ommenced feeling in his coat pockets with his hands.

Boggs sprang to his feet, observing this movement, fully satisfied that
the stranger was seeking his revolver or bowie-knife.

"Sir," said Boggs, hurriedly, "if I have ever unconsciously done you an
injury, I am ready to apologize. I can see no good reason why this
apartment should be made the scene of a sanguinary conflict."

"Sanguinary conflict--apology"--said the other, somewhat astonished. "My
dear sir, the apology is due to you."

Boggs's equanimity was once more restored. "You don't know how happy I
am to hear you say so," said he. "Could you make it convenient to
apologize at once, to fully relieve my mind of the frightful
anticipations?"

"With the greatest pleasure in the world, Mr. Boggs," said the stranger.
"I apologize."

"And I cheerfully forgive you," said Boggs.

"Then you recollect the circumstance, do you?" asked the stranger.

"Hang me if I do," said Boggs.

"Then you forgive me in anticipation."

"Certainly," replied Boggs. "But what the devil were you feeling in your
pockets for so mysteriously?"

"My _porte-monnaie_," replied the stranger, who at length succeeded in
finding the object of his search. He took from it a gold dollar, two
dimes and a cent, and placed them on the table before Boggs. "There,"
said he, "is the sum of one dollar and twenty-one cents, United States
currency, which amount is justly your due."

"What the deuce does all this mean?" asked Boggs, in his bewilderment;
"for between being waylaid in the street, accused of petty larceny,
anticipations of being murdered, receiving apologies for unknown
injuries, and the proffer of money from a total stranger, I hardly know
whether I am standing on my heels or my head."

The mysterious stranger then proceeded to make his explanation.

"About three years ago," said he, "I invited a lady friend to the
theatre. She signified her intention to accept the invitation. In the
evening I called for her, attired in my best, and found her seated in
the parlor attired in _her_ best. We arrived at the theatre. I had taken
with me only a small sum of money--amounting in the aggregate to one
dollar and thirty-seven and a half cents. I took the dollar from my
pocket, and passed it to the ticket-seller, who took occasion to pass it
to me again immediately, and putting his physiognomy before the seven by
nine aperture through which the money goes in and the pasteboard comes
out, he an