The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-05-09
Turning the Scale.
loriginaI.l

TO some trifiing incident that changed
the whole course of his life? Ii A had
not happened to meet E on a street
corner on a certain day twenty years
ago, would not now be AS son-in-
law. IL c had not seen a certain ad-
yertisement for 4 partner with a thou
sand dollars, he would not now be
the multimillionaire owner of gold
producing patent. II d had been a
fine penman, he would now doubtless
have been a bookkeeper instead of
managing partner of his firm. So ii
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 q 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 a trunk
that had to be held together by rope.
He had got rid of the country clothes
Al IL anu tHouSHt uC WouIo iihC W
back one of those suit cases which he
saw so much used. Going to a 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 red
headed man wearing glasses and
striped waistcoat had turned 1t in as
part payment for a 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 in it and
went to the train. A man took seat
beside him who kept glancing out Of
the corner of his eye at him.
How are v, Torbert?" he said pres
entity in low voice.
"How did you know my name was
Torbert?" asked Jim, suspecting a con.
fidence game.
by several things-initials on suit
case, red head"
"Well, suppose am Torbert. What
them
"Got the stuff in the case7'
Suppose l have
'Tll be on hahd at N. to take 1t off
your HdUuS. uTce udfS ottlcI uOt
hurry. Say Friday, II at night"
"WhereT
"why, at the Northfleld 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-
ly's suit case was on end before him.
One of the men looked at the letters
on the suit case, then at him suspi- |
ciously.
s'I'll trouble you to open that case"
said one of the men.
Beverly demurred at first. then open
ed the case. There was nothing in 1t
but the remnants of a few under |
clothes. The man looked disappointed. |
you've got a red head" he said. land |
the letters on your case are V. 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 far as |
it 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 Give than to give
so he held his peace. The
men went on, and Jim got out when
the train reached his station.
Jim took into his confidence a couple
of detectives, and they all went to N.
three days later. Jim entered the
Northfield House half an hour before
IL 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. 1t was not long before he
saw the man who had sat beside him
on the train come in. He, too, sat
down and, taking up q newspaper,
read it till man with a red head,
glasses and striped waistcoat enter
I'd. carrying a brand new suit case.
The latter went to the desk and called
Tor room.
A little later the other man arose,
yawned and going to the desk. looked
at the register and went upstairs.
Beverly went to the door, called in his
men. and, noting the number of the
room assigned the newcomer. the
three went upstairs. Five minutes
alter they knocked at his door and. re-
,eiving no response. Kicked 1t open.
They found him taking $4,000 out Of
lis suit case. They arrested him. and
le turned out to be Vincent Torbert,
cashier Of the -th Ma
ional bank.
Jim Beverly pocketed $4,000 reward
" the transaction and. going back to
he city. thought he would see If it
would be easier to get on there with
money in his pocket than without. He
ot position in the bank to which he
a6 restored its lost funds. the presi-
ent promising to advance him. Jim
roved capable and became cashier.
Ie married the daughter OF one of the
irectors. She inherited her fathers
took in the bank, and this eventually
lade Jim president. He is now mana
er ard part owner of trust company
nd is noted financier
The question is, What would have be-
ono of Jim Beverly had he not gone |
ITO a certain shop on a certain day |
nd bought a certain secondhand suit !