The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-08-05

we are SO gay about. You remember
that Diamond DollarP'"
Did remember itP It was that
Diamond Dollar" that cost Ferguson
his desk ~ the Gazette. Not more
than two months ago he was as dapper,
well-dressed and apparently successful
man as there was in the Cincinnati
reportorial fraternity. His duty was
the covering of the news along the river
fronts of the Kentucky towns facing
and above Cincinnati, and, being a
graceful writer, he managed to get in
a column or two of breezy special mat
ter on miscellaneous subjects each
-week-every column of such matter
being clean addition of five dollars to
his not princely salary.
1t was nine o'clock one Thursday
night when word came over the tele-
phone wires from the fire chieftain's
office that the tow-boat Ohio Greyhound
was burning at her landing, three miles
above Newport. In fifteen minutes
came the supplementary report that
her entire tow of seven barges was
doomed, and that John Stacy and
"Stumpy," the cook, were missing
presumably burned with the wreck.
Ferguson can have two columns for
that" complacently remarked the city
editor. ''Here, Newport, get a rig;
jump out there; find Ferguson and help
him. Get in as much as possible before
twelve, and, if it promises good matter
after that, wire the facts. We will
dress them up.'
At half-past twelve o'clock / was
again at the Office with the skeleton
article. The fire had taken place early
in the afternoon. Three lives and $685.
900 worth of property were lost. / had
seen nothing of Ferguson. But while
was making hasty oral report to
this effect Ferguson strolled into the
office. He was at peace with himself
| and the world, and his stiff, white COL
| lar lifted itself Immediately above his
black tie and unruffied shirt front.
Nothing moving" he said, airily,
as he placed the days report on the
editors desk. Every thing dead along
| the river to-day"
| mo fights nor fires?n asked the city
editor in his blandest tones.
Nothing; but here is little special
that will look we'll in the Sunday sup
plement. / have been up to the library
looking up points for it all afternoon.
With a scare head--frst line. The
Diamond Dollarp-it will prove as
good matter as actual news, and"
There is no actual news, then?"
Nothing of Importance.
By this time the telegraph men, the
managing editor, half of the local force,
and even one or two of the BREWER
writer's, had drifted into the city room,
where they foated about aimlessly,
waiting for the explosion that.was to
lift the unfortunate Ferguson. But,
suspecting nothing, he continued his
panegyric on the Diamond Dollar.
"Unless you call this piece of special
matter news, there is none. But it will
be news to most of the readers. 1t
deals with the subject of rare coins,
giving the dates and the values of all
United States coins worth more than
their face value. There are hundreds
of pieces in daily circulation for which
collectors would give twenty times
their value as bullion. This article
will serve to tell the people what dates
of coin are in demand. so that they
may watch the money that passes
through their hands and sell the rare
coins at premium. There is one dol
lar, of the mintage of 1904. which ID
worth $500"
For the past few seconds the city
editor had been rapidly writing upon a
slip of paper, and here he interrupted
! enthusiastic remarks about the valuable
dollar.
.sYou know the rule of the Office,
Mr.. Ferguson" he said. in an icy tone
mo man with us gets chance to be
grossly scooped twice. You have failed
to catch cne of the most sensational
fires of the year, although you had
twelve hoirs in which to do it. Here
is an order on the counting room fol
your money up to Saturday night.
You have my best wishes for youl
future. Good nightr'
That was how he lost his desk on the
Gazette, and, breezy writer that he was
in three months he had found it necess.
AIRY to take up the lines of a street-cal
drivers life or starve.
"You remember that Diamond Dol
| ldI! uc ss1lu d. dHA, dto0A dlo W "a ~ {
the sharp clang of the bell above his
head by bringing the car to . stop long
enough for the gray-bearded talker te
alight: ..well. curiously enough,
have found one of them. should
never have known its value had not
collected the data for that unfortunate
article of mine; and"
"Do you mean me to understand thai
you have found a dollar of 1904. act
ually worth $500p"
| Precisely so, dear boy. Drivers
handle q great deal of silver, and
among the money in my pocket las
night I found this.
He had unbuckled his belt, unbut-
toned his coat, and with some difficulty
brought out in his gloved fingers 8
worn silver dollar, without the millet
edges which characterize the late issues
of the coin. He was singularly excited
He looked at the piece of silver as .
a doomed man might look at an unex.
pected reprieve. It meant another
start in life, chance to build up wealth
and reputation on ajournal of his own
it meant wife; it gave him Virginia
His hand trembled slightly with the
tumult of his thoughts. One OF tht