The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-08-18
A BAD DOLLAR.
EExpepisnces Of Man Who Got It 1nno-
Gently, but Wasn't Believed.

deep set little eyes, great splay
crows feet round the sockets a
miraculous hat and bushy hair
straggling out under the brim like
an overtopping load Of hay, came
putting into a Wentworth avenue
trolley car and in q voice loud
enough for the size Of his audience
told about the troubles he was sui
fering on account of counterfeit
silver dollar that had been palmed
off on him.
First he paid his fare with soli-
tary nickel. Then he carefully un-
wrapped the spurious coin from the
folds of a big sheet Of yellow paper,
held it at arm s length and regarded
it with one long, furnishing look Of
tender regret BY this time the eyes
Of the occupants were upon him.
"Looks good enough to pass all
right, but she WON'T he began.
"Counterfeitf'' asked the man
who sat at his left, reaching for the
coin and examining it critically.
"A little light, guess. Feels
little greasy too. Still it looks like
it would go all right in a contribu-
ton box or in a west side saloon.
But it's done for now. Its race is
,un. It'll not fool any more people.
You see, it has been marked. They
had me up in the secret service office
today and marked it. =
eyes, but it's strange they didn't
confscate it. What are you doing
with it now2'
"Wait2 That's just what I'm
going to tell you. This dollar has
been more trouble to me than my
mother-in-law. Now, I'm not going
to lose it in the end, after all this
trouble. 1 can't afford to lose dol
Far. I know where ! got it, and I'm
going to get my good dollar back.
Understand? I got this queer coin
from a grocer out where | live IN
the stockyards district. I don't sup
pose he knew he was showing the
queer, but he's got to hand back my
good dollar all the same.
"Trouble's no name for it, and l
might have been put III Jail. MY
daughter innocently offered to pay
for a music lesson with this coin.
IT was refused and she came home
lisgraced and bawling Still, l
wouldn't believe it was counter
felt and allowed my wife to take It
to 20 down town shopping on bar
gain day. She came back SO mao
because the cashier girl had slam
med it down before a lot Of people
to test it's ring and then showed i
back with a loud Bogus, madam
that there was weeping and Waillns
in the house for three days.
$50 today, still believing the dol
lar was good and that these smar
people who refused it didn't know
it all, went down town to see wha
there was in the old piece of none.
for myself. / went, saw, but
didn't conquer-in fact, I'm cor
graduating myself to think didn
get into Jail. You see, it was TIL
way: had to pay some money du
from me at the internal revenu
Office. I offered this dollar anon
other money, but the man in IL
revenue Office got onto it right ava
rubbed his fingers over it kind
carelessly, and with smile tn;
would have done credit to dew
fish Remarked: YOU'RE gettin yo1
work down pretty fine, but not qui
good enough for Uncle Sam. If "
don t mind, you might just step ov
with me to Captain Porter's Off
and explain where you got it,
"This Mr.. Smarty politely show
me the way to the secret serv1
Office, where I was introduced to
elderly man. with white hair.
think they said his name was p
ter. Mr.. Porter looked at the dol
kind Of ffectionately and sa
We've got the mates to this fell
right here in the Office, and gu
we'll have to keep it with them.
would be lonesome if we let it
out again. Then, after asking
lot of questions, he took SO
tools and stamped the coin with
figures '2427' and my initials und
meath. Now, can You swear VIII
YOU got it7' he said. Yes, I can
said, and I want to take it b
there and got my good money.
can't afford to lose dollar. II
he said that if / could swear to
man got it from he would per
me to take it back for that purp'
But do not forget, he added, :
must return it to me promptly W
out fail, under penalty, etc. II
don't, it will get you into trout
Trouble, did he say2 Asi 1ha'
had troub1A enough already.
I'm not going to lose dollar.
Porter told me he had the tools
the fellow that made it-got t
over at BaAton Harbor, Mich,
other day. But, he adde'
haven't yet caught the fellow.
Chicago Times Herald.
Sudden.
-Thnv saw that wedding i