El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-28
AN ADVENTURE
ON THE COAST.
Did He Mistake q Confederate Bill
For Current Money?

For Current Money? q
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Three or four years ago l was given
an old Confederate bill Of 500, and
ever since l have kept it in my pocket
book as a kind of talisman. This sum-
mer however, it came nearly proving
anything but a talisman, for it was the
cause of disagreeable adventure.
1t happened on one of those hot days
in the latter part of June when the
streets of Boston are like bake ovens
and the Common and public gar
den are so full of chattering crowds
that one finds little pleasure in them.
l had an afternoon off from my bust
ness and so determined to take a trip
down the bay to Bass Point and Ma
hant. These resorts are only an hours
ride from Boston, and l could go down
on the O'Clock boat and come back
at 9.
The steamer | was on was fairly
well crowded. but not uncomfortably,
and l was sitting on the upper deck.
taking in the view and congratulatinS
myself on having escaped from the
roasting city, when l was interrupted
by some one tapping me on the Shout
der. a cripple was offering to sell me
a pamphlet. l took out my pocketbook
and selected a nickel, and in moving
some bills the Confederate bill fell to
the deck. l picked it up and put it
back, and at the same time l noticed
that a man who was sitting next to me
eyed me keenly. Naturally l thought he
was anxious to strike up an acquaint-
ance. so l turned to him with the con-
ventional Pleasant day"
YES" he returned politely. "Splen-
did"
You are going to Nahant l sup
pose?"
.No-er-yes; l think so. l think l
shall get off at Bass Point and walk
over to Nahant- Splendid walk"
Then we talked on various subjects
and admired the picturesque marine
views which went rolling by like a
huge panorama. Taken altogether
that trip down the bay was one of the
most delightful had ever experienced,
for the day was so perfect. the gentle
dip of the boat so soothing and my
companion decidedly agreeable. He
possessed all the magnetism of clever
conversationalist and entertained me
brilliantly.
We got off the boat at Bass Point,
which is a jutting point of rocks crowd
ed with those buildings common to
popular summer resorts. 1t was Sat
urday, and the place was overf1owing
with pleasure seekers. We found little
to interest us there, and we soon start
ed for Nahant, a small village which
lay about two miles farther along the
shore on another point and across
considerable bay.
About midway over we climbed a hill
which commanded the whole country
and sea for miles. When we got to the
top, we threw ourselves on the grass
to rest. We chatted careleSsly for
awhile and my companion-hiSn name
was Chester Brown, we had exchanged
cards-pointed out several little points
of interest with which / was not ia
miliar.
Il love to lie on the grass like this
and watch the water SPARKLE" he said.
1T looks like gold"
We sat there for some time and talk
ed. Then Brown sat up suddenly and
asked me how l should like going in
swim mug L He prospect VI "a o<hie " "a
ter bath struck me favorably. and
readily assented. So we descended
the hill and walked along the curving
path toward Nahant.
We went to the beach and got a
bathhouse There happened to be only
one vacant and we shared it together.
i did not mind that, however. for i
was in an agreeable mood. The air
I II h
colder than it really was. But 1 en-
joyed the bath hugely. Suddenly my
companion rushed out of the water
and made for the bathhouse, calling
back to me that he had chill. OF
course | followed Immediately in the
hope of being able to help him. When
1 opened the door. he was just sinking
down on the seat as though with the
ague l went to work and soon had
him warmed up by violent rubbing
with 4 rough towel
We dressed hurriedly and went out
to sit on the rocks. Some people were
fishing there. and we watched them
By and by we got tired and climbed
down the rocks to where the water
gurgled and swashed in and out Of the
weed covered cleftS. If Brown had
been bright and entertaining before
our bath, he was decidedly glum and
silent afterward. He would gaze stead
lily out to sea as though in deep
thought and his brow would wrinkle
fefiectively. Then he would change.
and his motions became jerky and ir-
regular. A times l thought he was
excited, and l attributed his changed
ways to the sudden chill.
While we were sitting in one of the
clefts. out Of reach of the water, q
dainty boat rounded a point and Gid