The Worthington advance., 1899-02-23
about alone, and had no sympa-

ly about alone, and had no sympa-
thiZers.
Yes, one. At first it was not thought
quite safe to let me have charge Of the
letters; but the post office duty" was
not favorite one, and was soon al
lowed to do it, when my turn came, as
before; and again met Fanny Barnes
and told her about my trouble.
II don't believe it," she said en-
phatically. II never saw your father,
but l am sure he cannot be robber.
He never gave you the coin."
My father was certainly not rob
ber." But that he had given me the
coin, and advised me to be neither ex-
travagant nor stingy with it, did not
admit of doubt. said so.
"Then," said Fanny, after moments
intense thought, he did not know that
it was a bad one."
Now, surely, there would have been
no suggestion more reasonable than
this, but had offered it so often and
so vainly to the boys that felt no de-
sire Ito advance it again. Then my
kindly adviser made 9 second proposal:
'Why don't you write to your father
and tell him of it?''
But had determined to write neither
to my father in California, nor to my
mother in New York, relative to the
bad coin. thought that to do so would
be an insult.
Then I am sure don't know what
you can do,'' said the young woman,
comprehensively. "Xou can't go to
your father, and he is not coming to
you. Those horrid boys will go on
tormenting you, of course; but you can
only wait.''
1t was drawing very near to the
Christmas vacation when my father re-
turned from California. He came again
to the school and walked unexpectedly
into the playground, where the boys
were all gathered in a group engaged
in some game.
"How are you, Dick, my boy?"
"How are you, father?''
Then, without another word, but feel
ing as if all the blood in my body had
suddenly flown to my face, drew from
NY vest pocket the wretched coin that
had carried about with me since the
keeper of the refreshment saloon had
handed it back to me.
Father, it is bad one," said.
"A bad one!" he repeated, looking at
it. ''Why, of course it is! Easy to see
that. Where in the world did you get
it from?''
"You gave it to me-"
81 gave it to you!" he exclaimed, in
astonishment. "Oh. nonsense. 1
never But stay moment!" He gave
long, low whistle. "Powers of grace!
is it possible?"
For moment his face bore a fixed
expression. and then, breaking into a
hearty laugh, he turned to the boys,
who had been eagerly listening, and, l
think, as he spoke to them as we'll as to
me, that he surmised something of the
situation.
'"rhe day that I came down here to
see Dick," he said, "a man to whom |
had lent $40 gave me this coin in pay
ment. put it into my pocket without
examining it, and while was in the
train 1 remembered that had with me
another coin of the same denomination
that had reserved for Dick. looked
at them both, intending to select the
brightest for him, and then l saw that
this was bad one. put it away, pro-
posing to return it to my not too scru-
pulous debtor the next day. How l
came to make the mistake of giving
DICK the bad one declare I, 40 not
know; but what do know is that l
handed the good one to that fellow in
New York, with some remark about not
being a dealer in counterfeit money
I got nothing in exchange, for he said
the coin he had given me was all he
had"
OF course DR.. Stagmire was willing
to grant us half holiday, and once
more, without fear and without re-
proach. regaled the boys in the re-
freshment saloon.
Faithful Fanny Barnes. when she
heard of it, said, with satisfied smile:
II am not bit surprised. was sure
Of it when first heard about the bad
piece. Golden Days.
Youthful Pessimist.