The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-04-10
Turning the Scale.
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Who is there who cannot look back
to some trialng incident that changed
the whole course of his life? II A had
not happened to meet B on a street
corner on 4 certain day twenty years
ago, . would not now be AS son.in-
law III g had not seen certain adj
vertisement for a partner with a thou
sand dollars, he would not now be
the mulumiIlionaire owner OF a gold
producing patent. II d had been a
fine penman, he would now doubtless
have been bookkeeper instead Of
managing partner of bis firm. So it
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 a moment consider the
cause given the correct one.
One day jim Beverly, a countryman
who had been long hunting for a Job
In the city. becoming discouraged,
made up bis mind to 10 home before
his funds were completely exhausted.
Jim had come to town with a trunk
that had to he held together by a rope.
He had got rid of the country clothes
in It and thought he would like to take
back one of those suit cases which he
saw so much used. Going to a shop.
he bought secondhand one at a re.
duced price. Besides being second
hand. 1t had the letters ~. r." painted
on the end. He was told that a red
headed man wearing glasses and a
striped waistcoat had turned 1t In as
part payment for new one. That was
a lie. The man bought a new one and
left his old one to be put In the cellar.
Beverly got 1t cheap, took 1t to his
room, put his belongings In 1t and
went to the train. A man took a seat
beside him who kept glancing out Of
the corner OF his eye at him.
How are =, Torbert7' he said pres
entity In low voice.
How did you know my name was
Torbert19 asked Jim. suspecting a con-
iidence game.
by several things--initials on suit
case. red head
Well, suppose am Torbert What
them
got the stun In the caseYe
suppose have"
"I'll be on hand at N. to take 1t of
your hands. Three days. Better not
hurry. Say Friday, IL at night
"Hhere?''
"why, at the Mortified House, you
know, as arranged"
The man got up and left the car at
the frst 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
''Tll tronhle you to open that case"
snid 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" be said. and
the letters on your case are V. r., but
you're not the man."
"Of course he isn't the man. said his
companion. Il 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 man
who had sat beside him that he was
better adapted to receive than to give
information, SO he held his peace. The
men went on, and Jim got out when
the train reached bis station
Jim took into his confidence couple
OF detectives, and they all went to n.
three days later. Jim entered the
Northheld House half an hour before
II O'Clock, but he was not Jim Bever
~; he was man with white hair and
beard. He sat down in one Of the Of
dee chairs. 1t was not long before be
saw The man who had sat beside him
on tha train come Ia. He. too, sat
down and, taking up newspaper,
read It I'm a man with red head,
glasses and a striped walstcoat enter
ed, carrying brand new suit case.
The latter went to the desk and called
for 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 EJwcomer, the
three went upstairs Five minutes