Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-20
THE DIAMOND DOLLAR.
From he Cincinnati Enquirer.


of the street car. She smiled with her
whole face-dimpled chin, red cheeks, fun
lips; even the eyes behind the convex
glasses OF her pince nez twinkled.
''Thank you" she said, shutting the
book softly, 81 know it. l was merely
Rlancing at the pictures"
Then she turned her amused glance
toward the front part of the car, ana met
the ewes of the driver staring straight AT
her. His face hgnted up when her glance
met HE, and with his rough glove ne
patted the left side OF his coat, rs though
ST shielded something which concerned
her.
The car was one OF those little wheeled
boxes locally known as the Pound Gap
B0b-taIls." which ply between CINCINNATI,
o., and It's Kentucky suburb, Newport.
The driver, sole autoc;a,, dividing his
time among the mules, his passengers aud
the small bows who everywhere marx DOB
tail cars for their own, was mutlleu 10 Inc
mouth in an old oilskin coat, helied at tue
waist with leather strap. His cap was
pulled down to shield his face from the
rain into the teeth OF which be was forced
to drive. and when he entered the car 10
collect the fares his heavy co"hide boots
completed "a grOtesque picture, which
would have attracted attention even in
Castle Garden. Evidently he cared less Tor
style than for comfort.
"W bat IS the fare to Newp0rt"
''Ten cents, please"
| started at the musical voice, and
locke at the man closely.
"Wh-a-t?" said, mot Ferguson, OF the
Gazette?"
''Same party, dear boy, same party"
He laugheHin the honest, whole-souled
Ill Ahath mol
of his punch twice, smiled at the pretty
girl, VINO seemed TO enjoy my surprise, and
then clattered out to his place at the
brake. where | presently joined him.
II his is rough, Ferguson, Geuced rough
SIP a week and seventeen hours day !!
Can't you do better than thisY
CELESTIAL occupation, dear boy. One
of the children of Greek mythology, you
will remember aspired to drive a car
his fathers car, but while his route was
a trife dryer than mine"--
aft was not necessary for him TO make
a guy of himself in cOwhide boots. That
girl inside is laughing at you"
81 know it. She always does when she
rides with me-"
He looked through the glass door of his
car, and again patted the side Of his coat
when he met the young womau's eye. The
gesture seemed to please her.
"AnOther case of the maiden and the
coachman," remarked Ferguson as he
slowed up to take on a passenger. EVIL
IDENTIFY he had lost none of his high spirits
since he had drfted out of journalism into
stree. car service. But, seriously now,
don't you know herY
''NO, | cannot say that | do" l said,
severely.
That's Virginia"
looked again at the girl. She was as
charming a specimen of young woman
hood as is often met with even In the eul-
tured parts 81 Kentucky. The infanl lie
cheeks and dlmpled chin toned down the
severity OF her eyeglasses, and from the
brown plume IN her hat to the narrow toe
of her shoe she was what is popularity
known as "stylish." Du Maurier might
have copied her pose for that OF one If his
higb-bred women,
Yes, sir, that's Virginia. You have
laughed at my verses TO her for three
years, and if we drop all the passengers
before the end OF the route il reached |
will take you inside and present you. She
knows you by name already. | have
talked with her about YOU "a hundred
times. She likes that little story of yours.
The Cruise of the Mermaid immensely,
and always looks up your column the tirst
thing in the Clarion"
Then he seemed to drift into another
line oi thought.
IS, sir, ii is rough" he said; "eight-
teen hours day, seven days in tue week,
il too many hours for man to work; but
thank God. | am donel This is my last
trip. | have something here'-he tapped
The left side of his oilskin coat again
(which has put me on my feet. Virginia
and had several blocks, alone, together.
this morning, and she knows. Thaps what
We are so gay about. You remcmoe that
Diamond DollarY"
Did remember il? 1T was that "Dia-
mond Dollar" that cost Ferguson his desk
on the Gazette. Not more than two
months ago he was as dapper, well dressed
and apparently as successful a man as
there was in the Cincinnati reportorial
fraternity. His duty was the co vering of
the news along the river fronts of the
lhentucky towns facing and above Cincin-
natl, and being graceful writer, he
8nanaged to get IN column or two of
breezy special matter on miscellaneous
subjects each week, every column of such
matter being clean addition OF SIS to his
not princely salary.
1t was . O'Clock one Thursday night
when word came Over the telephone wires
from the nre cbiettain's Office that the
owboat Greyhound was burning at her
land ny, three miles above NewnOrt. In
report that her entire tow Of seven barges
was doomed, and that John Stacey and
"Stumpy,' the cook, were missing-pre-
sumably burned with the wreck.
ferguson can have two columns for
that" cOmplacently remarked the city
editor. Here, Newport, get0a rig; jump
out there; lind Ferguson and help him.
Get in as much as possible before II,
and, if IT promises good matter after
that, wire the facts. We will dress them
up"
AT 1890 o'clock l was again at the
office with the skeleton article. The fire
had taken place early in the afternoon.
Three lives and $500 worth of property
were lost. had seen nothing of Fergu-
son.
But while ! was making hasty oral
report to this effect Ferguson strolled into
the Office. lie was at peace with himself
and the world and his stih, white collar
lifted Itself Immediately above his black
tie and unrutiled SHIRT front.
"Nothin2 moving he said, airilv, as
he placed the days report on the EDITORS
desk. Everything dead along the river
to-day"
"NO fights nor 6res?" asked the city
editor in his blandest tone.
"NothlnE; but here ia a little special
that viii look well IN the SUNDAY supple
ment. have been up at the library look
ing up points for IT all afternoon. With
a scare head-hrst line, The Diamond
DollarV-it will prove as good matter as
actual news, and"
There is no actual news, then?"