Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-02-17
THE LOST QUARTER.

ing their way hOmeWard AS the con-
ductor rang a tattoo on the register a
man In evening clothes and wearing
new pair Of kid gloves began to fun
Bile In the change pocket Of his over
coat. The conductor tarried before
him, waiting for three fares, that for
himself and the two women with him
Finally he pulled several coins from
the little pocket of his coat. He
turned his hand palm upward to Sc
lect the necessary coins to pay his
fare. A quarter slipped through his
fingers and fell to the floor
All In the car heard the coin drop
and turned their eyes to the floor to
locate 1t. The conductor was one OF
these, but the man with the women did
not care to detain him.
Here you are, conductor he said,
as he dropped another quarter into
the conductors hand.
After a search OF several minutes
the lost quarter was located. 1t had
fallen between two of the wooden
floor rails and was firmly stuck. The
bfuh III bnO cllh tdt a
ment. Then. evidently In fear of pro-
voking mirth at his own expense IL
he removed his gloves. he bent down
to pick up the coin. 1t was stuck
tight, however, refusing to yield to
his efforts. Giving 1t a hard push
with his gloved fingers, the man top
pied his silk hat. and 1t fell into the
lap OF the dignified matron across the
way. She was so embarrassed that
she made no effort to stop the head
gear. 1t rolled to the floor, and when
rescued thin line OF water trickled
down It's sides.
The owner of the quarter colored to
the roots of his hair, but to give up
the battle for the quarter meant ridi-
Guile.
His gloved fingers again sought the
floor, but the coin could not be loos-
eend. 1t looked like a losing battle
when the conductor, who had got all
the fares in sight, again came forward.
He stopped down and with the aid of
fiat key pried the coin loose. He re-
moved his buckskin gauntlets and
dropped it in the hand that wore a
soiled kid glove.
Thank you" said the recipient.
please stop at Elm street"
The bell rang and the car came to a
stop. The man and the two women
left the car and made their way to-
ward Dearborn avenue. AS they
uya1lynd he
followed them with his eyes. The ca
BILE car continued on its way. The cor
ner of building now obscured the trio
from view. Half Eliminating and half
talking TO the elderly man with the
elderly woman, he said
Human nature over again. That
fellow is loser to the tune of 1918 on
account of his anxiety to recover that
quarter"
How do you figure that, conduc-
tori"
We'll, his gloves, which cost no less
than $3.50, are ruined. His silS hat,
dropped in the battle, will need block
ing and cleaning; that is at least $3.50;
gross expense, "a; less coin recovered,
20 cents; net loss, 1915"
your figures are too conservative.
That hat, say 1t cost seven dollars,
can never be cleaned SO that it will be
presentable. The gloves are gone for
all time-gross loss, $3.50, less rs cents,
balance 1925"
Something more than half a weeks
salary for me. He loses that in pref
erence to losing a small coin. Perhaps
he thought l would get it when we got
TO the barns"
The conductor and the elderly man
did not meet again for three months.
When they did, the fare collector was
on the carpet for some infraction of
the rules. The elderly man was mem
Der of the board to hear the charges.
The conductor was in the wrong, and
the question Of dismissing him from the
service was preached.
mot on your life," chirped his pat
ron. Lay him off for three days. That
is quite enough. If there is any man
ON the road who is onto his job it is
that fellow"
Three days suspension was the YER
dict. Surprise at its leniency was ex-
pressed by street car men When the
verdict was made known. After serv-
ing the sentence the conductor went
back to work. On his first trip he
picked up the elderly man as passen-
ger.
Fare, please" said the conductor.
The passenger pulled a book from
his pocket He tore a ticket from the
book and gave it to the conductor. The
bluecoat looked askanee at the passeu-
ger. Then he mustered up nerve
enough to ask who the passenger was.
Probably this will identify me-"
He held out check for $40. 1t bore
the conductors name as payee, his own
name, which the conductor instantly
recognized as that OF a large stock
holder in the company, as payer.
What is this for, sir?'
do you remember the incident OF