The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-02
THE MAN THAT
CHANGED THE BILL.
By a. o. HARRISON.


met her on train. There are
more Impressions made In travelling.
think. than under any other circum-
stances She was about twenty with
light fluffy hair. baby blue eyes. white
teeth, and there was neither too much
nor too little OF her She sat looking
out Of the window with rather bored
expression on her face, as though she
longed for something with which TO
occupy her mind | longed to occupy
her mind myself.
However, my opportunity came when
a candy boy came along. She wanted
box Of sweets and had only dol
lar bill to pay for them. It happened
that the boy was out of change and
looked around for help. | lifted my
hat politely to the girl, took dollar In
silver from my pocket and handed ii
to her. taking in exchange the blu. It
was new and crisp and so folded as to
show the dollar ia a corner. Even If
had not seen its denomination | would
not have thrown doubt upon the
lady's honesty by unfolding It.
showed IT 10 my vest pocket, and she
opened the box. | remained where
was, so that she couldn't very well
help rewarding me for changing her
bill by offering me a bit Of candy. She
did this with some embarrassment.
sat Oh the arm Of the seat opposite
while thanked her and said some r.
relevant things. such as the car was
either too hot or too cold, or hated or
liked travelling. or made some other
meaningless remark. passing on to am
other and another, all the while look
ing more and more uncomfortable on
my perch. TIN at last she cast her eyes
on the vacant seat beside me. Con-
STRUNG this as an invitation. ! sat
down
When the conductor came along
noticed he punched a Cleveland ticket
for her. was bound for Chicago,
She had suit case In the car With her,
on which were the letters e. V. W. |
took particular note OF these things.
for was delighted with her. and
since often visited Cleveland /
thought l might wish to continue 10
fall in her path.
spent several hours very pleasant
~ with her. AT first she seemed
abashed at forming an acquaintance
in this way. but she soon forgot all
about that. and saw that ! was as
companionnble 20 her as she was to
me. when we reached Cleveland |
offered TO hand her ont Of the car. but
she said her brother would be there TO
meet her, and saw By q look she gave
me that she would not care 70 have
him see her receiving attentions from
a stranger. therefore contented ms
self with thanking her for rendering
my trip enjoyable Instead Of bore
and told her | hoped that II she ever
came to Chicago ! might happen 70
meet her
The next Sunday morning. got
home on Wednesday, left my bach
elor quarters and strolIed 10 my club
for breakfast. buying a paper by the
way. always read everything IN my
Sunday paper, and 90 this occasion
wound up with the personals" Sud
denly | was seized with astonishment
as | read.
The gentleman who changed a bin for q
lady on a train on the 18th can communl-
cate with her by addressing H. N. W.s
hex :. Cleveland. Q.
was not only sstonished: was
disappointed Since my return my
brain had been full OF love stories Of
which ID. v. w. was the heroine and /
the hero. And. after oil. bad struck
one who was not above calling me to
her through personal Then 1t came
TO me that there must be some mis-
take. Surely knew 4 lady when I
saw one. and the girl | had met was
not only lady, but very innocent
and refined one. Why did she make
the Identification through the dollar
bill bad changed? Because. of course
1t was the best and only sure means Of
identification.
This dollar bill was all ! had 70 re-
mind me Of The girl who had given 1t
to me. had transferred II from my
pocket to box OF trinkets on my
dresser. folded just as It was when |
received Ii. Something. | know not
what-one Of those mysterious point,
ers Of the brain perhaps thar come to
US on oecasion-prompted me to go to
my room and have look at the bill.
lost no time tn doing SO. and when
unfolded the crisp bit of paper my
eyes bulged from their sockets in as
constituent.
1t was thousand dollar note.
Now / saw It ali. The wording Of
the advertisement. instead of indicat-
ing that the girl was familiar with
methods OF designation, showed her in.
nocence or she would not have used
1t. It was evident she had inferred
that had discovered the denomina
ton Of the bill. and she gave nae the
means Of communicating with her to
return IT.
l took the midnight train for Cleve-
land and the next morning went TO
the postotfice. where I learned that
box No. belonged to family named
worthington. Later in the day ] cali
ed mt the address. which | had also
received at the postofiice, and sent up
my card, on which had written,
THE gentleman who changed the bill. !"
l soon heard rustic on the stair
case. and Il. V. W. came hurrying in,
anxiety on every feature. 70 know II
her money was safe fastened to
rnaus,,ra har nv handinr her fhe note