The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-12
RETRACTION.
BY OPIE READ.

Levett, travelling for a paper house, was at a station waiting for a train. In the ill-kept room there were several persons, among them a little girl whose eye. responding to every friend ly glance, made merry with the com pany. Her mother. proud and with cause. for the child was handsome, talked through her at strangers. a mothers innocent coquetry; and Le- vett soon found himself among &C., quaintances. The child climbed upon the bench beside him. and with her hand shut. she said: You can't guess how many pennies I've got" Levett guessed five. She opened her hand with a laugh. 'Seven," she cried.
 Let me count them." said Levett. T don't think you know how to count. II She poured her store into his hand, and in counting, he dexterously added two pennies to the number. She looked up in alarm. The shape of her for- tune had changed and naturally sup posing it to be for the worse. she cried out:
 "Oh, you've taken one. Give me my penny. now. Mamma. he's got my penny and won't give it to me-"
 Fat jawed dignity. absorbed in a newspaper, looked at him; prudery in frosty curls lifted brow; shrewd scandal with thin nose, coughed. Le- vett stammered. Why, I gave you two pennies, little girl. You had seven and now you have nine. Count them. v
 You took my penny"
 Just then the train came. to the re- lief of Levett who was glad to escape. Forward into the smoker he went, and looking over his orders. soon forgot the embarrassing incident.
 The next day. in 6 small town, the paper seller was astonished by this re- mark from a friend: "The Times, the local paper here. didn't do thing to you this morning. did it?"
 T don't understand"
 Do you mean you haven't seen it?"
 ''No I've been too busy trying to sell paper to read it.
 Good. But look here" He took out a small newspaper and pointed to a paragraph that made Levett's knees knock together. Some one had re- ported the penny incident, with exag- geration, and left the reader to infSr that the young man had really robbed 8 child.
 Where is this-this thing printed?" Levett asked.
 Round the corner. I saw the sign"
 Well, I'll see you later" Levett went out and bought a cow-hide. AS to his nerve there was no question. In a town not far away he was known to have thrashed terrorizing ruff fan; but that ruffian was a gentle man compared with the editor of that sheet. He looked for the office, found it and walked in. Several girls were at work, setting type, and folding newspapers-Levett's disgrace done up in bundles-and 1t was all he could do to restrain himself from tearing the scandal out of their hands. But he mastered himself.
 'Is the editor in?"
 A girl pointed to an inner room and Lelett entered it. grasping tight his raw hide; but crossing the threshold he stepped back. A young woman was sitting at a desk. She looked up with cheerful countenance.
 Come in sir. Is there anything can do for you?'
 Fl believe not. Miss am look ing for the editor"
 'T1aee tSu sdHor."
 ''Is that possible? And did you know what you were doing when you print ed this?" He showed her the para graph.
 why. it was sent in by a correspon- dent who has always been truthful. And as to this incident she says that she was present at the time.'
 "She is an infamous liar-I beg your pardon, Miss. But really you ought to be more particular. A thoughtiess gos- sip might ruin a man. Why. l am well known on the road-I sell wall paper to several of your merchants and my only hope is that they will look at this thing as a joke. No. that is not my only hope. I hope that they will accept the retraction as the truth"
 "The retraction did you say, sir?
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