I had a nickel with me when I got on the car . I thought it was in the left pocket of my coat . When I got settled down comfortably I felt for it . It was n't there . I had a cold chill . I felt in the other pocket . Not there . I had another chill . Then I felt in a little inside pocket . All in vain . I had two chills at once . `` I took off my gloves , laid them on the seat , and went over all my pockets again . It was not there . I stood up and shook myself , and then looked on the floor . The car was full of people , who were going home from the opera , and they all stared at me , but I was past caring for a little thing like that . `` But I could not find my fare . I concluded I must have put it in my mouth and swallowed it inadvertently . `` I did n't know what to do . Would the conductor , I wondered , stop the car and put me off in ignominy and shame ? Was it possible that I could convince him that I was merely the victim of my own absentmindedness , and not an unprincipled creature trying to obtain a ride upon false pretenses ?
How I wished XXXXX Alec or Alonzo were there .
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