The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-10-08

extracted an indescribable two-dollar bill;
he had lived many years on the avenue and
had profound distrust Of money drawers,
Ziola gave him the stone and took the bill;
she felt of it carefully, deity inserted it in
her stocking and fled. She was afraid to
stay. 1t was impossible that, in saner mo-
ments, Salvador would not repent; she felt
that she had robbed him and her heart
quaked. Outside an Italian was grinding a
wheezy organ while a half -grown girl sang
20 sole mio," at the top of high soprano.
But Ziola did not pause; she continued her
mad flight.
Meanwhile Salvador had snatched up
Beppos paper and was reading again an
advertisement that had caught his eye. He
read slowly, with painstaking care, following
each line with a stubby forefnger. Then he
opened his left hand and peeped cautiously
at the sparkling stone. Could it be? He
was dazed at the thought and clasped it
tightly in the dirty folds of his fat palm.
He glanced furtively at the window, half
expecting to surprise Peeping Tom, but
instead he saw going past the broad-toed,
shining boots and blue trousers of American
Law and Order mounted on the legs of
Michael OFlannigan. The fact that he
only saw the underpinning of the Law made
it none the less awful Salvatore heart pull
stated two beats faster; he was contemplat-
ing transaction that made the sight of
those blue trousers and those terrible boots
send a thrill down his spine. For the adver-
tisement he read was this:
Lost, on Little Orange or Crown Streets,
one large, white, unset diamond. One hun
bred dollars reward and no questions asked
if returned at once to III Temple"
With trembling hand Salvador cut out the
advertisement and folded it around Ziola's
two-dollar stone; he put both into remote
pocket; then he took his hat down from its
peg locked the front door and emerged into
the sunshine.
His was curious little figure, for he
bought his clothes at the Yale Second Hand
Shop, and as they were built square and he
was built oblong the miracle was that they
stayed together.
He lost no time in reaching Temple Street,
though his knees shook under him, and he
could scarcely believe the evidence of his
senses when hefound thenumber and keen
faced man who briefly examined the adver-
tisement and narrowly examined Ziola's
stone. 1t proved to be the lost diamond,
and with strange sensation of burning in
his throat Salvador watched him count out
one hundred dollars in tens and twenties;
then he signed receipt and stumbled down
stairs from the Office with swimming head.
1t was surely the most glorious of night
mares! He had meant to go straight home,
but twenty minutes later he found himself
on College Street wandering about like
blind man. One hundred dollars for nothing
but bit of glass that Ziola had picked up
out of the gutter on Little Orange Street-it
was incredible! He thrust his hand into his
pocket and felt the wad there, large and
round and solid. He was not mad, he was
not asleep, he was not drunk, then surely he
had one hundred dollars in his pocket the
only one, too that had no hole in the lining.
lust at that moment the motor-car came
around the corner. 1t was big, it was red,
and instead of honking it played tune like
the song of dying swan. Salvador gazed,
fascinated. Thus does Fate pursue us. Jim
Grady was driving it; he was lanky youth
with red nose. He was taking it back to
the garage, for Jim was not a regular chauf-
feur, only substitute learning the trade.
But his keen eye lighted upon Salvador; the
singularity of Salvatore clothes and the
slant OF his hat had destinations; Jim grinned
wickedly.
eli! Wanter ride2"
The blood rushed to Salvatore head; he
was Knocked, but he could turn that nockery
into amazement; he felt the vast initiation
of money. Isl, sir he shrieked. TO
Savin Rock, sar."
sSure! What'll you pay? It'll cost you
tenner"
The Italian hesitated; he was stunned.
Ten dollars? Yet, to go in an automobile to
Savin Rock! How few of us realize dream!
".Si!" he cried, and clanbered into the car.
"Holy cats!" Jim Grady muttered, if |
amt sure got tn old clothes shop in tn
tonneau What'll / do il I'm caughtr See
here, Dago, you show up your chink or you
gits"
"Scnm2"
our chink--your wadyour money,
see?"
With great reluctance Salvador dragged
out q ten-dollar BILL Grady took it and
eyed the italian suspiciously; then he whis-
tied. you're rum go--but here goes!
Savin Rock. you say"
Salvador runinated. Isl, but-but goa
down to dc Grand Avenue first, way round
so2 81"
Il see Wanter make the inmates of the
poorhouse jealous?"
Salvador grinned; then he folded his arms
across his breast, ard leaning back with the
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