Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-10
The Daily
Short Story
, THE TURNING POINT.
By Walter Joseph Delaney.

| WhiTled from her task and az llghtf
ming speed few down the beaten
path leading to the little fagmsn's
shanty, hundred feet distant.
She had heard the whistle Of the
Limited, half an hour lafe, and had
barely time 10 dash into the shanty
and seize the white hand signal
! with stop" painted upon De- in
black staring letters, and get in
position in the middle Of the road
and wave It in a warning a. aD-
preaching pedestrians and vehicles.
when the glaring headlight uf the
onrushing train approached.
] The coaches were q blur except
+ the last one. amid a cloud Of dust.
but brilliantly lighted, and a. the
open window OF one Of its state
rooms Nellie caught a confused
! sight Of a man and a woman. and
then something whirled toward her
with gyrating force, grazed her
cheek, making II sting, struck the
( ground and rolled into the gutter.
Nellie waved the signal OF safe
! thoroughfare and advancing toward
the object, picked It up. II was =
/ lady's handbag, its sides bulsing as
/ though from closely packed COZ
tents. Nellie returned to the little
cottage that was the home OF her
half-uncIe, old Joel Page, the only
| relative she had.
/ Old Joel had seen his best DAYS.
/ He sat around home all day except
! for guarding the crossing when :
+ train was coming through Every
now and then his old failing for
strong drink overcame him and
] Nellie, as now. acted in his place,
/ Again in the kitchen, she placed
! the handbag on a shelf, resumed
her duties at the bread pan, later
got supper and carried portion
on a tray to her uncle, who was laid
tup with rheumatism and the effects
of two weeks debauch. Then
! Nellie tidied herself up and went
out and sat on the front steps. Her
eyes frightened as young man,
/ limping and supporting himself
with a cane, came into view, greet
ed her with a kiss and she made
way for him beside her.
mo word from the company yet,
dear?" she inquired.
/ Yes, Nellie; they won't help ne
1 out on my hospital bill. They say
THAT any man so foolish as to risk
/ his life to save a stray dog from
( being run over ought to learn
| lesson. However, they'll give me
back my old position soon as I an
mended up. Then well have 10 be
gin TO save all over again, Ell, little
one? How is Mr.. Page?"
hc hod
/ Nellie. IF he would only let the
strong drink alone. When he can
get around his old mates encourage
his falling, and when he is laid up
they bring the vile liquor 10 him.
Oh, dear! I-wish we could get away
TO some new place where the temp
tations would be less for him
Cheer up, little woman" encour-
aged Walter "AIl that may come in
time"
When Nellie went into the house
she remembered the handbag. She
carried it up to her room, and as
she Embossed the catch of the bag
she stood startled as she noted that
the bag was crammed quite full or
bank notes There must have been
thousands of dollars in the little
receptacle. She gasped; she look
ed around in a startled way. as
though fearful that some prying eye
might be observing and seek TO
wrest her treasure from her. Her
treasurer? All, no! If the breath OF
a temptation sent a momentarilv
vivid picture OF affluence and the
coveted new home ran through her
mind, in an instant she shut il out
She ran to the shanty where
where there was a telephone and
called up the depot. reporting the
finding of a satchel bearing one mi
tial &C." and describing its color
and texture.
Bad news reached Nellie the
next day. The company had decid-
ed TO place more active man than
her uncle at the crossing The
company. too, iptimated that Wal
ter, when he resumed railroad ser
vice. would have TO begin all over
again. several grades down the
line. And then came good news.
and grand luck!
A lady. young and beautiful.
came to the little cottage. She was
C." the owner of the satchel Mel
AlN bNAN Oi iAlUiAAS II " nClA II I--t
ped from the car window.
1T did not drop, dear" said the
visitor. Il threw it out Shall Z
tell you the woeful story OF a fool
ish girl trusting to the avowed love
OF mercenary villain ! marrleG
him. converted the property mr
parents had left me into money.
and il was on the train that he tried
TO possess the money and abandon
me. He struck me. even chOked
me. in our compartment on the
train. l was determined he should
not get the money and threw II out
OF the window When we got 10
the city / sought the protection OF
the police and a lawyer. and they
will Sc that this base sChemer does
not trouble me again, Won't Won
let ME stay here in your coy little
home for a week or two, to get over
all the shock and strain OF nv I'M
fortunate situation ."
Nellie acquiesced, II meant che
start of a great mutual friendship.
II meant more in time. a new start
IN life for Nellie and Walter. ana
even their old dependent. old joel
for Alma Bristol the forsAkeu
bride, established them in a home
II their own. and, after bitter PIX
DerlenCe CrAVPd no surRr surgeqSa