The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-02-28
HIS LAST DIME
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BY JACK LAYTON.

Annabel stood at the window of
her corner home, and looked toward
the shop across the way. AS usual
the plate glass window was irreproach-
ably shining, the display of dainty
stationary temptingly displayed, and
as usual its young proprietor waited
hopefully behind the glass doors for
a possible customer. Would his pa
| tience never be exhausted? Annabel's
violet eyes moistened in pity, at the
wistful appeal OF the brown eyes oppo-
site.
Why in the world had this young
man come with his delicate wares to
town where only>the necessary was
salable. Even at Christmas time Lyn-
denville INDUCED but in serviceable
and plainly useful articles.
Left wealthy by her father2 the
villagers would say. But Annabels
wealth was only sufficient for her mod
est needs and the keeping still of the
home with old Mrs. White as house
keeper. Since Annabel had become
customer Of the 'Shoppe,' it's owner
had greeted her with his frank smile,
meeting occasionally in the post office.
She fancied, with concern, that his face
was growing thinner; could it be posi-
BILE that the dearth of customers made
economy of food a necessity?
Well, the girl wondered impatiently.
why didn't he go back where he could
find something better to do? Then, be-
cause the shadows were growing long
er and she remembered that she had,
had no out-of-door exercise that day,
Annabel got into her jaunty coat and
becoming hat, and went for walk.
Near the hotel, where the auto-bus
started upon its trips to the station,
she saw her neighbor-across-th e-way,
hesitating, to examine some small
coin in his hand.
ride down to the station with us,
Miss Annabel," called the friendly
driver, and with n second impulse she
stepped inside. Not that the ride was
thing unusual. Many times her
walks had been interrupted by the jo-
vial invitation. The girl had known
Ben, the driver, from her childhood.
From her rear it in the car, she
noted admiringly the broad shoulders
of the young man in front. Ben in
cluded them both in his remarks. go
ing to town." he inquired.
"Well, not exactly" the shop-keeper
replied. "Woman down beyond the
station wants to see me about engrav-
ed invitations, thought I'd ride as far
as you go, with you"
"Must be Mrs. Jake Smith," Ben
soliloqulzed. Daughters goin' to be
married soon. How are you goin' the
rest of the way, it's quite piece?"
Annabel found him waiting to assist
her as she opened the auto door, as
she bowed her head in thanks, the
mans hand slipped into his pocket
for Ben's fee, then something happen
ed. In moment the dime seemed to
fly from his fingers to alight upon the
car floor. Flushed and eager he bent
to look for it, while the driver waited.
TRAINS coming" Ben suggested i'm
patiently.
The young man raised an embarras-
sed face. "Just moment" he muir
INJURED still searching.
Annabel stood looking intently at the
road, then she bent suddenly forward.
"Why, here it is" she laughed, and
held out to Ben shining dime.
The man looked straight and long
into her eyes. 81 thank you," he said
quietly, and Annabel with a strange
stirring of the heart, went on her
homeward way. OF course that had
been his only dime, he must walk
backl
1t was late in the evening when the
light in the stationery shop flared
across the street; she wondered I'M
easily If he had been successful in his
quest for the wedding invitations, and
next morning in the most natural way
he told her.
81 have recovered from my long
walk" her neighbor announced cheer
lily, though it was useless errand af-
ter ALL" He sighed: "In fact, I've about
decided that the whole business is
useless, around here"
ut is" the girl agreed quickly, 1f
you'd try something else"
at does not matter now" he said
and held out his letter. I've been
called-to the colors."
"When?" the girl asked, something
caught at her breath painfully.
AT once. AS soon as 1 can get
ready" again the radiance was upon
his face.
MAY I" he asked abruptly, "come
to see you before l go?"
She was in the window when he
came, looking at the bare little shop
across the way.
81 wanted you to know" he began,
show much l appreciated your-lnter-
est, your helpfulness. Sometimes 1t
cheered me on past sheer failure. You
thought | didn't realize that your big
purpose was charity pure and simple.
And last night when you gave that
dime to Ben"
"Gave-it?" whispered Annabel.
The man smiled, "Yes," he said
gently, "when you handed 1t over ]
had just found my own last dime up
on the car floor"
A flush rose to the girls soft hair
1T was such little thing to do" she
murmured.
Very boldly, but very tenderly