Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-07-11

through about noon, guess. These
are some old copper cents mother
gave me-"
Let me look at EN-" said the
other
He leaned his gun against the rock
where Harry was, and sat down on
rock near by.
Il tramped up the mountain to
find something TO shoot, but l haven't
seen a cottontail this morning" he re-
marked.
This afternoon I'm goin' over to
Carter's Pond; l hear there's a lot O.
ducks over there"
He took the coins in his hand and
glanced over them carelessly.
"All copper cents, aint they?" said
he.
Il wish one of elm was dated 1898,
Sam" exclaimed Harry.
Why
It'd be worth two dollars. There's
premium on coppers of that date,
because they're made different from
others and are scarce"
Who'll pay two dollars for one, I'd
like to know?n
There's a man in Boston that
would, for he says so in this book I've
got in my pocket
What book p
Harry produced the catalogue,
which was already worn with the
owners frequent study of its con
tents. He handed it to Sam, point
ing to the prize-list of old cent pieces,
but Sam thew it back with sniff OF
disdain.
Il don't like booksr' he declared.
That's all bosh, anyway"
mo, it isn't Harry asserted, with
spirit. Now, if l had dollar of
1904, do you know what | could get
for it? Five hundred dollarsr'
Sam was much amused at this state
ment, and burst into a loud guffaw.
"Bosh y he exclaimed.
IT'S So continued Harry, firmly.
There were thousands of 1904 dollars
coined. but no one knows what be
come of 'em, except about ten or
twelve. That's all any one knows
anything about, this book says. 30
there's sort of mystery about that
dollar. and it's so scarce these rich
men in the cities that like to own
curiosities are willing to pay an awful
big price for one of 'em. tell ye,
wish | had one y
You're ninny - said Sam, con-
temptuously. Then he changed the
subject by asking, When are you GO
ing to pay me for them shoes,
Henley?'
Harry hesitated. I'm afraid l
can't take 'em, Sam he replied.
Cant take 'em Well, what did
ye mean by sayin' you'd take 'emf
They're good shoes-I never wore
em much, cause they're too small for
Inc, and they're well worth dollar
and twice that. ! wouldn't let any
body else but you have 'em for dol
lar
This last remark was of very per
suasive character, but it lost its force
when Harry remembered that the
shoes had been offered to one boy for
ninety-five cents. But he did not re-
fer to this.
"l'll tell you why can't take 'em, =
he said. Mothers come down sick
since | made the bargain with you
she's awful sick with pneumonia
and I'll have to take all the money
can get to buy medicine for her"
The boys pinched face was pitiful
as he said this, his eyes bent on the
poor shoes that only half covered his
! feet
But Sam Ragland was not one to be
touched by any such picture. He be
gan to scowl.
II thought you was a feller OF yer
word he muttered. You said that
as soon "a old Brown paid you for
working up the wood you'd take the
shoes. And you said you thought
you'd get yer money last night er
this morning. Now | want to go over
TO Carters Pond this afternoon, and
! I've got to have some ammunition,
cause I'm nearly out. I've been de-
pendin' on that dollar you promised
to buy some more shells with. and
I've got TO have it, that's all.
Il need the shoes bad enough, /
guess" replied Harry, mournfully :;
"and know | told you I'd buy EN-
last night or this morning. But l
didn't get through the wood as soon
as | expected. There was the big
gest four cords / ever saw. And
when | promised, mother wasn't
sick.
"Yer mother bein' sick don't have
nothin' to do with the case, averred
Sam, angrily, as he got upon his feet
and took up his gun. You bar
gained to pay me for them shoes, and
you've got to do it or take a lickin'.
You said you'd get through the job
about noon, so Ill see ye then, an
bring the shoes, an don't you forget
TO have the dollar ready"
Harry replaced the coins and cata-
logue in his pocket aud arose, too.
Sam did not wait to reply, but whist
ling to his dog, strobe down the noun
tain toward the village.
Il wonder what the old man will
pay me-" Harry murmured to himself
as he continued his way up to the
n