Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-06-21

~iHucu IL " oaHii putting W tHc piIAH'
list of old cent pieces, but Sam threw j
back with sniff of disdain
81 don't like books," he declared
''That's all bosh, anyway"
''No, it isn't, Harry assented, witt
spirit. s'Now, if had dollar of 1904
do you know what / could get for it
Five hundred dollars'
Sam was much amused at this state
ment, and burst into loud guffaw
''Boshl' he exclaimed.
''It's So" continued Harry, firmly
"There were thousands of 1904 dollar
coined, but no one knows what becom,
of 'em, except about ten or twelve
That's all any one knows anything about
this book says. So there's sort of ;
mystery about that dollar, and it's 81
scarce these rich men in the cities thai
like to own curiosities are willing to pay
an awful big price for one of 'em. I tel
We, wish had onel"
you're ninny!' said Sam, con
temptuously. Then he changed the sub
ject by asking, when are We goin' tt
pay me for them shoes, Henley?'
Harry hesitated. sim afraid can
take EN-, Sam," he replied
Cant take 'eml Well, what did "
mean by sayin' you'd take 'em2 They're
good shoes-I never wore 'em much
cause they're too small for me, anC
they're we'll worth dollar, and twice
that. wouldn't let anybody else bu
you have 'em for dollar"
This last remark was of very per.
suasive character, but it lost its force
when Harry remembered that the shoe,
had been offered to one boy for ninety
five cents. But he did not refer to this
"Tll tell you why can't take EN-,
he said. Mothers come down sick
since l made the bargain with you-she';
awful sick with pneumonia-and II
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 cold feet
But Sam Ragland was not one to be
touched by any such picture. He began
| to scowl.
81 thought you was Teller of yel
word, +" he muttered "You said tibet as
soon as old Brown paid you for workin
up that wood you'd take the shoes. And
you said you thought you'd get yel
money last night er this morning. Now
want to go over to Carriers Pond this
afternoon, and I've got to have some am.
munition, cause I'm nearly out. I've
been dependin' on tibet dollar yol
promised to buy some more shells with
and I've got to have it, that's all"
~ need the shoes bad enough,
guess, " replied Harry, mournfully; "and
l know l told you I'd buy EN- last night
or this morning. But l didn't gel
through the wood as soon as | expected.
There was the biggest four cords evel
saw. And when promised, mother
wasn't sick"
"Yer mother bein' sick don't have
nothin' to do with the case" averred
I Sam, angrily,as he got upon his feet and
took up his gun. "You bargained tt
pay me fer them shoes, and you've got
to do it or take a lickin'. You said you'd
get through the Job about noon, so I'll
sec We then, an bring the shoes, an dom
you forget to have the dollar ready"
Harry replaced the coins and catalogue
in his pocket and arose, too. Sam did
not wait for him to reply, but whistline
to his dog, strobe down the mountain
toward the village.
az wonder what the old man will pal
me-" Harry murmured 10 himself, as h
continued his way upward to the cabin
'He said he'd pay me well. He's 81
awfully stingy, though; | reckon he can
pay me less'n two dollars-two dollar
for four cords is awful cheap. Then, i
/ have to buy them shoes-I'll have
dollar left for the medicine, anyway.
"Old Miser Brown as every one il
Meadowville called him, had lived alon,
on the mountain for forty years. He wa
an avaricious old man, who boarded hi
pennies as if they would save his soul
1t was said that he had large amour
of gold and silver secreted somewher,
about the howell he called his home
money that came into his possession whel
he was young. But he spent none of j
except for his scanty needs
He had offered to pay Harry Henle,
"well" to saw lot of wood for him
enough to last him many months, will
his economical use of fuel-and the poo
boy had jumped at the chance of earning
the trife.
All the forenoon the boy worked a
the pile of wood, which, by his con
tinued application, had been growing
beautifully less, aud was now nearl,
done for At intervals he sat on hi
saw horse to rest, and at such times HI
was sure to draw forth the fascinating
coin catalogue.
By noon the last stick was sawed, anC
Harry knocked at the cabin door to ask
for his hard earned pay. The old mar
shutfied out, to make sure that no stick
remained uncut, and then extended il
his withered palm one silver dollar with
out saying word.
"Harrv's pale face grew still more
pale. ''Is this all you're going to Civ,
me2" he asked, family.
Yes was the sharp answer,
"But you said you'd pay me well
and there was four cords-four BIZ
cords"
The miser glared at him with tn,
ferocity of wild beast ''Not another
cent" he cried, harshly-"not another
cent, net one, sir"
My mothers sick, Mr.. Brown, begar
the boy again, but again he was inter
rupted
"Clear OUT the old man fercely ut
tered. "Clear out"
With heavy heart Harry turned ava,
and took the path down the mountain
He was almost t1o dazed and disappointed
TO think with any clearness. When h
arrived at the rock which had afforded
him seat in the morning, he again sa
down, to brood over his ill-fortune AM
plan the disposition of his single dollar
Before very long he gave expression t.
this decision: 'I'll take the promised
liekin' before I'll take the shoes. Tha
dollar he made determined ges
turc with the coin in right hand. But h
did not finish the sentence. As his eye
fell upon the piece, he started excited.
to his feet, and strange cry came iron
his throat
The coin was bright and new in ap-
pearance, and had evidently been il
circulation but little. But it was no
this that so suddenly animated the boy
He noted first that the head of Liberty
faced to the right, instead of to the left
as on ordinary dollars, and then he saw