Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1903-06-16
= =
"I'll give. you a dollar for IL.

4
can have a higher time on that"
4 The odd little coin changed ownert
Immediately, and the new possessor
dropped it into his pocket with the in
\ ward conviction that he was the sill
liest fool in existence. After the por
ter's departure he took the coin from
his pocket, and, with his back to the
door, his face to the window, studied
its lettering.
AT one little station a group of In.
dian bear hunters created considerable
interest among the passengers. Gren-
fall was down at the station platform
at once, looking over great stack OF
game. AS he left the car he met Uncle
| Caspar, who was hurrying toward his
niece's section. A few moments later
she came down the steps, followed by
the dignified old gentleman. Grerfall
tingled with strange delight as she
moved quite close to his side in her
desire to see. Once he glanced at her
face. There was a pretty look of fear
In herTeyes as she surveyed the mas
sive bears and the stark, stiff ante
lopes. But she, laughed as she turned
away with her uncle.
Grenfall was smoking his cigarette
and vigorously jingling the coins in his
pocket when the train pulled out Then
he swung on the car steps and found
himself at her feet She was standing
at the top, where she had fingered a
moment. There was an expression of
anxiety in her eyes as he looked up
into them, followed instantly by one Of
relief. Then she passed into the car.
| Doubtless she would have been as So
licitous had he been the porter or the
brakeman, he reasoned, but that she
had noticed him at all pleased him.
AT Abilene he bought the Kansas
City newspapers. After breakfast he
found seat in the observation car and
settled himself to read. Presently
some one took seat behind him. He
did not look back, but unconcernedly
cast his eyes upon the broad mirror
in the opposite car wall. Instantly he
forgot his paper. She was sitting with
In five feet of him, a book in her lap.
her gaze bent briefly on the fitting
buildings outside. He studied the re-
fection furtively until she took up the
book and began to read.
The first page of his paper was fairly
alive with fresh and important dis
patches, chiefly foreign. At length, aft
er allowing himself to become really
interested in Paris dispatch of some
international consequence, he turned
his eyes again to the mirror. She was
leaning slightly forward, holding the
open book in her lap, but reading, with
straining eyes, an article in the paper
he held.
He calmly turned to the next page
and looked leisurely over it. Another
glance, quickly taken, showed to him
a disappointed frown on the pretty face
and Il reluctant resumption of novel
reading. A few moments later he
turned back TO the first page, holding
the paper in such q position that she
| could not see and, full of curiosity
read every line of the foreign news
wondering what had interested her
Under ordinary circumstances LOFTY
would have offered her the paper and
thought nothing more of it. With her
however, there was an air that made
him hesitate. He felt strangely awk.
ward and inexperienced beside her
Precedents did not seem to count. He
arose, tossed the paper over the back
of the chair, as if casting it aside for,
ever, and strolled to the opposite win.
dow and looked out for few moments
jingling his coins carelessly. The jim
gle Of the pieces suggested something
else to him. His paper still hung in
vitingly upside down, as he had left it
on the chair, and the lady was poring
over her novel. AS he passed her he
drew his right hand from his pocket
and piece of money dropped to the
floor at her feet. Then began an EN-
barrassed search for the coin-in the
wrong direction, of course. He knew
precisely where it had rolled, but puI'
posely looked under the seats on the
other side of the car. She drew hel
skirts aside and assisted in the search
-Four different times he saw the little
piece of money. but did not pick it up
Finally, laughing awkwardly, he bega1
to search on her side of the car. where
upon she rose and gave him more room
She became interested in the searcl
and bent over to Scan the dark corners
with eager eyes. Their heads were
very close together more than once
At last she uttered an exclamation, anC
her hand went to the floor in triumph
They arose together, flushed and smil
ing. She had the coin in her hand.
II have it!' she said gayly, deli
cious foreign tinge to the words.
II thank you"- he began, holding
out his hand as if in dream of costa
sy, but her eyes had fallen momentari
ly on the object Of their search.
'Oh!" she exclaimed. the pretties
surprise in the world coming into he
face. 1t was coin from her farawa,
homeland, and she was betrayed int
the involuntary exclamation. Instant
", however, she regained her compo
sure and dropped the piece into hi.
outstretched hand, proud flush mount
ing to her cheek, look of cold reserv,
to her eyes. He had hoped she woult
offer some comment on what she mus
have considered strange coincidence