Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-04-26
MAsHlsc1os STANDARD
WHY THEY LIKE
AMERICA

lars. Hans" said Gretchen. 1t Woiiid
be possible. but with nothing what
could we do? our wages are too small
to save anything We should have TO
pay all we earn fDr board and would
never have Il home. Let us wait
awhile
Iians did wait awhile. but there
seemed 10 more prospect after II IMAM
before, and he grew impatient. Gretch-
en- coaXed him, telling him she had
saved SGO during the year and II no
would save the same in three years they
would have enough to buy furniture
aud could 80 to housekeeping. Then
together they might live cheaper than
npart and save more money for the
family To come. Three years seemed
a long while to Hans. Besides, man
Is not as good at saving rs woman,
and he had not put by more than half
what Gretchen lad.
One day when Hans was walking on
the street he saw right under his nose
a fat pocketboOk. Some one had ev1-
IDENTITY dropped 1t but moment before.
for people were passing continually.
Hans picked 1t up and hurried on,
thinking to overtake the owner, for he
was an honest fellow. and every one
he passed he asked il he had dropped
anything. All looked ut him In sur
prise. and some felt in their pockets,
but no one claimed the property. Then
Iians, thinking that the loser must
have been going the other way. desist-
ed. He took the pocketbook to his
room, opened 1t and found $3.50 in bills.
He carried it to Gretchen. and they
consulted what they should do. Mel
Their Of them thought for a moment to
keep what would be treasure to
both, and they decided that Hans
should take it to the police. who would
doubtless try to find the owner.
The next morning Hans started for
the police office and, passing q point
near where he had found the pocket
book. saw a notice posted of the loss
and saying that II it. with its contents.
was returned a quarter Of the con-
tents would be given to the finder.
Hans went back to Gretchen and told
her Of the notice. I've are in great
luck" he said. "a quarter Of $3.50 Is
$162.5O. With that we can buy enough
furniture to commence housekeeping.
Gretchen admitted that 1t would GER
tainly bring them nearer to their de-
sires and advised him to So at once
and deliver the money.
He found the man who had lost 1t
a disagreeable looking creature with
blear eyes. snaggle teeth, a hook nose
and cunning expression. Hans hand
ed him the pocketbook. He opened 1t.
felt of it, looked in it and, affecting
great surprise. asked:
We're is the drmondsT"
"What diamonds"
'"rhe drmonds that we're In the peck
etbook with the monish."
Hans declared that there were NO
diamonds, whereupon the Jew began
to abuse him for thief. Hans. be-
side himself with rage ut being &c
cused of swindllng and especially at
his accuser's evident intention to de-
prlve him Of the promised reward.
made dash for the pocketbo0k. The
Jew cried Justify for the police. and an
officer came running into the shop.
Hans and the Jew stated their case,
and the officer took them before a mag.
istrate. together with the pocketbook
and its contents. The magistrate heard
the story Of each, giving especial atten.
ton to the Jews statement, asking him
many questions respecting the jewelry,
their size and value. Then he ques-
toned Hans, drawing out the circum.
stances Of finding the treasure and his
returning 1t. When he was satisfied as
to the merits Of the case he turned to
the Jew and asked:
'For what did you advertise"
"A lost pocketbook. your honor. con
tanning $780,"
"And how many diamondsr
mo drm0nds, your honor"
"Why didn't you mention themT
because didn't want any one who
found them to know what they was"
THAT was very prudent of you
Knowing their value. the finders would
have been more likely to keep them"
"Yes. your honor"
"And the money and the diamonds
were In the pocketbo0k
"Yes. your honor"
1.-THE contract you made with the
finder was to return q pocketbook con
tanning $3.50 and you would give him {
quarter Of the amount for a rewardr'
"Yes. your honor"
Every well. Since this pocketbOOl
contained only $3.50 and no diamond,
1t can't be yours" Then. turning Il
Hans: "YOu keep the pocketbook ant
the $3.50 until the owner calls for them
and IL he never calls for them they art
yours"
The Jew protested. but the magis
trate was indexible. He cried and
wrung his hands, while Hans walkei
away with the pocketbook, followed By
the Jew. who offered him all the mon
ey IL he would give up the pocketbook
Hans would do nothing till he had seel
Gretchen, SO he declined the offer. TIT
Jew offered more and more money til
by the time he had reached Gretchen
the amount was $4,000. The lovers of
fered to accept the amount II he woult
state his reasons for Offering so much
whereupon the Jew asked them t,
open the pocketbook and showed then
an inner pocket containing diamond
worth $4,000.
The lovers decided to refer the mat
ter to the magistrate. who AWARDED
them an amount equal to one-quarte
the value OF the contents Of the pock
etbook. the sum offered for Its return
This amounted to $5,162.5O.
Hans and Gretchen got married
bought q little house. furnished 1t an
have since ben living happily togetl
er. They consider America a grea
country. BERTHA d. HURLEY.
Wonderful Paint1ngs.
1t may not be generally known. pei
haps, that the highest price paid for
picture has not been In modern times
but was at so remote period rs tina