Bridgeton pioneer., 1912-12-12

eISe money NnlCh nad 1ailen mo my
Possession and which instead of being
a blessing WIS burden. Harker sd
, vanccd mo rapidly.
Edith remained true to me. and her
I father. having been aGreeably disap-
pointed In me. consented to our mar
riage. All was ready for the nuptials
when one day a shabby man with X
hangdog look about him came into
the office and asked to see me.
This Is MIR. George Winchell?" be-
asked.
That's my name"
He took a dirty paper from his pOck-
| ct. to which he referred. and said:
| ''On the 18th of November 49,, John
| Flynn. driving cab No. 5S. took up a
| fare at the door of the University club
and drove the gentleman to 246 Sum
| NIT avenue
"Never mind the rest of that Z
said. Tell if you are looking for any
thing that was lost
The man appeared i'll at ease. please.
| don't speak so loud. sir If you are the
man who was driven that day in that
cab from the University club to-
| 81 was Go on"
"You may have found a package oS
bills"
| 81 did"
At this point the man hesitated. and,
seeing that he was not getting on with
his revelation. took him to q private
room and said:
snow. out with It
After much trouble / learned that ha
had got the money had found from
a gentleman to carry somewhere and
had hired cab for the purpose. Not
daring to take the bills out of the cab
when he aIighted. fearing an arrest,
he left 1t under the seat, taking note OF
the cabs number. He was arrested
for having stolen an overcoat and was
sent to prison for a year. He had re-
Gently been discharged, some time hav-
ing been taken off his stay for good be
havior. and had communicated with
the man from whom he had got the
bills. and the two had set about trac-
Ing them. The person who had employ
ed him to carry the money was cash
Ter of some institution. from which he
had purloined it.
had had enough Of the matter and
agreed to a plan by which the amO0nt
could be returned to its rightful own-
ers, they paying the raScalS small
sum and guaranteeing their immunity
from prosecution. All the details had
been arranged when it occurred to me
that had rented the box in which K
had deposited II in fictitious name
What name? | could no more re-
member than could repeat the book
of Job.
As soon as ! could get away from
| my duties | took train for my for
mer home and on arrival drove to the
safe deposit company and asked fox
the custodian. A young man stepped
forward. and | asked for the old gen
tleman who had rented me box about
year before. He had died five months
ago and the young man had been put
In his place.
My story as to the renting OF the
box was told-that had not given
my own name and had forgotten tue
assumed one. was Informed that I
d would find the number of the box ON
my key. but I replied that, having
been fearful of losing the key. had
put it in n very safe place. but where
had also forgotten.
Then the custodian looked grave
The money must remain where it was
till | produced the name or the Key.
What was | to do: had ackuowt.
edged that | had found the lost bills
and still had them in my possession. L
was bound to restore them. and II {
1 AZ a Tcn 40
likely prosecuted criminally. BeIRg
| about to be married. | was in an ag
ony OF fear lest the matter should
come out and bc printed in the news
papers on the eve OF my wedding,
went to Hurker. who was more
like brother 10 rc than IN employ
er. and told him OF the tx | was in
While he was ready to do anything for
me in his power. there seemed to os,
nothing definite for him To do. lie
could not help showing "A slight suspf-
cion. This revealed to ne that s1y
story was not very credible. wQs in
agony. Meanwhile the parties con-
cerned began to grow suspicious OF
| me.
Then | was told that if | didne
pay over the money at once | would
be arrested. realized that | must
raise $4,000 or go to Jail, besides
losing Edith. | asked how long tins,
I would be given for the purpose anG
was told that | could have a week
laid the matter before Harker, and his
affection for me conquered his doubts
and his indisposition to pay out for
me $4,000 that he might never get
back. He drew check for the money.
: payable to me. and | turned il over to
= the persons who were bounding me.
, But | realized that a wedge had been
: introduced between me and Harser
Il that would not bc removed until
p could return the money he had put up
- mo