The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1910-05-03

NARtAtN~ AA0A0 AJQA " 0NrAH ftANG ANbAl
10 my shop. repair them. press them
rnd sell them for a good profit But
this IS not all there IS in the old clothes
business. Ii is very easy for small
coins. principally ten cent pieces. TO
slip through little holes. Or rather.
rips. ia q vest pocket The 6rst thing
do with the clothing l buy is 10
search the pockets.
But the most interesting things that
get into lIid clothes a'e old letters.
Few old diothes men pay any atten-
ton 10 them. burning them without
reading them. always read them
Possibly there may be something in
them to render them valuable. have
found letters Of this kind that would
have paid me well were disposed 70
levy blackmail. but am not In that
business.
once bought a coat that bad let
ter in a side pocket sealed and with
a stamp Dn it ready for railing. The
envelope was not soiled. The letter
had evidently been placed in the pocket
for delivery in the mail. forgotten. the
coat hung up without being worn
again ard eventually sold to me with
out being examined by the seller.
constituted myself dead letter
Office. opened the envelope and read
the letter 1t was from wife to her
husband, Offering to make up after
a quarrel She proved conclusively
that be had been mistaken In the mat
ter be had against her. vowed that she
had always loved him and would never
love any one else. She begged him for
the sake OF their children to come to
her and be reconciled.
wondered what had been the re-
suit Of the failure to mail this letter.
] became interested in the poor wo-
man. who might have been suffering
from some ones carelessness, as well
rs her husband and innocent children.
for there is nothing more melancholy
than the case OF child seeing its
father and mother quarrel and finally
separate 1t appeared likely that the
writer must have given it to the mau
who had worn the coat to mail and
lie had neglected TO do So felt that
] would like to wiring his neck.
y occurred TO me that, being an old
clothes man. had never had any op-
TO do any one kindness |
couldn't give money. because / made
only enough to keep the wolf from the
door. If gave to any one took away
from what my wife and children
needed. So it occurred to me TO find
this couple between whom the letter
should have passed and deliver it.
Perhaps they did not need it; perhaps
they had been reconeiIed In another
way; perhaps they had been divorced
and one or both married again. Then
the remarriagc of a parent always
seems to me far more terrible herit-
age 10 the children than the parents
death. The latter is an awful bereave-
ment. but the former is a living horror
as the. letter was but a year old
hoped that would not be too late in
it to at least save the little
ones from this last hopeless condition
J didn't know how to go TO work to
end either Of the parties. so l went
10 the postof1ice and asked for advice.
The interview resulted in my writing
4 note to the man whose letter had.
advising him Of the fact that q letter
hat might be OF Importance to him
had come into my possession. / ad-
iressed the note as the letter had been
and the postoffice men
agreed to deliver it if the man could
DO found.
Within a couple Of weeks a gentle
nan came into my shop with my note
h his band. saying that be was the
man 10 whom ii was written.
Have you wifey' ] asked
mo-" he answered bitterly.
Are you divorced from a wife.p
Yes"
Are either you or your wife mar
led againg'
No"
drew o sigh Of relief and handed
lin his wife's letter written a year
,efore. he seemed much affected. not
peaking for some time after reading
I. and saw tears standing in his
yes. was curious to know what
ceiling would be uppermost III his
mind. for be would surely give express
ion TO it. This is the first thing he /
aid:
~rI kill that internal fellow If
lang for iti'
"What internal fellow
THE stupid idiot that was given this
etter to post"
He had his eyes on the letter but at
bis point looked up at me and con-
inued
And now. my good man, ] wish 10
eimburse sou for any expense you
AVE incurred in this matter besides
iviDg Won a suitable reward"
There has been no expense. As 70
he reward. my pleasure in having
one one act without pay in my con
emptible life is far greater reward
han any YOU could offer. Let 40 old
lothes man have this satisfaction I
eg OF you. Que thing ] ask-let me
ee yoH remarked"
He went away. and the very next