Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-03
The Daily
Short Story
"HIS LAST CENT?
By Ralph Hamilton.

children day"
She was a winsome, clear-eyed
girl Of eighteen, under her arm u
bundle OF small streamers for au-
Jomobiles, one hand holding the
tags, the other a pasteboard box
/ with slit in it to receive dona-
tons. She was a real charity work
er, for she allowed nobody to pass
her post in front of a large bank
without verbally presenting her
plea for the dependent little ones.
I The young man appealed TO did
! not look very responsive, for his
face was serious and thoughtful. He
paused in an distracted way. Then
/ the sweet, smiling face transmit
( ted a. Tightening expression to his
/ own. He uttered a short laugh,
somehow bitter and cynical, yet
( there was certain jauntiness to
il. lie drew from his pocket coin
. with the words:
My last cent?"
"Oh, no." nmpulsively exclaimed
( Miss Eva Dutton, as she made out
/ ,hat the contribution represented
+ a twenty-doilar gold piece. She
/ put out pretty hand to halt the
/ donation and her fingers brushed
those OF Allen Wayne. we usual
/ ly receive dime, or fifty cents
/ but all that money"
| It's all right" declared Wayne
( cherrily. and the coin jingled mus
! ica1ly among its minor brethren i'll
! the receptacle.
"But-your last cent?" fluttered
the sympathetic Miss Dunton.
1t couldn't go for better cause,
could it?" interrogated Wayne.
please - please" interrupted
Eva. Wayne started to move away.
! The mellow voice and inocent eyes
attracted him nightly. All that
money means a great deal for the
little ones and we would like To
make record of it in your name"
Very well, il that is any point
with you" said Wayne, producing
a card, although L deserve no
credit Tor what you seem to regard
a generous contribution. Truth is,
1 am glad TO clear the deck of all
1 owe and own and begin all over
again with u clean sheet. l have
been disappointed i'll my business,
have decided to abandon it, and l
suppose l can find an honest living
in road making, or digging in d
miEe, or other decent labor"
Papa" spoke Miss Eva Dunton
that evening in her luxurious home,
what is a statistician?'
"A statistician, my dear, good
one" came the response, lis a per-
son we have been advertising tor
and need very urgently"
Then, papa, this Will interest
you, and flushing slightly Eva
handed her father the card, read
ing: Allen Wayne, statistician.
with an office address. This gen
tieman, l think, is looking for Pc
sitIOn and is very worthy. He
mat is-he assisted our fund today
very generously and is, L am sure,
Il worthy young man"
i Will have my secretary write
20 him in the morning" said MIR.
DuuUon, pocketing the Dit OF paste
board. " hich he did and a week Ia
ter Allen Wayne found Limsef oc-
cupying a very satisfactory position
with DuntOn & Company, packers,
and he took a new grasp on lie.
That little donation TO the orph- +
an chiIdreDs fund seems TO have !
brought me good lucK," he Told
himself half-JocuIarly more than
once.
He went into the office of Mr.. /
DuntoH one afternoon, To report on /
some special work, when he noticed /,
q female figure seated at the desk.
The steuographer approached her.
Your father phones he will be /
here in an hour, Miss Dunton," she /
said.
Very we'll" came the reply. Il
Will wait -or MIN" and then, turn !
ing, she revealed to the astOnished .
gaze Of wayne the pretty applicant I
Tor charity funds.
why, Mt Waynel" she spoke at +
once, smiling frankly and extending
her hand.
"You-you remember me?" half
stammered Wayne.
y could not readily forget SO
generous a contributor to our little /
ones" she said sweeLly. A quick
thought came to Wayne.
Miss Dunton," he spoke in his 4
clear, open way, I half suspect my \
present pleasant position is due 10
your influence"
IF So" she replied, was it not
your due to receive cooperation
from those who appreciated your
And Wayne's hearU
warmed at this signal token Of the
interest of particularly lovely anu
young lady.
Gould you come home to dinner
with me tomorrow evening and help
my women folk I1tangle some hui
man interest statistics?' Mr.. Dun
ton invited two days later, and
WAYNE found himself submerged in !
new duties most pleasant and har-
monious.
Wayne's eyes CHANGED to meet
those OF Eva one evening when they
two were alone. their heads close
together, porting over a resume OF
their mutual work. The direct
theme they were scanning was conn.,
prised in an item emphasizing the
fact that married people lived long
est and averaged the higher hap
piness of life.
Eva flushed in pretty embarrass-
ment. Wayne held her glance, his
OWN replete with unspoken tender
ness. Electrically at that moment
here passed from soul to soul the
speedily, unerring passage that
owe transmits wholly only once in
each human experience.