Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-04-06
THE MAN WITH
AN HONEST FACE.
BY C. L. EDISON.

/ used to have what is called an
honest face" A pure soul looked
right out of my eyes. 1t made peo-
pie trust in me; it made good women
love me. I was only a child when
people began remarking, "A boy with
eyes like that could never tell lie"
And my mother would reply, Yes,
Willie is a good boy. He's SO re-
liable" And so | grew up with rep
utation. And so | won the love OF
Helen.
Helen was the sweetest and most
sensible girl in the village. She was
deep, that girl was. There was more
to her than her pretty eyes and laugh
ing lips Well, when | fell up to my
eyebrows in love with Helen | re-
solved to go to the city and try my
fortune.
1t was on a St. Louis trip that |
went fiat Got into the city on Sun
day without any money except check
for $10O. | had left Kansas City rid
ing on a pass, but the train went
dead and l bought ticket at Boon
vile over the other road. That used
up my spare cash. l did not have
the nerve to telegraph for funds.
Well, there l was, broke and far
from home and friends.
| stood bewildered before the hotel
door when a newsboy said, Paper,
miSter?"
I'm dead broke" l said.
A gentleman who overhead the re-
| mark approached me and asked II a
loan would be acceptable to me.
explained my financial condition and
he said, Accept the use of this and
you can leave it for me with the clerk
when you cash your check" He gave
me twenty dollar bill and his card
How dare you trust a stranger IL
this way?" 1 asked.
MY friend, he said, Il have trav
eled and observed men. | know an
honest face. You have one. l am go
| ing to Kansas City next week and you
may pay me when l meet you there
| know that you are just what yot
| represent yourself to me-" l tried te
| refuse his proffer of the money, bu1
| he insisted, saying that l was as SAFE
as a government bond bearing the
face of George Washington.
| That's what an honest face is worth
| When l returned to Kansas City
| took the local. | was felicitating my
| self on my possession of a poor bu
honest physiognomy when the man IL
| the seat beside me noticed the des
| tination on my ticket. Drawing
| five-dollar bill and silver dollar iron
his pocket he handed them to me ant
said:
Il see where they're selling Sill
umbrellas cheap in Kansas City ant
I'd take it as a great favor if you''
buy one and tell 'em to send it t.
Bill Jones at Jefferson City. l wan
a nice birthday present for my niece
At this tribute to my honest look
felt too fattered to refuse. prom
ised to perform the errand.
Another man turned around, looke'
at my classic mug a minute, thel
dived into his pocket and drew fort
forty dollars.
''Neighbor, as you are going to Kan
sas City" he said, you wouldn'
mind handing this to the Puffton Auto
noble company, would you? I've beel
owing 'em this for quite while, bu
never had it convenient before.
| l took the roll, but l began to fee
the uneasiness of my position.
Well, all the way to Kansas Cit
those Missouri farmers kept gettin
on and off that local, spottinS m
sterling cast of countenance and giN
ing me their money to hold. Whe
| got to Kansas City l actually ha
S92,276.5O stuffed into my clothes, an
the responsibility had me half crazet
Before performing the errands l wen
to Doc Dimpleface and said, "Doc,
said l, get out your meat hooks TO
an operation. | want you to make m
face look like that of a sneak-thief,
petty crook or a life insurance pres
dent
l 90
jabs with his scalpel, and a twist c
: the muscles here and there, until m
face looked much like Bertillon POI
trait.
THAT satisfactory" says the Doc.
Quite" says l. And l may as we
tell you that l am having this don
; in order to prevent people giving m
money. An honest face is terribl
thing, Doc, and I'm so overloaded wit
J the burden that l can't carry an
more"
stepped carelessly into the stree
with my new face and prepared
execute my errand. A man approache
me Immediately.
No." said, impulsively. Il cal
not accept your money. | cannc
carry any more
You look like a crook to me
"Ho! Thanks. The Doc has don
his work." l interrupted. mo NOR
commissions, no more"
And you'll do me the honor to a.
. company me to the station my ne
acquaintance continued.
They found the $92,276.50 on N
and put it in the safe.
That money doesn't belong to me-
/ insisted.
I'VE know that" they jeered.
And when I had sent for Helen
come and identify me, she only peere
between the bars, gave a shrek an
exclaimed:
ME know that man! My John ha
an honest face. This hideous Grin
inal is not John"
And so l am left alone. There