Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-12-20
A WOMAN's SAVING HAND.
BY EMILY BARTON.

| Gu 0uUe I)tlTk ne uttu uDSOlutely uOG
dollar in his pockets wherewith to pur-
chase lodging or meal. The down
cast profile was clear-cut and firm, ar
guing powerful individuality in its
owner, and yet n mania had seized him
rs it had seized many weaker man,
and he had staked his all and lost.
| The moonlight touched his bowed
head softly, silvered the outlines of his
figure and revealed his haggard white
ness.
1t fell on something else-something
that glittered in his hands like steel.
"Stop! Don't do that!"
It was wo1nan's voice that spoke, q
woman's touch that rested lightly on
his sleeve, woman's great dusky eyes,
set in face such as one sees but sell
dom in lifetime, which were raised to
his. She had strolled out to enjoy the
beauty of the evening, and, absorbed in
meditation, had wandered farther than
she knew.
The mans arm dropped to his side.
He looked at her in silence, wondering,
admiring, perhaps little ashamed.
why did you want to do it?" pur-
sued the gentle voice. ''Does life seem
so evil thing to you?"
II have been fool-a mailman! /
am ruined!"
"But you are man. You can work.
You can regain all that you have lost"
He shook his head.
II cannot find employment here, and
! haven't the means to return to NV
home, in Chicago"
Her hand slipped into her pocket ana
out again. Adroitly she drew the pistol
away from him and pressed something
into his hand in it's place.
"See, l have bought this thing of
you," she said, hurriedly. "You need
not feel too grateful. Christians should
help each other. If you want to repay
me, swear to yourself that you will
never do-what you attempted just
now. must leave you now. Good-by."
And she was gone before he could
stay or thank her-swallowed up and
lost in the shadow of the trees.
Miss Ferris, allow me to introduce
you to Mr.. Fergus Landeck."
The first time they had met alone un-
der the stars, in San francisco; now
they were amid fashionable gathering
in the home of one of the railroad mag
mates in New York. She was in evening
dress, with diamonds sparkling on her
throat and in her hair.
For an instant she returned his gaze,
questioning, perplexed; then there was
flash of recognition, and he saw she
knew.
"Will you take ME into the conserya-
tory, Mr.. Landeck? 1t is so warm
here"
They left the ballroom and strolled
under the domed glasshouse where the
palms and lilies grew.
"You have not forgotten, then?"
1t was his voice, low and tremulous,
which broke the silence.
mo; nor you, it seems"
"There are moments in mans life
which he never forgets. That was one
Of them. Do you know I have often
wondered whether we should ever meet
again, and l dared not indulge hope
until this evening, when for the first
time l learned your name. Miss Fer
ris, shall we sit down for awhile? lam
very grateful for this opportunity Of
speaking to you alone. Iwant-I want
tc return to you, with many thanks, the
the gift you gave me five years ago.
All, don't say no. The obligation I'M
der which you placed me will none the
less exist, and-and shall always keep
the little purse, always-in remem-
brance of that highland YOU"
Fortune has evidently favored you
since" she said, after pause.
Eyes, fortune has indeed favored me.
Miss Ferris. Your gift was like the en-
chanted purses in the childrcn's fairy
tales-bottomless. It enabled me to
reach the home of my parents in Chi
cago. l became a reformed man, and
soon secured employment as secretary
to the manager of a car construction
company in Detroit. By industry and
thrift saved little money. With it
! bought land in rising town of North
Dakota. The starting of big factory
there gave the town boom, and the
land had bought for few hundred
dollars l was able to dispose of for $685.
600. engaged in other speculations,
exercising my best judgment, and ev-
crything touched seemed to turn to
gold; whatever did was right. Money
came to me in tens of thousands. lam
to-day worth 100000. and if it had not
been for you should be lying in sui
cide's grave"
Something glistened on her lashes.
She dropped her eyes and toyed with
the feathers of her ian.
Il am glad, very glad, you have sue
cceded."
He gazed lingeringly on the graceful
outlines of her figure, the curve of her
full white throat and cheek, the brown
hair which waved and curved about her
brow and neck.
"And youths voice sank lower still
--"you have not married?"
mo, as you see. But it is probable
that shall lose my freedom soon."
docs that mean you are engaged?"
ut means that Mr.. Harold McCor-
mick the noted stock operator proposed
to me by letter this morning, and that
/ am to give him his'answer tonight"
"And is it to be 'yes?'"
She laughed q little.
do you know that is very strange