Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-29
II he Bad
Quarter

I'm afraid, Irene you'll have to
take my place today"
Irene Gage turned briskly from the
window.
"Of course, Leona, WILL" she said
after swallowing once or twice. If you
stay at home and let mother doctor
your cold, you will be all right by Mon.
| day.
Just then the gentle little mother
| brought in the coffee and they took
their places at the breakfast table Le-
ona was twenty-on and for year she
had had small stock of fancy work
materials for sale in the book and
stationery store Of friend. In addl-
tion to selling these goods. she did en-
broidery for others. Her mother and
sister helped.
Irene was fourteen and a tenth grade
pupil in the high school. There was'an
especial reason for interest in the store.
In two months the small mortgage on
their home was due. Mr.. Gage had been
, partial invalid, but had now regain
ed health and was working at fair
salary. He would be able to pay the
debt all but one hundred dollars. His
wife and daughters We're working hard,
hoping to be able to surprise him by
the needed sum- "'
So Irene cheerfully gave up her holt
day, and listened to Leona's directions.
On reaching her sisters place Of bus
mess she proceeded to arrange the
small stock of gooGs in the most at
tractive manner possible. There were
several customers, then she sat down to
work at the pretty linen photograph
frame her sister had commenced to
embroider with scarlet carnations.
She had just finished her midday
lunch when Il man entered and called
for a paper of needles. He threw down
a silver dollar. Irene brought the
change, but he handed her back one Of
the quarters. ..
Il dent want that. It's no good" he
said harshly. .... h -.
Irene examined it closely. 1t was
worn and defaced, and the stamp was
different.
"Are you sure it is not good?" she
asked.
I'm sure you can't pass it off on me.
I'm in a hurry was his uncourteous
reply.
The girls cheeks flushed. She brought
another quarter of a dollar without a
word.
Il don't know where l got it, but it
will have to be thrown away she
thought 1.-The loss will eat up the
profits on the sales I have made this
morning. just when we are SO anxious
to earn money, too. 1t may be good aft
er ALL
She stood a moment irresolute. Then
she went to the cash drawer, put the
quarter in, and went back to her work.
Customers were plentiful that after
noon. There was no opportunity of dis
posing of the quarter. however, until
the short winter day was drawing TO a
~ Mve I,yt
eccentric old lady, entered and asked
for ribbon.
LET me see some of your work that
is finished" she said after selecting
yard and quarter Of ribbon. II want
to have some embroidery done, If can
find some one who will do it WE'LL
Irene deity spread before her the
few pieces of work Leona had on hand.
Mrs. Van Dorm scrutinized them close
ly and asked many questions. The
haunting coin Yves forgotten until Mrs.
from her purse to pay for the ribbon:
I'll see about the work after I come
back from Detroit next week"
Irene was disappointed The order
would have been such a help. AS she
opened the drawer to get Mrs. Van
Dorn's change. the suspected quarter
caught her eye.
I'll give it to her." she thought.
"She is so rich. she will never feel the
loss of twenty-five cents"
She gave herself no time for thought.
Mrs. Van Dorm dropped the piece Of
money in her purse without Hooking at
it and started for the door.
ITS DONE" said Irene to herself, land
I'm SO glad: for
She stopped abruptly. What had she
done? An overwhelming sense of
wrongdoing smote her. Mrs. Van Dorm
was closing the door from the outside
when her name was called.
Come back, please, Mrs. Van DORM"
Irene said, opening the door. Your
change is not right"
There was a bad quarter in the
drawer" she went on as Mrs. Van
Dorm reentered the ROOM land I gave
it to you. I will get another
In silence the lady extracted from her
plethoric purse the coin given her by
Irene. When she had received another
in its place, she spoke:
Queer you should make such a mis-
take when you knew it was there" The
gray eyes shot keen glance at the
girls agitated face. WAS it a mis-
take?'
1T was not a mistake. The coin was
given me. and I tried to make myself
believe it would not be wrong to pass
it on, but
Her voice failed her. Mrs. Van Dorm
showed no mercy
What mado you call me back?"
Because ] saw. all in a moment,
how wrong it was,' Irene said family.
Mrs. Van Dorm went away. Irene
bent over the box of ribbons to hide
her tears. Then customer entered,
and she was obliged to give her atten-
ton to business.
The store closed at six. Irene
found Leona was better and resting
in the big, sleepy hollow chair before
the parlor crate. Mrs. Gage was busy
over the seven o'clock dinner
1t was so home-like. Sitting down
On the hearth rug, she told her sister
all Leona's eyes filled with tender
light. - ... 4.
"You poor little thing. I ought to
have told you about that quarter. Mr..
wilkins gave it to me two weeks ago.
He found it when he made up the
cash. and he told me perhaps l could
sell it to Cousin Bert. You know he
is an enthusiastic collector of old and
curious coins. So. you see, you did
w. tn, oLo~