It seemed incredible that an envelope containing such a large sum of money could have laid on the sidewalk of a prominent thoroughfare like Wall Street, glanced at and walked over by many people, and yet no one had had the curiosity to pick it up.
“What is your name?” asked Mrs. Breeze.
“Jack Hazard, madam.”
“You are an honest boy. I am sure you have a good mother and that she is very proud of you. This money you have returned to me is the savings of our entire life. I don’t like to think what the result might have been if it had been lost for good and all. As testimony of our gratitude I want you to accept these two bills,” and she offered Jack the two hundred-dollar notes.
“No, ma’am,” said the boy. “I couldn’t think of taking so much money from you.”
“But you must, or you will take away half the pleasure I feel at the recovery of my money. Really, it is a great deal less than you really deserve. I insist that you accept them,” said Mrs. Breeze firmly, forcing the bills into his hand.
Jack saw she was intensely earnest in her demand, and with some reluctance he put them in his pocket.
“I am very happy indeed that you have got your money back,” he said as he rose to go.
“I feel like another woman to what I did before you came here. Be sure I shall not soon forget the honest lad to whom I am indebted for its recovery,” were her last words as Jack ran down the steps after bidding her good-bye.