Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-09-25

lead to very unpleasant consequence.
He kept the money In his safe deposit
box.
But even In 30 secret a place he did
not feel easy. He was haunted by all
sorts OF fears. Supposing be should
loose the key to her box and were ar
rested for keeping money that did not
belong to him. In that case be would
not be able to make restitution
One day on ts sing cab at his club
he noticed that his driver was the man
In whose vehicle he had made the ind
wilkins FASTENED to ask him II he
had heard of or seen the young lady
who had gone into store and had not
returned. He said that he had. She
had caused inquiries to be made for
him and finally found him. She had
tainted In the store and remained I'M
conscious for some time. He had been
closely questioned by man in her In
terest and was quite sure he had been
Swallowed by detective. Asked whom
he had driven next after the young
lady. he could not remember.
wilkins was all In a fiutter at this
information. BE realized that he must
take some action In the matter. but
feared anything he might do would re-
dound to his injury. When q man Ii
ratified he usually goes wrong. VII
kins asked the cabman to give him
the young lady's address. and when the
man said he hadn't It wilkins told him
not to say anything about him In the
matter for the present and handed him
a ten dollar bill.
wilkins as soon as he had taken this
step saw that he had put himself In
the position Of having bribed the coach
man to conceal his identity. He could
not sleep at nights for thinking OF
what a frightful thing II would be
should he be pounced upon by a de-
tective and forced to confess that he
had been keeping large sum OF mon
ey that did not belong to him. II was
evident the loser of the money believ-
ed that 1t had fallen into the hands
Of some one who was intending to keep
1t and was taking measures to find that
person.
All this was more than wilkins had
bargained for He grew thin and bag
gard and began to fear that his ap-
pearance alone would incriminate him.
What he desired was to know the adj
dress of the young lady that he might
return the money anonymously, or II
he could discover that she was Of a
kindly. sympathetic disposition he
might go to her. confess that he had
her money and beg her to believe his
story and not expose him to an unmer-
ciful world.
One day the coachman involved in
the matter called for him at the club
and said he had something TO commu-
nicate. wilkins went out with him to
the sidewalk. where no one would hear
what was said. and the cabman began:
.I've seen the young Teddy again.
sir. and she says the day ] drove her
I she drew a large sum from the bank.
and, bein' sick. when she got out Of
my cab left the money inside. She
says the next fare got must "a found
1t and is keepin' what don't belong to
him. She's offered me $1,000 reward
IL I'll get her money for her"
Here was an additional complication.
II wilkins returned the money. ignor-
ing the cabman. the fellow might make
1t hot for him. wilkins by this time
was In condition of mind to see a
term in the penitentiary staring him
in the face. Instead of pulling himself
together, returning the money openly
and trusting to his ability to come out
| of the affair unscathed. he asked the
man for the lady's address. promising
to see that he got something by way
| of reward But the cabman by this
time had come TO believe there was a
| good deal In 1t and declined to give the
address unless wilkins would pay him
/ out of the funds the reward the young
lady had offered. When wilkins de-
INJURED at this, the fellow threatened
! to report him as the man who was
holding the money.
So wilkins took the address. gave the
man thousand dollars and. taking the
bag containing the bills just as he had
/ found them; called on the young lady.
Handing them to her. he waited till her
! delight had somewhat subsidized. then
gave her graphic account Of his find
ing the bag. his waiting to see her ad-
vertisement. his missing 1t when 1t ap-
peared and, lastly. his having been
drawn into the position of retaining
funds that did not belong to him.
81 weighed" be said dolefully in con.
clusion, when / found your bag 17C
pounds. Look at me now. / can bare
! ly pull down 40"
"You poor man. exclaimed the girl
depressing smile.
wilkins said nothing about the thou.
sand dollars hush money he had paid
the cabman. That was his own secret
and he did not propose to diyulge.
"of course" said the girl. you are
entitled TO reward. and beg of you
after all the trouble and worry you
have had in the matter to accept at