El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-07
The Surprise
A short story.


hour later than usual. to go to
his office, he met the letter carrier who
banded him a letter. He opened it
with some apprehension, seeing that
the sender was a lawyer; but his fears
turned into delight when he read the
welcome news that a maiden aunt hao
died and left him a legacy Of sea. 900 in
cash, payable at the lawyers office
whenever II was convenient
Larrlge, whose conscience had trOu-
bled MIN q little because he had slept
longer than usual, was now delighted,
for II he had left the house at his usual
time, his wife would have got hold of
the letter and opened il. as she always
Qld with anything addressed to him
Now he could easuy ask the lawyer to
address further communications to his
office, and his wife need never know
anything at all about this unexpected
inheritance
The thought filled him with delight,
for he was the most henpecked of hus-
bands His Louise, to whom he had 70
only a little more than carfare for
pocket money.
With $4,000. however, new and Won
derful persepctives opened. and as soon
as he got to his office he Immediately
wrote the lawyer.
The formalities he had to go through
to get possession of the money proved
had only to ask to get a day of from
the office, having already told MS wife
that he would not be home for lunch.
Everything went we'll The lawyer
was a very pleasant fellow, and Lar
rige returned towards evening with the
money in an envelope in mis- inside
pocket
OF course he did not feel like going
home for dinner, so he invited a friend
TO dine with him in a small restaurant.
The dinner was excellent, and ne spent
his money generously without, how
ever, informing MS friend of his stroke
OF good luck 1t was about II when
they began TO think of going home
Larrige, who lived on the other bank
Of the river, said he would take the
bus TO his home. Larrige saw his friend
off and began to wait for his own bus
but as none came, he began to walk
homeWard.
He walked along the broad street and
turned into an alleyway. occasionally
taking from his pocket the precious
envelope, merely to look at it and put
il back.
Suddenly when he reached an open
square, he noticed an unusual cOmmO-
ton People were shouting and run
ming towards the river. When he asked
what was the matter, ne heard that the
very bus he had intended to take had
run off the bridge into the river
he was congratulating himself on
ms luck, when a mad idea entered his
brain Was not this an excellent Op-
portunity TO disappear, and make his
dear Louise think he had been
drowned? His friend would be able to
testify that he left him waiting for
that particular bus.
He ran down the bank, mingled with
the crowd then walked some distance
away. II took off his overCOat, dipped
II into the river. and handed it to one
OF the policemen who was busy col
lecung various articles that had been
recovered from the river
having done this ne ran to the sta
md rarH -
out of town.
he had been running so fast that
ne was still lying breathless in his seat
when the train passed his station. Then
MECHANICALLY he put his hand into his
inside coat pocket to feel his precious
treasure-the envelope was gonei Had
ne been rObbed2 His brain worked
1everishly, as he thought of the events
OF the evening, and suddenly he re-
membered- quite distintly. that when
ne mad taken out the envelope the last
Tune to look at it he had put it into
the inside pocket of his OvercOat in
stead Of into his coat His $6O.O were
now in the hands Of the police.
The realization of this calamity filled
MIN with rage. He must get out at the
next station and take the first train
back to Paris.
He arrived there very late and
rushed like a mailman to the police
slauon 70 get back his oVercOat, only
20 De told that as an envelope contain
ing large amount of money had been
found in one Of the pockets and a num-
per OF formalities must be gone
through before he could get IL. Quite
crushed, he saw nothing to do now but
TO return home. He found his wife all
upset as she had heard of the accident
ana supposed her husband to be among
the missing
He told her that he had had a most
miraculous escape
But" she said. and looked at him
win the expression of merciless in
qulsltor you did not fan into the
river y on are not wet at all"
NO, managed to get hold Of the
ment."
But your overcoat? For you did
wear an oyercoat when you left" she
inquired.
oh, yes-certainIy-I took it off to
pc able to swim and then in the con-
fusion ] lost it."
The unfortunate mans forehead was
wet with perspiration. Louise shud-
oered and told him to go to bed
In the morning two detectives and
an inspector Of police arrived to put
nlm through the usual formalities. in
NINE Larrige's presence, and he had /
10 confess everything about the money
His wife did not believe her own /
said:
so we have inherited $4,000 eh2 4
and you knew all about II and told 4
me nothing
In spite of his confusion he had the 4
presence Of mind to answer 4 wanted I
10 surprise you, dear.
Nine Larrlge was kind enough to &C /
cept this explanation and merely added: /
I'm the future I wish you would not /!
any more surprises. but Keep /
me posted on your affairs
OF the envelope or its contents he /
saw nothing more.