Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-12-05
Natures
Benson
al

BY GEORGE ELMER COBB

1t was the mercSt accident that Mar.
Gus Blake became acquainted with
Nellie Powers. she preceded him leav.
ing street car and he followed her.
n startled cry from her lips caused
him To notice the faircSt face he had
ever GaZed upon.
''bh.' she cried in vivid distress
Il left my purse on the window ledge
of my seat. and ii held all have in
the world"
She even started to pursue the car,
hut Marcus checked her vain endeay-
or. Quick" he said-where will I
find you. If I recover the purse?"
Il work at 232 and my name is Mel
lie Powers" came rapidly from the az
itated lips. and Marcus dashed to the
curb and sprnng into taxi.
Il wish to Overtake that car ahead"
shot out Marcus. and within three
minutes the driver pulled up at a
street crossing half a block ahead Of
the car, said Half n dollar" and a
moment later Marcus was aboard Of
the car that had led him his wild
chase. 1t held only one or two pas
sengers. Marcus trnversed It's length.
He scanned the window lodges but
they held no purse.
Looking for something's" question
ed the conductor.
why. yes. A young lady passenger
you let off Mt Market street.
II remember her. pretty us a pic
ture. Sat in the fourth seat from the
'front.'"
Eyes. she placed her purse on the
window ledge and forgot It,"
A smile of enlightenment crossed
the conductors good natured face. II
fancy the purse Is still aboard" he re-
marked. 1--WE had these cases be-
fore. You see, the window lets down
from the bottom and there is big
space at the sill to allow It's manipu-
lation. Instead Of placing her purse
OH the sill, the young lady probably
let it drop down the window slide"
The conductor turned out a true
prophet. The purse was recovered
at the cost OF an hours time. Marcus
was grntified to appear ut 232. which
proved to be millinery store, and re-
ccive the thanks of Miss Powers.
"All my weeks pay and as much
more that I have saved is in the
purse" she explained. 81 need 1t all
10 pay the doctor bin If my little
brother. who IS just recovering from
long siege of Illness" and although
the conversation was brief 1t resulted
in Blake asccrtaining that Miss Pow
erS and her brother were all alone in
tH1 Il
In two rooms. the Elnd-hearted land.
lady OF which, looked after little Les.
ter. the sick boy.
Marcus lived in suburb. SDrin.
had just. started IN. and anxious to see
Miss Powers again Blake cast about
him next morning for something that
would please her invalid brother. The
result was 1hat he stopped nn his WAY
to work, and delighted little Lester by
bringing him n baby rabbit. His re-
ward was the company Of Miss Pow.
ers all the way down town.
new interest in life began to ma.
tcriai!ze for both the devoted young
people. There was not day when
Blake did not carry into town some
reminder OF the Countrywide early
wood violets. the first fruit blossoms
and the like. Little Lester had but
one ardent hope; to get out amid na-
ture, but the physician had told Nellie
that he must be near at hand where
he could come under medical care ur-
til he was further convalescent.
One day Nellie introduced Blake to
an old gentleman who lived In the
building and who dropped in occa-
sionally to. cheer up little Lester. The
latter had quite a collection Of arti-
Giles Blake had donated. and from Mr..
Rossiter, who was placing suburban
subdivision on the market, Marcus re-
celved suggestion which he discus
sed with enthusiasm.
You have given me quite an idea,
Mr.. Blnke," he said, you are quite
in touch with nature, in fact directly
in the midst of it. My office fronts a
street with many passersby and with
window big enough to display n min
iature farm. I'll make 1t well worth
your while to fix up that window
daily with the developing beauties of
nature on big scale, just as you have
OIL a small one for Lester here"
ThencefOrward every day Blake
brought in further reminders OF
the country. He kept pace with
vegetation and added TO the window
display from time to time, and intro
duced so many novelties that the ad-
vertisement proved a profitable one
to the energetic land man. Finally
that show window had all the attri-
butes Of miniature rural spot. even
to a mimic waterfall. frogs, fishes,
birds. and at length Mr.. Hossiter en-
ployed Blake permanently at q salary
nearly double the one he had been
earning.
1.-The doctor says / am well enough
tn 20 out in tho country po,v ola.