satisfactory" was
ne brisk response.
After that continued the chief, IF
you watch the Associated Press dis
PATCHES from Washington YOU VIII see
IL publicly acknowledged. The secretary
of the treasury makes II point to give
these to the newspapers. II serves
double purpose; It's public receipt for
The money and the publication frequent
" has the effect Of prieking some other
tender consciences and bringing I'm |
more money
Nothing could be mere businesslike."
said the STRANGER nutting the receipt IN |
HE pocket and bowling very low. II have
the honor TO wish YOU very good day"
Barnes sat at the desk and gazed af-
te" the denqrting visitor IN stunned ei-
lencc. "Wheww he presently soiilo-
quized, that's the biggest haul the
conscience net has made in many
lorg day
The collector OF customs came IN later.
and when he learned of the mysterious |
visit and its rich result he was as much |
as the chief Inspector The first
act Of the two officials was to relieve
themselves % the responsibility of the
$500. The money was promptly de-
posted IN the sub-treasury end the re-
CENT fer the amount Immediately
mailed to the secretary of the treasury.
with a self-oxplanatory letter.
After that Rarnes had time to dwell
on the Incident. Indeed, he found HIM
self unable to throw It off his mind |
Il occurred 10 him that his visitor.
while outwnrdy calm. was really very |
much agitatei. There was a familiarity |
about his face that haunted the chief
INSPECTOR. He knew Il MS well as he
knew his own, and yet for the life OF
him he could not place the man. As
he was leaving the custom house to go
TO the wharf he almost ran into the
arms OF Officer Clancy.
We'll" said the irrcpressibe one
what did the old fellow want?"
The old fellow?' he echoed unmean-
ineIy
Yes old Wolcott?"
The name durted across Barnes mind
Ike a IN sh ~ llChtning His visitor
vas John Wolcoti. of Wolcott & Co. the
hig wool firm The house was one Of
me Oldest in the city In fact. II boast
Ell that Il was founded by the grand
Iather of the present head of the firm.
me company consisted of Austin
tateS, clever young fellow nrotege
OF old Wocott, who had been taken in
10 partnership the year previous Next
10 JUS age the firm was noied for it's
strict integrity. The chief knew this.
ahd ne was puzzled TO reconcile the
reputation Of the house with the action
OF the senior partner in paying con-
science money to the government. He
Nas turning this thought over in his
HliHd when he was aroused by the voice
OF lhe iislstent Clancy.
wen, when you get through dream |