It was many years ago. Hadleyburg was the most honest and uprighttown in all the region round about. It had kept that reputationunsmirched during three generations, and was prouder of it than of anyother of its possessions. It was so proud of it, and so anxiousto insure its perpetuation, that it began to teach the principles ofhonest dealing to its babies in the cradle, and made the like teachingsthe staple of their culture thenceforward through all the years devotedto their education. Also, throughout the formative years temptationswere kept out of the way of the young people, so that their honestycould have every chance to harden and solidify, and become a part oftheir very bone. The neighbouring towns were jealous of this honourablesupremacy, and affected to sneer at Hadleyburg’s pride in it andcall it vanity; but all the same they were obliged to acknowledge thatHadleyburg was in reality an incorruptible town; and if pressed theywould also acknowledge that the mere fact that a young man hailed fromHadleyburg was all the recommendation he needed when he went forth fromhis natal town to seek for responsible employment.
But at last, in the drift of time, Hadleyburg had the ill luck tooffend a passing stranger—possibly without knowing it, certainlywithout caring, for Hadleyburg was sufficient unto itself, and carednot a rap for strangers or their opinions. Still, it would havebeen well to make an exception in this one’s case, for he wasa bitter man, and revengeful. All through his wanderings duringa whole year he kept his injury in mind, and gave all his leisure momentsto trying to invent a compensating satisfaction for it. He contrivedmany plans, and all of them were good, but none of them was quite sweepingenough: the poorest of them would hurt a great many individuals, butwhat he wanted was a plan which would comprehend the entire town, andnot let so much as one person escape unhurt. At last he had afortunate idea, and when it fell into his brain it lit up his wholehead with an evil joy. He began to form a plan at once, sayingto himself “That is the thing to do—I will corrupt the town.”
Six months later he went to Hadleyburg, and arrived in a buggy atthe house of the old cashier of the bank about ten at night. Hegot a sack out of the buggy, shouldered it, and staggered with it throughthe cottage yard, and knocked at the door. A woman’s voicesaid “Come in,” and he entered, and set his sack behindthe stove in the parlour, saying politely to the old lady who sat readingthe “Missionary Herald” by the lamp:
“Pray keep your seat, madam, I will not disturb you. There—now it is pretty well concealed; one would hardly know itwas there. Can I see your husband a moment, madam?”
No, he was gone to Brixton, and might not return before morning.
“Very well, madam, it is no matter. I merely wanted toleave that sack in his care, to be delivered to the rightful owner whenhe shall be found. I am a stranger; he does not know me; I ammerely passing through the town to-night to discharge a matter whichhas been long in my mind. My errand is now completed, and I gopleased and a little proud, and you will never see me again. Thereis a paper attached to the sack which will explain everything. Good-night, madam.”
The old lady was afraid of the mysterious big stranger, and was gladto see him go. But her curiosity was roused, and she went straightto the sack and brought away the paper. It began as follows:
“TO BE PUBLISHED, or, the right man sought outby private inquiry—either will answer. This sack containsgold coin weighing a hundred and sixty pounds four ounces—”
“Mercy on us, and the doo