Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-07-06

| And we haven't any jewelry or any.
thing we could leave as security, even
if we wanted to. Well have to poo
our expenses and money and do the
best we can"
The contents of the three pocket.
books were emptied on the table, un-
der cover of a punched napkin, ano
breathlessly counted. The combined
wealth of the trio amounted to S2.04
the sum total of the three checks $1.95
The girls laughed nervously, and Alice
always the spokesman, took charge Of
the affair
"Well, here's a nickel for your car
fare home, Jennie" she decided;
you'll have to do the best you car
about luncheon tomorrow. Try to
borrow a dollar, and I'll do the same
and you telephone me tomorrow morn
ing. Then whichever of us Is In luck
will take the other out to luncheon"
eve got a railway ticket home, sc
can do without car fare, but here's
dime for you, Marchesa. I don't
know what you'll do about dinner, un-
less you can catch your cousin and get
some money from her. You simply
can't have enough money from here tc
pay car fare home tonight and to-mor.
row too. AS 1t is we have only nine
cents more than we need, and we've
taken Is out. We're six cents short OF
this bill"
More calculations were undertaken.
excited discussions ensued, but the re.
suit remained unaltered. Car fare must
be retained, since all lived some dis
lance from the city. The head waiter
and manager, surreptitiously studied
by the anxious young women, were de-
cided as quite impossible in the way OF
explanation and appeal. The minutes
flew, and all three were overdue at
their respective stations of duty. 1t
was Jennie who at last rose to the oc-
casion, with gulping sigh.
There's no help for 1t. I'm ashamed
to death, and shall never be able to
look my fellow creatures in the face
again, but-here goes!" she exclaimed,
wretchedly. Fortunately we've a lot
of pennies In that unholy heap Of lucre.
You two go to the door quickly, when
we start, and I'll scatter the money all
over the cashiers desk, You call to
me to hurry. and we'll all dash out
while she's picking up and counting
the change"
Our little ALL" grinned the ire
pressible Alice, pouring the collected
coins into Jennie's palm, but Jennie
was past smiling. With the air Of one
going directly to execution, she strobe
to the desk and duly scattered the
money, while the Others adjured her
to hasten in nervous, excited tones
that they vainly strove to render
steady. Some of the money rolled to
the floor, and the head waiter and
manager, stopping to assist the cash
Ter to recover it, looked curiously at
the departing trio.
Thank heaven, that's Overt" ex-
claimed Marchesa, as they slipped dex-
terOusly into the next building and
out into the nearest intersecting street
you did that beautifully, Jane; I'm
proud of you. Now they'll never be
quite sure whether they lost the odd
pennies or not"
But how are we to pay them?"
moaned Jennie. while Alice admitted
that she, too, felt like a criminal. Il
couldn't look in the mirror or say my
prayers, knowing I'd cheated a restau-
rant out of six cents, and I'd rather die
than own up that we knowingly gave
them short change"
"same here" was Marchesa's an
swering groaR.
"We'H send them three postage
anonymously" was the brilliant final
decision, attained after much anxious
study, and this was presently accom-:
plished. But to each member Of the
group that particular restaurant will
always remain place to be avoided
with horror, and the dutch treat" rule
concerning the weekly luncheons has
been vigorously reinstated "for keeps"
Chicago Record Herald.