The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-08-09
THE STOLEN COIN.

Hector MaiuNhflnE was hNNNl'
her man. a dramatic aud art critic on
one of the Chicago dailics. Wien he
cit the Office one night the hour was
Utmost ~. lie had gone there TO read
the proof OF nm article Intended Tor
the next mornings paper. lie was an
moved at having had To 60 back JUST
a. correct a proof sheet. but the week
before. In one Of his finest articles, nn
absurd typographical error hnd just
taken away the eject OF phrase
which had been his pride aud turned
Tie whole thing into ridiculous non
sense. since then he had made point
uf going himself every night TO look
over the final proof.
IL was the beginning or winter ana
a cool wind WIS blowing from Lake
Michigan. As he passed along ozark
street IL occurred to him that he would
hive n glass Of something To drink be-
before returning home To his line zach
clor's quarters. lie sat down ~ one
Of the tables In u saloon aud slowly
slipped hot toddy. When lie hnd nm
lshed he put half.dollar on the table
ready for the waiter and turned round
to pick up his cane.
lust M Hector rose n hand suddenly
snntchcd up the silver coin, nnd the
thief Immediately dartcd out OF the
door. Ia an instant Hector drew nn-
other coin from his pocket threw v
on the table. called to the walter, ana
started OF In pursuit
IL was very evident that tile thlct
know he was being followed. aud II
was also evident that he was incNpc-
rlcnced In his vocation, for he ran on
aud on. up one street nnd down nn-
other. coming out again n hundred
Yards away from the place he had
started from.
Hector was interested, for he was
too bright not to know that the man
In front of him was not an ordinary
plcl,pockct. Hector himself knew all
the side streets and passages quite
thoroughly, and he suddenly turned
down one. ran at full speed, aud came
out again under n lamp Just as the
wrctchcd man reached II.
Roth men stopped short ana Hector
said, shortly:
give me back my money!
The thief stood motlonlcss, and the
journalist saw 10y the light of the street
lamp the saddcst human face hc had
ever looked upon.
The man before him was apparently
quite young. but his face was pale and
plnched. and his black hair and mus
inche gave him ghost-llke look. His
clothes were shabby. and he had alto
gcthcr what has been described az
"the look Of n drowned man" Hector,
NJ tile sight Of such evident misery,
felt as though he himself had been
guilty Of some crime. aud when the
wretchcd man held out the silver coin
e. his nccusor, without attempting to
olier a word Of apology, but with an
expression Of utter despair in his sunk
en- eyes. our journalist could not ind
word TO say.
lie took the coin. put II carefully In
his vest pocket, aud then pressed his
p0ckct-book. containing about Si5. into
tile mans hand and made oil himself
as though he had been The thief
Ten years passed and after much
uphill work aud struggle. Hector had
gained for himself considerable fame
as Journalist aud art critic. Ills ALSO
| lutte sincerity aud perfect competency
/ had won for him golden opinions from
the public, and his yedrlct ON all mat
tiers connected with art ana literature
was always awaited with anxious Inn
patience.
In spite Of his success and his fame
the first hard years OF struggle had
left their traces ON him. There was
always a touch Of melancholy which
he never quite succeeded In throwing
on. He had seen the comedy of hu-
man life TOO near, and II II, alas! no
comedy for those who are behind the
scenes.
one bright May day, however. Ilec-
tor was quite gay M he entered one
Of Chicagos most popular restaurants
At one Of the tables there was group
Of professional men-artists, journal
lists aud lawyers and they were en-
gagged In an animated discussion re.
gnrding an ART exhibition then open.
Iiectur's arrival made a sensation,
and many hands were held ont toward
him. Somewhat nbsenily. and yet with
the easy cordlallty Of man nccus-
toned To society. he answered the va
rlous greetings and then took his Gus.
tumury place nt n small table, where
Paul Martens. the young landscape
Ialnter. and Charles DENIM. well
known portrait painter, were waiting
for him.
with these two friends Hector could
always enjoy himself; he knew and
sympathlzed with them thoroughly In
their love Of art ana In their utter con
tempt for all that was mean or mer-
cpnnry.
why. Hector exclaimed Paul, ''you
look positively radiant this morning.
What has happened, and what have
you been doingT
why, precisely the same as every
one else. ! have been looking nt plct-
urcs and sculpture. but | have dlscov-
cred one piece which has done me
good for the whole day. A perfect
masterpiece, an inspirationr'
IIector's friends listened eagerly.
and at the nelghboring tables the con-
yersation ceased, for II was worth
while hearing what the great art critic
had TO say, and hearing II from his
own lips before the papers got II the
next day.
There certainly are some very fine
things In the exhibition, but In my
opinion there II one that SURPRISES all,
one such as we only get once In about
ten years-I mean Jean sturteyant's
Wreck"
A murmur OF apDrOval WIS hpard