Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-12-12
Two Losses,
Plus
BY CHARLES W. S. READ
Copyright, 1903, by W. r. Caldwell


city from Connecticut to meet Miss
Nettie's brother, who was to arrive
on a steamer from Liverpool, but who
failed to make an appearance.
A cablegram had reached the house
not ten minutes after they left It, but
that only deferred the explanation.
Aunt Mary had resided in Wisconsin
up to year before, and, never having
been in the big city, she was anxious
to look around a bit The niece had
some shopping to do, and they had put
In couple of days when what Aunt
Mary called the tragedy happened.
They were visiting waXwOrks show
in the evening, and the old lady was
nightly taken with all she saw. Her
ordinations of surprise gave young
man a chance TO make few remarks
and attach himself to the pair, and the
result was that when they were ready
TO leave the place Aunt Mary suddenly
exclaimed:
"Nettie, have you got the bag with
the money in it,"
"Noi You were afraid I'd lose it,
and you took 1t from me just as we
came in"
"Well, it's gomez
"You don't mean it,"
"But / do. Somebody has got 1t
within the last ten minutes. You may
call me an idiot all the rest of my life"
The young man had also departed
and no doubt in company with the
bag. Miss Nettie went into fit Of
that the loss of the money might prove
a very serious matter To avoid the
queries OF the other spectators they
went outside in the lobby to talk
things over Aunt Mary had noticed
the lay figures there on entering and
could hardly be convinced that the po-
liceman, bootblack Uncle Reuben and
others We're not living, breathing hui
man beings She had no eyes and no
interest now, however. She had lost
$50 in cold cash. and there was hotel
bill to pay and the railroad fare home.
''It puts us in n bad predicament,"
said the girl, because we are stopping
and two or three c. O. -. parcels will
be delivered early tomorrow morning.
II is just possible that we may find
some one from out of town stopping at
the hotel and can borrow few dol
lars"
''Tll never forgive myself -
exclaimed Aunt Mary as the tears fill
Al h...
age having her pocket picked | shall
be ashamed TO face them at home.
They'll make fun of me to the end of
time. Have we got anything we can
pawn
Nothing. / was careful not TO bring
any of my jewelry, and that wedding
ring and breastpin of yours wouldn't
fetch 50. We can't even telegraph to
pa unless they will trust us, and they
say the telegraph company is very par
ticular about that What's the mat
ter, aunty?'
The old lady had uttered a half shrek
and started back from one of the lay
figures and was looking at it with bulg-
ing eyes.
II thought you said they were
wax she gasped.
$50 they are"
"But I'll take my dying oath that one
moved a little"
"Nonsense You are all worked up
about the loss of the money. We shall
have to walk back to our hotel, and we
might as well be moving on"
A week previous to this incident a
Yale student named Walter Thompson
had added to his demerit marks by
taking the train for New York to have
a real good time. He had it and awoke
one morning to find himself almost
penniless and very much ashamed Of
himself. He had made matters so
much worse than they were before that
he hated to go back and Ease the music
During the day he managed to brace
up, but the bracing took the rest of his
cash, and he had only quarter in his
pocket when he came to a halt at the
corner Of Broadway and Fifth avenue,
and the women, bound for the wax
works show, passed him.
A young man must be worse than
embarrassed financially not to take a
second look at handsome girl passing
him on the street. After the students
second look he followed the women,
and as It happened to be half rate
evening his quarter bought him a
ticket
He may or may not have been no
iced by Miss Nettie as he loitered about
= Y other spectators, but if he was
VIII 1 not charge him with being the
sue ui> 1t who despoiled them. He
PichpocM honest and respectable for
Iookeu .oo. e overheard them speak
Ing Ing of their loss he edged toward the
door and once outs. 'de he lifted a dunn
NY aside and took \, . pace, Al an
other time-at time when NE was
bImself-he would haveSt4offered his
services frankly, but heN lhdnt the
cheek lust then. If they had lost their
money. he also was withoutresources:
"Rut I'VE got o'help them out OF
their trouble some way" lie mused
:. 49,. t,od danartpd from the mu-