The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-12

using the stamp, and was thinking Of
having 1t framed. Then he evolved j
scheme. He went to the clerk who had
charge of the mail for his employers
and said.
Jim, old man. I'm goin gto lunch and
am a nickel short. Here is a fiye-cent
stamp. Buy it from me, please
Can't do 1t, my boy" said Jim. Scr
ny. but the old man runs the petty cash
account so closely that he would be
angry. But III lend you a nickel my
self or as much more as you need
To save his face Ralsey with his
pocket full of change, had to borrow the
nickel. That night when he looked at
the stamp he was sure General Grant
was laughing al him.
Then there came a spell of bad wealth
err. One day which began bright and
sunny ended in a heavy rain. Ralsey
was detained by extra work in the Office
after the others left, and the doodgates
of the sky seemed open when he was
ready to start home He had no UNI
brella with him. but the cars We're not
far away He felt in his pockets No
tickets no money, nothing negotiable
except the stamp Now was the time to
get rid of it. When the conductor came
to collect his fare, Ralsey said.
Here, I've been caught downtown
without money; but I have this five
cent stamp
The conductor showed the stamp back.
What do you think am?" he growled.
+ Government eXpert2 How do I know
that things good"
Ralsey got out of the car abashed.
There was the postofice a quarter of a
mile away. The walk was a long one
in the rain, but it was many times
shorter than the trudge to his happy
West Philadelphia home. At the post
office Ralsey approached a stamp win
dow.
Cash that for me please" he request
/ ed, as if he were rendering a check to
bank clerk, at the same time slipping
/ his portrait of Grant under the glass bar
r!er-
Back it came. Cant do it: 'gainst the
rules, said the man within
Ralsey cogitated. He was difident, and
the efforts TO get nVe cents for his stamp
had been unpleasant in contemplation,
even before he met with refusals. Yet it
was hard to have to walk home with
something worth the price of ride in his
pocket He determined to Try TO sell his
stamp in one of the nearby stores Select
ing an establishment where there were no
customers at the present. RaiSey entered
and addressed the man behind a counter.
The man listened and smiled genially-
I III not buy the stamp" he said. I'm
7 to fly. But if you'll tell me the scheme
you're are trying to work. IN give you
dollar. I am interested in these new
Ralsey. deeply insulted. left the store
without deigning to replpy, and walked
ON the dresser while ne changed his wet
clothing to dry General Grants grim fea-
lures appeared to be set in saTdonic
grin. Ralsey had been an ardent admlrer
of the rebellion crusher, but he felt his
/ heart warming toward the memory of
Robert r. Lee in most traitorous way.
Ralsey made no more efforts. TO use or
sell the stamp. He was somewhat super
stitious and he began to think he was
fated to keep the thing with him forever.
| And this touch of superstition, coupled
with his habitual economy, operated to
prevent his making present of the stamp
TO any one He was afraid OF giving
away his luck
Long after his wet walk home Ralsey,
passing a book stall saw a publication
he knew his father would like to read.
Purchasing the volume he had it wrapped
for mailing and took it to the postoffice.
Ten cents said the clerk, after weigh
ing the package
Raisev nearly had forgotten his lucky
flyer. but remembrance Of it came to
him in time to make him say:
lone five please.
Then he retired to the little wall shelf
which a benehcent government pretends
is a desk for postonice. patrons and
l pasted the just purchased stamp on the
package Next he opened his Doekstbook
to get the one he had found It was
there in a small compartment. all by
/ itself. Ralsey thought General Grant
Hooked displeased because he was going
avvsfy Putting his fingers into the com
partment Ralsey took hold of an edge of
the stamp. The thing refused to bulge.