The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg | Page 3

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Prepared by by David Price [email protected]
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg

It was many years ago. Hadleyburg was the most honest and upright
town in all the region round about. It had kept that reputation
unsmirched during three generations, and was prouder of it than of any

other of its possessions. It was so proud of it, and so anxious to insure
its perpetuation, that it began to teach the principles of honest dealing
to its babies in the cradle, and made the like teachings the staple of
their culture thenceforward through all the years devoted to their
education. Also, throughout the formative years temptations were kept
out of the way of the young people, so that their honesty could have
every chance to harden and solidify, and become a part of their very
bone. The neighbouring towns were jealous of this honourable
supremacy, and affected to sneer at Hadleyburg's pride in it and call it
vanity; but all the same they were obliged to acknowledge that
Hadleyburg was in reality an incorruptible town; and if pressed they
would also acknowledge that the mere fact that a young man hailed
from Hadleyburg was all the recommendation he needed when he went
forth from his natal town to seek for responsible employment.
But at last, in the drift of time, Hadleyburg had the ill luck to offend a
passing stranger--possibly without knowing it, certainly without caring,
for Hadleyburg was sufficient unto itself, and cared not a rap for
strangers or their opinions. Still, it would have been well to make an
exception in this one's case, for he was a bitter man, and revengeful. All
through his wanderings during a whole year he kept his injury in mind,
and gave all his leisure moments to trying to invent a compensating
satisfaction for it. He contrived many plans, and all of them were good,
but none of them was quite sweeping enough: the poorest of them
would hurt a great many individuals, but what he wanted was a plan
which would comprehend the entire town, and not let so much as one
person escape unhurt. At last he had a fortunate idea, and when it fell
into his brain it lit up his whole head with an evil joy. He began to form
a plan at once, saying to himself "That is the thing to do--I will corrupt
the town."
Six months later he went to Hadleyburg, and arrived in a buggy at the
house of the old cashier of the bank about ten at night. He got a sack
out of the buggy, shouldered it, and staggered with it through the
cottage yard, and knocked at the door. A woman's voice said "Come
in," and he entered, and set his sack behind the stove in the parlour,
saying politely to the old lady who sat reading the "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 it was 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 to leave that sack
in his care, to be delivered to the rightful owner when he shall be found.
I am a stranger; he does not know me; I am merely passing through the
town to-night to discharge a matter which has been long in my mind.
My errand is now completed, and I go pleased and a little proud, and
you will never see me again. There is a paper attached to the sack
which will explain everything. Good- night,