Smyrna times., 1912-10-30
THE WRONG
CLEW
By MARJORIE CLOUGH

in the office waiting to be assigned to
some duty, and naturally their cOnver-
satiOn fell upon incidents pertaining to
their profession. Several had told
yarns, each more remarkable than the
last. when Il little wizened chap who
had been listening respectfully to the
others spoke up.
Il would like he said. Ito make a
rOllecti2n of small incidents that have
led to great results. You fellows have
been telling how a handkerchief or
button or something like that had led
to the recovery Of hundreds of thou
sands. but that's only in one line. Ev-
cry time we meet new person some
marked event is liable to come of it.
Take the beginnings of love affairs,
for instance How many triding Incl
dents have brought two people of OppO
site sexes together. resulting in gen
GRAFTON after generation of progeny.
Let me give you an instance. 30
you remember the 'bObtail' street cars
in which the passenger entered through
a rear door staggered up to the front
and dropped a nickel between inclined
planes of window glass? Then the
driver pulled something that let the
coin down into box. Well, was
riding in one Of those cars once when
every seat was taken. A mighty pret-
ty girl got in and managed to get up
near the fare box. where was sit
ting. l was young then and. if l say
it myself, not such a miserable looking
specimen of a man as ! am now. and
dressed pretty well then too. So got
up and offered the young lady my seat
She took it very smilingly and. getting
out her pocketbok. put her dainty
thumb and finger in to get out her
fare. 1t was late in the day, and there
was no artificial light in the car. so
she couldn't see very we'll and picked
over several coins before she selected
! one.
81 was leaning up against the cash
box. and to save her the necessity Of
/ rising | took the coin from her lovely
fingers. could tell by feeling it that
It was a nickel, so without looking at it
dropped it in the hopper 1t wasn't a
second before the driver gave a pull.
and down it went into the box.
suddenly the young lady started. She
evidently remembered something. TAX
ing out her pOrtemOnnaie again. she fin
gered over the coins in it for few mo-
ments; then. looking up at me with n
| terrified expression. exclaimed:
Goodness graciousT
"'What's the matter? asked.
"'You put FIVE dollar gold piece in
that box
"'You don't mean itr was a good
deal disturbed at the responsibility l
was under.
''She got out handkerchief and be-
gan to wipe away tears.
81 opened the sliding front door and.
calling to the driver. told him what
had happened. asking him II there waa
any way by which be could get the
gold piece out of the box He said there
wasn't and showed me brass paddock
on the opening. But he said that if the
lady would go to the end Of the route
about three miles farther on, the fare
gatherer would open the box, and II
there was a five dollar gold piece in II
he would return it.
II told the girl what be had said. and
she began to cry the harder. saying
that she was intending TO meet bel
mother at railway station a few
blocks farther on and they were goine
on a train that would leave In twenty
minutes to a distant city. where bel
father was very sick and not expected
to live.
well. was in for it, took $40;
out OF my vest pocket and handed 1
to her, telling her that was going t
the end of the route and would collec
what was due. She gave me the pret
test little smile through her tears yol
ever saw on pair of vermillon HIPS
told the driver what | had done. an,
he promised to see that was repail
from the gold piece in the box. | fel
very proud of myself. Time and agaii
the dear little creature looked up a
me and every time with grateful
smile When we reached the raiwa
station and she got out. peerin
through the window. saw her throw
q kiss TO me.
''Cut Olfl the rest Of IT," said Que 0
the listeners. "You met the girl after
ward at aSbalI or somewhere and mar
ried her"
IF you think you know more abOu
It than do you can tell the rest u
1t yourself" snapped the narrator
Go on" said the others
well. when got to the end of th
route told my story, the driver back
ed me up, and the collector agreed tina
IL there was Eve dollar gold piec
in the box ! should have it."
The story teller paused.
well. did you get it?"
'No: there wasn't any gold piece 1
the box"
How about the girl?"
'sThe girl never saw again for tw
years; then | was called In to arres
her for shoplifting"
There was a universal groan. an