El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-17
The Gold Headed Cane
A short story.
w HAT a fool, what a fool I
w have been" mumbled Jones
to himself


to himself
He had spent considerable time
gambling away his whole monthly al
lowance in the club.
As soon as he was outside and felt
sure that no one could see him, he ex-
amined his pockets and found that
when he added up all his silver and
nickel coins he had just two dollars
and fifteen cents. And now he was
sitting in a cafe on the boulevard
cUrsing himself for his folly
Then he happened to think that he
had invited the little Miss Lyly TO take
dinner with him in tRe Champ Ely
sees.
Miss Lyiy was a little fair-haired girl
whom he knew very little but loved
so much more. And how he had
looked forward to this little dinner
The only thing for him TO do was 10
send her a plausible excuse, the death
Of a relative or something like that
He was just about to ask for a tel
egraph blank, when he suddenly
changed his mind What right had
he TO act like that? 1t would be dis
graceful to disappOint her. He must
find a way to raise the mney-
The handle Of his cane was shaped
like the upper part of a crutch and
was made from heavy solid gold. 1t
was a present from an aunt on the
day when he received his degree Of L.
i. D., and as he looked at the cane
an idea came to him If he pawned
the cane, he would get few dollars
and could keep his appointment.
He paid the waiter. called a cab and
drove to the nearest pawnshop-
He went into the small store where
a number of people were sitting
Among them were representatives OF
the utmost poverty and others Of ap-
parent luxury.
sit down. sir" said a young girl
next to Jones, as he stood gazing
about the place. He did so, smiling
politely.
There is not much room here you
see" the young girl said You feel
better now that you sat down, dom
you2 I know exactly how this place
makes you feel when you first set
in here 1 felt just as 1 could see
you did"
Jones thanked her cordially. It was
n pleasure to look at her charming,
him like a real sunbeam
Where come from Jones laughed,
people say that when person is in
such a hurry as you seem to be, she
must be thinking Of marrying"
Perhaps you have just struck it,"
she said.
Then allow me to congratulate the
man who is TO be the happy groom"
The young girl smiled. and in the
most open manner told him about her
self. Her name was Lucie Canine, and
she worked in a large store in Brook
lyn- Her sweetheart, joiner, was
big jolly fellow, who was sure TO make
her happy. They were both poor and
had little prospects Of being. able 10
make a home for themselves, so they
had to wait.
And that is very hard. when you are
in love isn't it2' remarked Jones.
She laughed and her eyes twinkled.
Now she had a surprise for her sweet
heart. She had given up the idea. Of
having a wedding party and all that
and would be satisfied wlth~a simple
ceremony
You see" she said. my mother has
a piece of jeWelry-a very costly
brooch OF gold embedded with pearls
and diamonds. It is a sacred heirloom,
for you may Imagine a thing like that
is really not for people like US; but no
matter how poor we have been some
times, We have never paWned it Now
when my mother saw how unhappy I
was because e had to put off the we'd
ding time and again, she said to me
that I might take the brooch and
pawn it. I kissed her and here I am
now You may imagine how happy
my sweetheart viii be am sure they
Will lend me at least 500 on II, don't
you think so tOo2 I have spent all
morning polishing il up.
And with the greatest generation she
opened a little case in which there was
a plain brooch with diamond chips
Cne single glance was enough to tell
Jones what the treasured heirloom y as
worth It was nothing but brass with
imitation pearls and glass The whole
thing was not worth five dollars. He
imagined the girls terrible disappoint-
ment, the collapse of her whole dream
Of happiness, when the cold voice Of
the DawnI,I oker told her the truth
The girl closed the case once more
MY mother would liked to have had
me car the brooch on my wedding
day; but that is impossible now
Indeed it is was all Jones could
Then Jones conceived Of a bright
-',Yin you let ne have your brooch?'
he asked.
without hesitating a moment she
banded him the little case
Here IS your number now, said
Jones, handing her a brass check
Your case is in this paper. They
only took the brooch I have wrapped
the case ur and you better put it into
your pocket so as not TO lose it. You
won't have to wait much longer now.
THANK you very much for your
trouble" she said with a charming
smile 4 have held your place in the
line for you in the meantime
Jones was very nervous, lest she
should open the case, or notice that he
no longer had his gold headed cane
Finally she put the case into her pocket
and waited for her turn
49, suddenly cried one OF the clerks
"63' Isn't IS here2"
THAT is your number Miss Lucille
said Jones.
"63r' one hundred and eighty dollars.
Do you accept
man felt an inward JOY, as he saw he-
put The gold coins into her little purse
and disappear among the crowd
zone hundred and eighty dollars
Auntie surely lOOsened her purse
Strings for once" Jones thought as ne
hurried out to send the telegram TO
NTieerrl T.EIN.