Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-15
A Counterfeit Quarter.


He was mild yout with a fair
amount Of trust in the general honesty
of humanity and 75 cents in his pocket
when he stepped on the front platform
of University-place car last SatuT-
day, says the New York Times. He
was not mild when he stepped off the
rear platform; had his stock of trust
materially diminished and 45 cents in
stead of the 20 he should have had after
paying his fare.
1t is an old trick, and many have
been, and will be victimized by it.
They may storm or take it quietly,
just as they choose; but they have no
redress in either case unless they can
bear the distrust of their fellow-men.
This particular youth, after standing
a few seconds on the platform, took
out quarter and passed it through
the hole in the door to the conductor.
That quarter was good one and
new one. There was not the slightest
doubt about. The youth had ex-
amined it particularly, for he didn't
know it was in his pocket, and when
he found it there, had gazed at the
well-known eagle on one side and the
sitting goddess of liberty on the other,
much as one gazes at the face of a
friend Unexpectedly met. Mr.. Con-
ductor poked back 20 cents, rang up
the fare, and walked to the back of the
car, apparently satisfied.
young man, guess that quarter
won't 60" He looked up. There
stood the conductor holding out a
quarter. Not the least doubt about
it. That quarter wouldn't 60. 1t was
counterfeit, and recognizable as
such at a glance. 1t was new, like the
one the conductor took, but school
child would not have thought it good,
and in the days before Mayor Hewitt
cut short the career of the organ
grinders monkey not one of them
would have put it in his cap. So the
youth mildly suggested that he had
not given the conductor that quarter,
but another.
''You passed it to me right through
the door there. The man next to you
passed me tifty-ccnt piece and you
passed mea quarter, and haven't had
it out of my hand since" The youth
admitted all but the last, and the con-
ductor oked as if he had scored
point. Perhaps tine youth would have
stuck the fight out, but he happened
to glance around the car. The pretty
blonde young lady opposite was look
ing at him with scorn, and he distinctly
heard her say to her companion,
'What q shame to try and beat
poor conductor" The men were all
smiling and all evidently on the side
of the conductor" Taking the re-
naming lifty-cent piece the youth
passed that over, together with the
change from the quarter, telling the
conductor he might keep the quarter,
and when that worthy asked what he
should do with it, advised him to
throw it in the street or use it to play
the same game with. He received 40
cents change, and it was only after
considerable argument that the con-
ductor could be convinced that 45 were
due. The quarter the conductor put
in his pocket
The youth did not feel as comforta-
BILE as he did, and he was still regard
ed with distrust by the rest of the pas
sengers. Yet he managed to take
piece of paper and, half turning his
back on the conductor, make note on
it, and count the passengers and look
at the register o few times until the
conductor was clearly very uncom-
Portable. Then he jumped off, but
not before he had been assured twice
by the conductor that he would not for
the world have him think that he could
do anything so mean as to cheat pas
senger, that truly the quarter had not
been out of his hand, and that he was
sure he had taken it fright through the
door there" In return the youth ad-
yised him the next time not to pass out
change until he looked at what he re-
oeived, and not under any considera-
ton to walk away to the back of the
car and be so deliberate is discovering
mistakes. And the conductor prom
sed. almost with tears in his eyes, to
leed the lesson. But he had the coun-
nIsfn onta G. |