Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-12-23
HIS LUCKY COIN.

ldJ. ne was III - HhIIJ " CdLED MS
rain home to dress and return to town
Tor dinner, so he did not insist on the
boy giving him an undefaced coin in
place of it. He merely said: Look at
that" extending his hand with the per-
iorated penny lying in the palm.
Jaw, what's der matter wild you?"
said the boy, "dat's good luck, dat is. p"
So Cragsmith let it go. It was only
penny, anyway. AS he neared the
bridge over the river he heard the
Uell clang out for its opening and look
Ing at his watch saw that he had only
six minutes to catch that train. He
was half block from the bridge. New
srtheless he decided to try to reach it
before it swung. lie managed to do ii
just speeded diagonaily across it and
lust managed to clear it on the other
side. 1t was a near thing, though
Draigsmith looked over his shoulders
down the river and there slowly and
maje5tically moving along in the wake
Of putting tug came long, deeply
laden grain steamer and behind that
4 small fleet Of lumber schooners and
other craft in procession reaching to
the next bridge
"Well!' exclaimed Cragsmith.
Lucky l didn't wait" Then he
thought Of what the newsboy had said
and laughed to himself.
Two days later Cragsmith had occa-
sion TO pay five cents for car fare. He
put his hand in his pocket and pulled
out the penny with the hole in it and
four other pennies and handed them
to the conductor.
That don't go" said tie conductor.
Cragsmith felt annoyed.
You'll have to change bill for
me then, if you are SO particular" he
said, GROSSLY.
He handed over $40 bill.
THAT the smallest you've got?"
"The smallest I've got" replied
Cragsmith.
The conductor, with an imperturba-
BILE face, gave him two-dollar bill,
three silver dollars, two halves, eight
quarters, IA dimes and II nickels. The
other passengers were amused Crag-
smith wasn't
lie did not think of it again until
he returned to town from an eminently
successful business trip--a wonderfully
successful trip Then as he turned out
his pockets the perforated penny rolled
over the table and onto the floor
Cragsmith looked at it without the
least resentment. He even smiled at
the recollection of the strAnt car Incl
dent. 1T was bound to stay with me-"
he said, as he picked the penny up and
replaced it on the table. Then, in
spite of his hard-headedness he won
dered hazily if the possession of the
coin had not had some occult influence
in bringing his business affairs to SO
successful conclusion.
Nonsense he said aloud, and
tossed the penny into an open drawer.
Then he completed his toilet and went
out to see the girl as he had begun
to call her in strict confidence with
himself.
There was a cousin with her that
evening, so it happened-a good look
ing brute of a fellow, too, and stay
er, Cragsmith was something of a
slayer, too, and he outstayed the
cousin. But the girl was evidently
annoyed by the suIhiness he had dis
played and Cragsmith went home feel
ing that life was an extremely hollow
affair after all.
The next morning as he was dress
ing the penny met his eyes. Luck"
! he exclaimed, bitterly, Il ought to
have taken you with me last night, /
suppose" He laughed, also bitterly.
but nevertheless as he was leaving
the room he stopped and returning
TO the bureau, took the penny from the
drawer and put it in his pocket. Then
| he went down to the telephone, called
mp the girl and apologized. She ac-
cepted his apologies-yery graciously,
100.
From that time Cragsmith was al
most completely dominated by that
lucky penny of his. He carried it
everywhere and for time he was GER
tainly very fortunate in his under
tahings. Occasionally he had a spasm
of shame and put the penny back into
the drawer. Ii is a fact that on these
| occasions things went wrong with
him. He restored the talisman to his
pocket and fortune smiled again.
One morning. though, he took the
penny from the drawer pocketed it.
went down to the office and was made
a junior partner i4l the house. That
should have given the penny a life
long asylum in his pocket, only Crag-
smith instantly decided that he
would run down and see the girl and
put an important question to her.
OF course, he would take the lucky
penny with him. This of all times
was when he could afford no risk
And then suddenly the thought came
to Cragsmith that if he believed he
was to owe his happiness to a worn
and battered old copper cent with a
hole punched through Columbia's head
he did not deserve that happiness. No.