Could it be you have a newline after each entry in "<$path/newestm.txt" and not in the hash key?

Update:Didn't notice the ' in the hash lookup, but that would do it too...

Another update: chromatic pointed out to me I left out the chomp, but I thought it was obvious, only after the 3rd or 4th time you miss it does it become obvious as chromatic mentioned...

Mike - mps@discomsys.com

"The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen... and stupidity."
Harlan Ellison