Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-01-26

~ q Everything uoWu tneie
- including the weather
was sizzling hot. Thugs and thieves
we're being severely dealt with. Mar
tial law was In force and summary
punishment was being melted out
by the provost Judge. Several house
robbers had been hanged by or
der of General Butler and there
must have been a ticklish sensation
about the Iecks Of the unruly.
1t was one Of those blazing hot
mornings for which New Orleans Is
famous that Major -, a United
States paymaster on duty In that city,
left his Office In the custom house car
rying a portemonnaie containing just
$4,000 IL gold coin. The major was
one OF those economical men who
thought penny saved was as good as
q penny earned. Gold at this time was
at a premium, hence a saving could
be made by making an exchange OF
gold for paper currency. Besides, he
may have thought paper money more
convenient for the soldiers use. Az
he passed down the custom house
steps he paused moment as II to de-
termine the course to pursue. He
hailed a passing cab. and entering 1t
he instructed the driver to take him
to the bank Of Jacob Barker on Camp
street. The cab drew up directly In
front of the main entrance.
The paymaster went inside. Step
ping around the end of the counter
he met and shook hands with stock
lily built man whose locks were long
and white. This was Jacob Barker
whose name at this time was familiar
to every banker in the United States.
Uncle Jacob blinked a welcome as the
shining pieces were spread upon the
table.
Two young men now came forward
10 make the count and pile up the
treasure. The work completed, bundles
of greenbacks were crowded into the
portemonnai to take the place of the
gold coin. Then there was side
stEI1caction and package shat looked
Ike money was slowed away In the
paymaster's breast pocket. The major
as he reentered the cab did not notice
that the driver was casting longing
eyes upon the bullying portemonnaie.
He was then taken to the post Office
which was located In the custom
house. He got out of the cab and
1ust long enough to unlock and re.
move the mall from his letter box. Re
turning to the street he was greatly
astonished and nearly paralyzed with
excitement to discover that the cab
In which he had left the $4,000 had
disappeared. He looked up and down
the street stupidity at first. Recover
ing himself he madly rushed around
the corner. There was no cab In
sight. He then started on foot at o
lively pace for the office of the pro
vost marshal general on st. Charles
street
CHANGED to be in the provost mar
shaPs Office at this time. | listened
to the paymaster's story and was the
first to undertake the recovery of the
money. 1t was one of those smooth
easy robberies with little or no clue
for a starting point.
! started out on what seemed to bt
rather difficult case, less than al
hour after the theft.
had an abiding faith that if | coult
meet the guilty man face to face while
the affair was yet warm on his mine
| could pick him out from the man.
cab drivers in the city.
The paymaster thought the drive
of the cab an Irishman, but was no
quite certain. He knew that he ha,
been separated from his money an,
that was about all the information h.
could give. The capturing of the THE
and recovering the money SCENE,
now to rest upon the telltaIe eyes.
1t was now MONDAY and feedinl
| time. The most of the cabs we're OF
| the streets, but | CHANGED to secur
one, and started out to visit tn
many cab stands in the city. When
met driver Of one of these vehicle
l looked him over carefully, but say
nothing in the face of any of them t
arouse suspicion. My mind nigh
have been a little romantic In thos
days, but | thought the thief woul
have a disturbance on his face b.
which would be able to pick him out
When at last had met nearly all tn
cabbies in the city and discovere,
nothing upon which to base suspicion
the driver with whom l was ridinl
CHANGED to speak Of man who ha,
quite recently started In the cab busl
ness. His stable was at his owl
home on St. Peters street. He knew
the place and told him to drive to II
Arriving there, | entered the yard an,
discovered wheel tracks that appearet
to be freshly made. There was
small stable in the rear of the lot nea
which was pile Of litter. The top 0
this pile had recently been disturbed
| With a pitch.fork | overhauled som,