Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-09-15

THE RUNAWAY DOLLAR.
A Lost Coin That Accomplished Two
Good Missions.

A Lost Coin That Accomplished Two
Good Missions.
] must say that it was q clear case of
! dollar-a bright, new one at that
running away from its owner 1t came
bounding down the steps of great
building one sunshiny day, showing its
rounded edge to the sunbeams and the
date on its face.
81 wonder who lost it," cried boy
who happened to see the coin in its
fight; and then he pounced upon it
and held it up as he mentally calculated
how much it would purchase.
After awhile he looked up at the
building as though he expected to see
someone come out in search of the
runaway, but no one appeared.
He could not see how dollar
could help but be missed, for with
him dollars were very scarce. Then he
thought of the vast amount of money
stored in the house, for it was bank,
and while he looked people came out
appearing well pleased and walked rap
idly away.
please sir, did you lose n dollar just
now?" asked the little fellow, address
ing one of those who came down the
broad steps
The man with a good-natured face
stopped and looked at the coin in the
boys hand.
'No, my boy; it is not mine," said
the merchant.
at came rolling down the steps, any
way"
well, you might as well keep it."
"But it has an owner; it isn't mine
''Oh, it will not be missed. Why, it's
only dollarr and the gentleman
laughed and passed on.
But the boy stood still, gazing at the
runaway dollar,and wondering to whom
it could belong.
ut doesn't belong to me, that's GER
tain said he, firmly. at ought to go
back to its owner;" and he went up the
steps and entered the bank.
1t was the first time his feet had ever
pressed the beautiful floor of the bank
ing-room, and he wondered if they
would let him remain moment. At a
little window right ahead he saw man
who was looking over a pile Of money,
and in moment he stood before him.
Here's dollar that ran away awhile
ago" he said, laying the coin on the
marble in front of the cashier.
IRAN off, did you say?' smiled the
banker. "Why, it has no legs"
The boy smiled himself, but explained
that he had seen the dollar roll down
the steps of the bank and on to the
sidewalk, and it was trying to find the
owner.
Maybe Mr.. Ballymore lost it" sug-
gested young man who overheard the
conversation.
"Old Bally, eh?" returned the cashier.
"You dout know him, do you?"
The banker then said that Mr.. Bally.
more had an Office just around the cor.
ner; and when the finder of the run.
away dollar replied that he would &C
and see, he heard a light laugh, and
walked out with it ringing in his ears
He found Mr. Ballymores office al
the top of two flights of stairs-a gruf
old fellow who looked to the boy like
bear.
"Not mine" said the old broker
gruffly, looking at the dollar, COR
temptuously; ''mebbe the bank lost
it." And that was all the boy coult
get out of him.
Nothing was left for the finder of the
runaway dollar but to take it home
which he did at last, rather glad, i
must be confessed, that he could no
restore it to it's owner, or rather, that i
it had to bo lost, glad he was the one t.
find it.
1t made his eyes bright as it lay OF
the poor table that night with thu
children clustered around it saying
what they would buy with it the mex
day. How it CLEANED in the lamplight
looking brighter than ever, and vision
of good things to be purchased accom-
panied the little ones to bed.
But the next day the dollar was no
spent. Instead, the boy made littl
"bank" out of box and dropped it in
concluding that he would wait; som
day its owner might come to light
There were times when food was scare
In the house, and the family thought O
the runaway dollar, but the boy woul
not give his consent TO have it take
from the bank.
One day, just when the banks of tn
great city were closing, he happene
to reach the steps down which the do
lar had rolled in the sunlight Ion
time before. As he looked up at tn
massive building he saw the cashic
come out, and to his surprise the ma
seemed to recognize him, and beckone
to him to stop.
''Do you rccollect the dollar tina
ran away some time ago." asked tn
cashier.
The boy smiled at once.
"Indecd do, sir. 1t was right heI
that found H."
"pii you syer and sp owner for VI
IikeyeY, sIs,A