Evening star., 1944-03-16
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trace,peU

Templeton Jones had visions of being
rich, for the first time in his life.
Life had dealt not unkindly with him,
IN the main, but great deal of money
had not been included in his horoscope.
He had dreamed. now and then, of
being rich, and had even gone so far
as to wonder what it would be like.
Going through an old trunk in the
attic one day, he came across a purse.
1t was small thing, old and shabby,
and chamois lined
There were two little clasps that
hooked together.
Jones unlocked them, just to see
what was inside, since the old purse
seemed very fat and heavy
Out tumbled scores of old coins
Templeton Jones fingered them with
interest. In his childhood days he had
once made up his mind that he would
be a coin collector, but that ambition.
along with the one to be milk wagon
driver, had evaporated Time, the great
evaporating agent, has seen to that.
Many Of the coins were grimy, but
with the aid of silver polish, and some
vinegar and salt, he managed to make
them more presentable.
Why, these things may be valu-
ablel" he said.
There were some of the famous big
pennies Of pre-Civil war days, half
cent pieces, 2-cent pieces, and a dozen
or more of the Scent pieces.
There was a trade dollar of the year
1877 COINED for Oriental trade). Clearly
1t had been treasured, for little polish
made it glisten like new.
That ought to be worth something
he mused
eve wouldn't ever run onto anything
valuable" sighed Mrs. Jones, going
about her housework.
"We might" replied Templeton Jones.
"Who knows?"
II know" said the miSsus, firmly. ut
might happen to other people, but not
to us.
Temp Jones kept on bufing up the
old coins
Here's is an odd one" he exclaimed
Look at this one. I'll bet it is worth
a hundred dollars"
I'll bet it is worth just exactly what
it says-2 cents"
"I read a piece not so long ago In
which the man said some old coins
were worth as much as a thousand
dollars apiece"
And I wouldn't give thousand dol
lars for barrel full of them" replied
the practical Mrs Jones Il would
much rather have a few more ration
points"
"1f any of these turn out to be valu-
able" went on Jones, shining away for
dear life. I'VE can buy more War Bonds,
or help the Red Cross"
Il would like to think you were right,
of course. Templeton," said his good
wife, coming in and looking down at
the coins spread out on paper But
I do not believe we would ever be
fortunate that way. Some people are,
and some are not, that is all there is
to it"
Templeton Jones saw himself going
into the coin dealers shop and turning
out his coins on the counter
He could see, in his dream, the nu-
, mlSmatlSt drawing in his breath, and
could hear him eXclaim. why. where
did you get these, man? You have a
fortune here"
The next day Jones looked up a cata-
log of United States coins He brought
| II home and spread out his coins and
began checking up. After a half hour S
| pleasant work he called Mrs. Jones
Well" said that lady, ARE we rich
at last?"
Templeton Jones grinned.
We are not" he said "They are
worth, all told, about $3.50 according
to my calculation. But we just missed
1t, at that. If this trade dollar had
been dated 1884, instead of 1877, 1t
would have been worth $1,000"