“I gave it to the clerk and he took it to the desk. In a little while he came back and said the money was not good. I insisted that it was, but he said he would call in a policeman to prove it. Then, rather than have a scene, I said I would pay some other money, and I did so.”
“Where is the money he said was bad?” asked Larry.
“Here,” said his mother, taking a coin from her pocketbook and giving it to Larry. The boy looked at the half-dollar. It seemed bright and shiny, and had a good ring to it.
“That seems good,” said Larry. “Maybe the man in the store was too particular.”
“He asked the advice of several other men before he said the money was no good,” said Mrs. Dexter. “So I’m afraid he is right.”
“It’s too bad,” said Larry. “We work hard enough for our money and it ought to be good when we get it.”
“The man said there had been a number of counterfeit pieces in circulation of late,” went on Mrs. Dexter. “That’s why they have to be so careful.”
“But this don’t look like a counterfeit,” spoke Larry. “I’ve seen several of that kind which the reporters have, and all of them are worse than this.”
“Well, the man wouldn’t take it, so I guess it’s no good,” said the woman.
“Where did you get it?” asked Larry. “Perhaps that might give us a clew.”