nounced to me, in effect, that the bank note aforesaid, of the
denomination of one dollar, was a base imitation. This was a perplexing
position. Had I been the fortunate possessor of another dollar on the
spot, I should not have been troubled. The lady's acquaintance I had but
recently formed. My pride would not permit me to announce to her my true
financial condition at that moment. Between pride and a hurried
contemplation of the prospective frightful results of my monetary
deficiency, I was completely bewildered. I stammered out something about
having nothing with me except two or three shillings and a fifty dollar
bill--the first of which, gentlemen, existed in the innermost recesses
of my vest pocket, and the last in my imagination. I was wondering what
the devil I should do next, when a gentleman with red hair addressed me.
"Good evening, sir," said he, touching his hat, "did you say you have
difficulty in getting a bill changed?" Without waiting for me to speak
he said, "here's a dollar; you can return it to me to-morrow, when you
call at my office to transact that matter of which we were speaking
yesterday. Good evening." I looked in my hand, and found in it two half
dollars and a card, upon which I perceived a name and address written. I
was more bewildered than ever, owing to the unexpected deliverance, from
what a moment before, I had believed to be an inextricable difficulty. I
thought that heaven had deputed some red-haired angel to come to my
relief. Then I doubted whether it was not a dream; but the weight of the
two half dollars satisfied me that the whole thing was a tangible
reality. The difficulty was dissipated, the funds were provided, and the
necessary tickets purchased. Next morning I resolved to visit my
deliverer, and give him my heartfelt thanks and a dollar. As I was about
to leave on my joyful errand, I felt in my pocket for the card; it was
gone. I was horror-stricken. I searched everywhere, but could not find
it. I tried then to recall to my mind the name; but having read it under
considerable excitement, it had not impressed itself upon my memory. I
went to the theatre, in hopes to find it there, but in vain. For three
months, gentlemen, all my spare time was employed in perambulating
Broadway, and standing at the entrance of the theatre, in hopes of
meeting my deliverer. Many are the short and red-haired gentlemen whom I
have vainly pursued. A half hour since, as I was riding down Broadway i