The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-04-30
Turning the Scale.
IOriRfnaI.I

Who is there who cannot look BACK
to some trifiing incident that changed
the whole course of his lifes If A had
not happened to meet B on street
corner on a certain day twenty years
ago, B would not now be AS son-ln-
law. If G had not seen certain al
vertisement for a partner with a tnou-
sand dollars. he would not now De
the multimillionaire owner OF a golo
producing patent. II d had been
fine penman, he would now doubtless
have been a bookkeeper instead or
managing partner of his firm. So 1t
goes. We think we know what shapes
our end but we don't. In not one OF
the cases referred to would the person
affected for moment consider the
cause given the correct one.
One day Jim Beverly, countryman
who had been long hunting for job
In the city, becoming discouraged,
made up his mind to go home before
his funds were completely exhausted.
Jim had come to town with trunk
that had to be held together by rope
He had got rid of the country clothes
In 1T and thought he would like to take
back one of those suit cases which he
saw SO much used. Going to shop,
he bought a secondhand one at re-
duced price. Besides being second
hand, it had the letters "V. t.. painted
on the end He was told that q red
headed man wearing glasses and
striped wafstcoat had turned 1T in as
part payment for new one That was
a lie. The man bought new one and
left his old one to be put in the cellar.
Beverly got it cheap. took it TO his
room. put his belongings ia it and
went to the train. A man took seat
beside him who kept CHANGING out Oh
the corner of his eye at him.
How are Y. Torbertg' he said pres
emily in a low voice.
How did you know my name was
Torbert?' asked Jim, suspecting con-
fidence game.
by several things-initials on suit
case, red head"
well. suppose l am Torbert What
them
.'Got the stuff in the case"
Suppose 1 have"
'sI'll be on hand at II. to take 1t OH
your hands. Three days. Better not
hurry. Say Friday. IL at night"
'.Where?"
"Why. Mt the Mortified House, you
| know, as arranged"
The man got up and left the car at
the first stop. While the train was roll
ing through the city limits couple OF
men came down the aisle, looking
/ here and there at passengers. Bever-
| Tvs suit case was on end before MN.
! One of the men looked at the letters
| on the suit case, then at him suspi-
| ciously. !.
| .T'n trouble you to open that case
said one of the men.
Beverly demurred at first. then open
/ ed the case There was nothing in It
but the remnants of few under
| clothes. The man looked disappointed.
you've got a red head" he said, land
the letters on your case are Y. T., but
you're not the man."
"Of course he isn't the man. said his
/ companion. II know the man we
| want That's not him.
/ Now. it was on the tip of Jim's
/ tongue to tell the whole story SO Tar as
1t has been told here. but it may be
| Judged from his dialogue with the mar.
/ who had sat beside him that he was
better adapted TO rec eive than to give
! Information. so he held his peace. The
i men went on, and Jim got out wnen
4 the train reached his station.
lin took into his confidence couple
of detectives, and they all went to n
three days later. Jim entered the
Northfleld House half an hour before
II O'Clock. but he was not Jim Bever
". he was a man with white hair and
beard. He sat down in one OF the OF
fee chairs It was not long before ne
saw the man who had sat beside MN
on the train come in. He. too. sa'
down and. taking up newspaper
read 1t till q maj, with red head
glasses and a striped waistcoat enter
ed. carving a brand new suit case
The la t:er went to the desk and calico
for room.
A little later the other man arose
yawned and. going to the desk. LOOKED
at the register ard went upstairs
Beverly went to the door. called in hi
men, and. noting the number OF TIL
room assigned the newcomer, tn
three went upstairs. Five minute
| later IGeV kUOckcu Ill uooi anu
ceiving no response. Kicked 1t open
They found him taking S15O.OoO out
his suit case. They a: rested him. an
he turned out to be Vincent 1orDer1
absconding cashier of the -th Ma
tional bank.
Jim Beverly pocketed $4,000 reward
by the transaction snd. going back c
the city. thought he would see II |
would lie easier to get on there VIII
money in his pocket than without. =
. got position in the bank to which q
had restored its lost funds the p:esl
/ dent promising to advance him. i'm
| proved capable and became cashier
He ma rried the daughter of one or I'd
| directors She inherited her father
stock IN the bank. and this eventuail
made Jim president. He is now mana
ger ard part owner of a trust compan
and il. noted financier.
II The question is. What would nave OF
come of Jim Beverly had he not gon
into a certain shop on a certain da