Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-11-07
The Romance
OF a Lost Nickel.
And How It Got Into
the Possession Of Its
Rightful Owner.
BY w. r. Rose.

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He had come to Cleveland to accept
the offer of an extensive manufacture
ing concern They wanted first class
chemist; they were about to conduct
extensive experiments. Rupert Pratt
had been highly recommended by east
ern experts, and they engaged him. 1t
was an excellent situation, with line
salary and the certainty of liberal re-
wards if the experiments he was con-
Quoting turned out winners. He liked
his position, he liked the city, and yet
he was lonely.
Rupert Pratt was slow at making
friends. He had never overcome a nat
ural shyness. In all his school career
he possessed but one strong friend.
They had parted the day after they
took their degrees. If Tracy Grant had
remained with Rupert, under the same
roof, sharing his thoughts and aspira-
lions, it would have been different.
But when Tracy left him Rupert slip
ped back INTO his hermit ways. He
studied he experimental, he took long
walks and rides But he made no
friends, and his heart hungered for hui
man companionship.
Early in November he had occasion
to visit the east end. One of the Off
GERS of the company was convalescing
from long illness and had expressed
desire to hear the bright young chemist
describe to him the results of certain
important experiments he had been
conducting. Roger boarded the Euclid
car at Erie street late in the afternoon
and found it pretty well filed. He took
seat about the middle of the car and,
drawing a letter from his pocket, pc
rused it with great interest. 1t was
from Tracy Grant, from Hongkong.
where Tracy had secured, through the
influence of English friends, position
as manager of an exporting house. 1t
was a bright, CHEEKY letter, and 1t did
Rupert good.
Let me know when you finally set
tie down." the writer said. You tell
me you have an excellent offer from
the west. Have you accepted it? And
where is it? You don't write half
enough about yourself, dear boy. l
particularly want to know where you
are going. because my little sister has
just finished college and is to reside
with our aunt, and it is possible that
you will become acquainted, a consum-
nation devoutly to be wished"
The car stopped, and Roger was
aware that a young woman had come
aboard. He looked up and found she
was standing in the aisle beside him.
1t was only hasty glance that he gave
her, but he was aware that she pos
sessed face that was strongly attract
i've and that her eyes were perhaps
the tenderest and the brightest he had
ever seen. He crumpled up lis letter
and, quickly rising, offered her his seat.
She accepted it with thanks. A mo-
ment later she had deftly crowded up
the two women who occupied the seat
and made room for Rupert. AS she
pointed to the vacant place he noticed
that she looked at him little curious
ly.. 1t was ladylike scrutiny, but
Rupert found it confusing.
n IuOllleHL idleT inc COHuuctuI Cdlnt
up the aisle Rupert hastily felt in his
pocket and passed out a nickel. The
young woman handed the conductor a
dime. That official promptly returned
her the nickel which Rupert had just
given him and which he had retained
in his hand AS 1t fell i'm her neatly
gloved palm Rupert started and turned
To xua
his dearly priced pocket piece the peck
ct piece Tracy Grant had given him.
with the alleged Hindoo hallmark on
one side. which meant, according to
Tracy IL am never lonesome" and
that in turn meant, according to Tracy.
that the talisman would always attract
other coins to the owners pocket.
Cherish it like the apple of your eye"
said Tracy, until you meet the girl
who is to win your love and wear your
name and then have 1t made into
bangle for her with Brother Tracy's
best wishes
And here was this precious token of
n David and Jonathan friendship slip
ping into the dainty purse of n strange
young woman. What could he do? He
must ask her for 1t. Could he summon
up the courage? He tried. He framed
the words he would use. He moistened
his tongue.
Then the car suddenly halted at a
cross street, and while his attention
was momentarily distracted the young
woman arose and, giving him a bright
look that was so Enthusiastically friend
ly that II almost took his breath away.
alighted from the car-with the nickel
OF course.
Rupert softly groaned. This would