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against his broad breast, the contact
thrilling himr the world and all else
it contained to him a worthless bau
ble, could he but sweep with his own
those full tempting lips. Only for
an instant, however, the eyes closed.
She roused to still cling to him, but
braced to battle her agitation, that
she might breathe out her gratitude
incoherently, and, hastening to the
machine, to seize the rescued one,
her sister, Ross surmised, she pressed
to her bdsom in outspoken gladness.
She had carried a little hand bag
and this had: fallen open to 'the
ground when she had swooned mo
mentarily. As Ross picked it up to
restore it to her he noted her calling
cards and the name upon them: "Nel
lie Moore." He restored the hand
bag to her and lifted his hat. She
swept his handsome face with a
searching look, as though glad to be
lieve that true nobleness of soul lay
behind that courageous nature.
Again and again she thanked him,
was sure she was able to operate the
machine and made ready to drive,
away.
"No, no, come here!'' cried out the
peremptory little miss whose life had
been saved, and she beckoned ea
gerly to Ross.
"What is it, little one?" he smiled.
For reply the eyes of the child grew
earnest and humid,. She did not
speak, but reaching out she placed a
soft, chubby hand on either cheek,
drew him toward her and kissed "him
on the lips. Then? stiff holding him,
she added with an inquiring glance
at her sister:
"And one for dear Nellie, too?"
The 'fair maiden blushed deeply,
but did not gainsay the edict. Again
Ross Evans lifted his hat courteous
ly. A bright episode in his life faded
away ,as the machine disappeared,
leaving him standing there, hip heart
warmed and thrilling. He watched
the automobile till it turned the next
corner, responded to a little hand
waving toward him and uttered
something of a sigh, .
The glimpse of apparent wealth,
luxury and social distinction com-'
pared vividly with his own present
conditon. A company whose mechan
cal engineer he had been for some
years had failed. He was fairly ,
stranded and the prospects ahead
dubious. j
As Ross started to leave the spot ,
he paused to pick up a small glitter-,
ing object that attracted his gaze.
"A bent nickel," he soliloquized,
glancing at it with only casual inter- J
est
It had a slight mark where some ,
heavy force had driven it out of .
shape. Two initials were scratched
across its face "A. B." Ross placed
it in his pocket and for a moment,
thought no more of it.
Two days later, however, Ross
Evans treasured the disfigured coin
as though it were a precious talis
man. He was not given to foolish
superstitution, but from the hour,
that he picked up that nickel the
tide of fortune seemed to turn. He
phanced to help a crippled old man
over a crowded street crossing. It,
led to an acquaintanceship. The man
was a contractor. He took a liking
to Ross. His frank, intelligent ways
attracted him. Ross was employed
to take charge of some important
construction work in a neighboring
city. From then on he was sure of
a lucrative, established positi6n. It
pleased his fancy to believe that the
meeting with the fair girl he had not,
forgotten and his finding the coin
were harbingers of continued pros
perity. He cherished the fond mem
ory of the first and stowed the bent
nickel securely inside his watch case.
It was about a month later when .
Ross, returned to Everaem to report
to iis employer, chancing to pick up
a local paper at the hoteirread the
following remarkable advertisement:
"Lost, reward $1,000 will be paid
to the finder of a bent nickel marked
'A. B.' one month since. Miss Nellie ,
-Moore, 905 .Benson terraqe." J
Speedily Ross was on his way to J
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