The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-01-13
The Fifty Dollar Bill

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BY WILSON CLAY MIsslMER.
Copyright, Paget Newspaper Service.
Her trip had been planned hurried
Y and her packing had been done in
haste and confusion, and when she en-
tered the Pullman and the porter had
found her berth for her, she was all
N q fiutter. It had been one of those
lAst-minute trips to New York to do
some shopping, decided on because
her husband had made her a present
of q fifty dollar bill which, with the
money she had already laid aside, was
sufficient for her to make the journey
now instead Of later as she had in
tended. The matter OF the money
which her husband had given her was
merely one Of the odd little surprises
he was generally lavishing upon her,
and she had stuck the bill with a pin
into q pin-cushion and decided then
and there not to postpone her trip
any longer, and had begun packing
Immediately.
Settled at last, the hurry and ex-
sitement OF the last hour seemed to
fade away to q mere nothing, and
changed from q bit of annoyance to
= rather pleasant memory. Reminis-
Gently she rehearsed the scenes in
her mind. She remembered how flut-
tered she had been, how she had or
dered the maid about to do her bid
ding, how she had literally thrown a
how she had taken a most hurried
leave Of her husband. She could re-
member distinctly having at the last
minute snatched up the ffty-dollar
bill from the pin-cushion and thrust
ing 1t loose into her handbag. And
element and worry, here she vas
safe aboard the train, and apparently
none the worse for the rush.
There were not many people in the
car. Two middle-aged gentlemen sat
three or, four seats in front Of her,
heatedly discussing some topic which
she could not overhear. Opposite
was a rather young woman, oddly
dressed, whose eyes seemed to wan
der restlessly through the car. Be-
hind, q mother and two small children
were c%onversing tiresomely, the moth
n e~ndeavoring to answer patiently
the questions of a very laxative son.
When the train started Mrs. Rock
well purchased a magazine and pass
cd an hour or two in it's perusal. Then.
becoming thirsty, she started down
the aisle for the water cooler, and it
wal while drinking a glass Of water
that she remembered having left her
handbag in the seat and she realized
th&t this was a most careless thing to
do ~ It contained all her money. Hur-
rying back she saw with some relief
that the bag was still there, and sit
ting down, Mrs. Rockwell. obeying
some strange sudden impulse opened
the bag and looked in. The hfty-dol-
lar bill was not there!
She sat up rigid and stin. gazing
straight ahead OF her. She had been
robbed in the m~arvelously short time!
She, could scarcely believe her senses.
She searched the side compartments
of the bag, found her other money
which she had packed away carefully
but there was no sign Of the fifty
dollar bin. She did not know what to
DO. She glanced about her cautiously
and found the eyes Of the o~ddly-dress-
"a woman upon her: when Mrs. Rock
ven looked at her she Immediately
glanced away.
Mrs. Rockwell was not . woman Of
very decided character, and, VAS rath-
81 easily excited. She lacked the acu-
mon which enables one to act quickly,
and she lost much time sitting rather
dasedly gazing ahead Of her. She was
~ loss what to do. There wal moth
fne particularly suspicious 81 tho At
titude Of those near her. vet the only
Iperson who could possibly have had
fhe time and the chance to look into
III handbag was the woman across
the aisle, But Mrs. Rockwell did not
relish the task Of accusing her open
n, and had Just decided 70 CAL the
conductor and explain the circ1m-
staucess to him. when the lady across
ia aisle xrose and went TO the vat
% cooler tor Il drink. leaving black
hSnabag behind II her seat Acting
= Arrange swift impulse Mn. Rocak