Evening journal., 1908-11-18
The Serene Mr.. Thomas.

was sitting in room in London
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 a cigar. When he had
the weed alight queried:
"WellT
WARM evening" he replied.
But rather cold display of yours.
How do you manage TO do it,"
II hope | don't intrude-I hope
don't" he observed.
"Well. you are here without invita-
tion and without business, as far as ]
know. thought I engaged this room
for myself. Have you a prior claim:'
"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 a bit
thirsty and perhaps you would not OBJ
ject to half a bottle?"
nodded. aud he walked over to the
bell When a boy came he gave the
order and paid for it, He opened the
bottle himself and served me with the
first glass. When he had drunk he
said:
Il have figured it out In fact. ]
figured 1t out long ago. Life is worth
the living only in one way. That is
the serene way. If you can't live that
Wav don't live at all"
But how. are you going to escape
the troubles and worries and vexa-
tionsf' 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
carelessness. Use due care and sick
ness will not come"
But how to get plenty Of money!"
said
YES. that was the problem with me
for years. gave the subject my most
earnest thought I had about arrived
at the conclusion that it was an utter
impossibiity in my case when ! get
a sudden inspiration, and 10, the whole
mystery was solved. Nothing could be
easier"
Have you any objections to giving
that inspiration away?"
Not the slightest Steal your mcn
ey. Figure up about how much you
will be satisfied with and then steal
it. Yes. steal it first and then get
away with it later on
looked at him to see if he was jok
ing. He was serene. but he had
spoken in earnest While looked at
him he looked over at the bag.
And about that sudden inspirations"
asked when do you propose to act
upon it,"
II acted about two hours ago." he
quietly replied In that bag over
there is 10000 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 fortuney
"Tush. tush. Be calm. Be serene.
Not the slightest call to raise your
voice Yes. the money Is there IN the
bag. and I'm not worrying a bit about
It. For an hour before coming in here
was in room down the hall.
should not have intruded except there
are certain things / want and you can
help me to do"
"Of all the cheeky things ever
heard of this takes the cake" / said
after 4 moment of silence "If you
have really stolen the money you may
be arrested at any moment"
mot the slightest danger" he re
piled. 1T will not be missed until
morning, and by that time I shall be
on my way across the channel. do
not know how ! shall make out living
among the Frenehmen. but shall be
serene, no matter what comes. ! see
that you have an American bag there.
/ must ask you to exchange with me-"
III be hanged IL l do. I don't pro
pose to get mixed up in this thing. I'm
wondering now why I don't ring the
bell and send for the police"
How foolish to get excitedv' he said
"This bag is not known and will not
get you into any trouble but by carry
ing yours get more Of an American
look. have been practiclng for year
and I don't believe that one could tell
from my speech that l was English.
have the American chin whisker here,
and. with your permission, viii glue
+ it on"
He took false goatee from his pock-
ct and stepped TO the mirror and at
tached it. and when he turned around
was astonished at the change. Then
he tried on my hat, which was made in
New York, and hung up his in place
of it. Then he asked:
"Will you kindly empty your bag?"
A movement of his body showed me
the handle OF a pistol in his hind pock-
ct, and complied. l stood there and
saw him change the bags. and ] saw
the money he said he had stolen. There
were ten packages Of it. When the
bag had been closed he said:
Il am infinitely obliged to you and
hope your opportunity may soon come.
Cultivate serenity. Nothing is gained
by expending too much nervous en-
ergy. OF course you could make an
| outcrv and set the police oh my trail,