The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-08-06
!: The Serene Mr.. Thomas.

| L was SlIIlDR IOOm III II LOuuOu
hotel when Mr.. Thomas entered.
Mr.. Thomas was a man of forty and
well dressed. He was plain Of face
but he looked honest. He had Glad
stone bag in his hand, and he carried
this over to the wardrobe and then re-
turned and sat down near me and cut
off the end of cigar. When he had.
the weed alight queried:
"Well?"
"Warm evening"" he replied.
"But rather a cold display of yours.
How do you manage to do it?"
II hope l don't intrude-I hope l
don't" he observed.
"Well, you are here without invita-
ton and without business, as far as |
know. thought I engaged this room
for myself. Have you a prior claimT
"Not at all. In fact. have no room
in the house. but just walked up. If !
you will permit me l will order up a
bottle of cold champagne. | am bit
thirsty, and perhaps you would not OBJ ,
ject to half bottle?"
I nodded. and he walked over to the
bell When a boy came he gave the
bottle himself and served me with the
first glass. When he had drunk he
said:
II have figured it out. In fact, l
: figured it out long ago Life is worth
| the living only in one way. That is
: the serene way. If you can't live that
way, don't live at ALL"
but how are you going to escape
the troubles and worries and vexa-
tions?" l asked.
by having plenty Of money. The
only thing that can befall the man
with plenty of money is sickness. Sick
ness comes almost altogether through
= careessness. Use due care and sick
ness will not come"
But how to get plenty of money!"
l said.
"Yes, that was the problem with me
for years. l gave the subject my most
earnest thought. l had about arrived
= at the conclusion that 1t was an utter
y impossibility in my case when l got
!. sudden inspiration. and, 10, the whole
mystery was solved. Nothing could be
easier"
Have you any objections to giving
l. that inspiration awayT
e. Not the slightest Steal your mon
a. ey. Figure up about how much you
f. will be satisfied with and then steal
s it. Yes, steal it first and then get
;, away with it later on"
i / looked at him to see if he was jok-
u ing He was serene. but he had
E. spoken in earnest. While l looked at
o. him he looked over at the bag.
lie "And about that sudden inspiration? ?"
asked when do you propose to act
upon itT'
. 81 acted about two hours ago." he
quietly replied. I'm that bag over
there is 100000 belonging to my firm.
=" | have waited ten years to lay my
= hands on it. The opportunity came at
: closing time today. The first part OF
!: the problem is solved. Now comes the
:. getting away to some other country"
:. MAN, do you sit there and tell me
:. that you have just robbed your EN-
ployers of a fortune?"
" flush, tush. Be calm. Be serene
/" Not the slightest call to raise youl
:: voice. Yes. the money is there in the
:. bag, and I'm not worrying a bit about
!. 1t. For an hour before coming in here
= | was in a room down the hall.
. should not have intruded except ther,
are certain things l want and you cal
help me to do"
ng "Of all the cheeky things l eve
nj heard of this takes tile cake" l salt
of after a moment of silence. IF yol
U.s. have really stolen the money you ma.
be arrested at any moment"
Not the slightest danger" he re
piled. at will not be missed unit
&C. morning, and by that time I shall b
on my way across the channel. I d
. not know how l shall make out Twin
among the Frenchmen, but l shall b
serene, no matter what comes. l sc
an, that you have an American bag there
l must ask you to exchange with me-
40 "Pll be hanged If l do l don't PR
- pose to get mixed up in this thing. II
H. wondering now why l don't ring tn
ian bell and send for the police"
How foolish to get excited" he SAT-
er- "This bag is not known and will NJ
the get you into any trouble, but by carr.
md ing yours l get more Of an America
look. l have been practicing for yea
.N and L don't believe that one could te
lay from my speech that I was English.
in have the American chin whisker her
to and, with your permission. will git
llor it on"
,ale He took false goatee from his poe
ct and stepped to the mirror and
tached 1t. and when he turned around
was astonished at the change. Tit
he tried on my hat, which was made
ner New York, and hung up his in pla
of 1t. Then he asked:
. "Will you kindly empty your bagf
A movement of his body showed I
the handle of a pistol in his hind poe