Ellsworth American., 1920-03-24
BETTER THAN
GOOD
By RALPH HAMILTON
lcopyrIght 1e2O. western Newspaper unionl

circled her, but, though the peril OF
death menaced, Airline Drury treas
ured its memory raptly.
Her home was an old cabin at the
lower edge of high cliff. She had
wandered along its apex gathering
wild flowers, when her foot slipped
Over the edge of the yawning preci-
pice she went, her body dangling in
space, her descent only checked by
hands clutching at exposed tree roots
AS she sought to find foothold
against projecting rock, it loosened
She heard 1t land far below with
crash. Her heart sickened. Then at the
chug-chug of an automobile she ut
tered frantic, despairing cry:
"Help"
Fifty feet away the driver of an
automobile holding three young men
like himself checked the machine with
shock, traced the cry caught sight
of the white, clinging hands, flung
himself fiat, reached over and dragged
the imperiled girl to safety.
He supported her, half fainting, in
his arms, his senses thrilled as that
lovely face was lifted to his own. He
released her gently. Her beautiful
eyes were swimming with tears of
gratitude.
"Oh how can / ever thank your
she began. but he smiled reassuringly.
"Can l help you further?" he asked.
my home is near at hand" she
ously, regained the automobile. Chu-
chu He was gone out of her life as
swiftly as he entered 1t.
Your aunt Is i'll again, Airline
said the father, "and the felix's sent
messenger over early this morning to
have you come and spend few days"
1t was the third day after that when
the same young man who had come to
her rescue reappeared in the vicinity.
Walter Noble made inquiries concern
ing the girl he had so tragically met,
and learned her name and the location
of her home. He appeared as an anna
teur photographer making some pic
lures of the surrounding mining dis
trict, and seeking board and lodging
for a week or two.
MY only helper Is my daughter"
explained Mr.. Drury. "but if you are
willing to bunk in rough and ready
and take pot luck, why, you might
make do"
This arrangement suited Noble to
perfection. The second night of the
stay of his guest Mr.. Drury took him
into his observatory and pointed to
large boulder lying on his table.
81 want to tell you something about
n great discovery | have probably
made" he spoke. THE other night,
while strolling near here, / observed
an unusually brilliant meteor flash
acros the sky. 1t seemed to fall some
where near the house here. The next
morning l CHANGED to go up into the
attic and there was a hole in the
roof, and lying upon the floor was
this boulder. | have made a study of
meteoric phenomena. Inspecting this
mass in my crude way, | find that it
bears fossil residuum, proving that In
whatever planet it came from the
same organic life as our own has eX
listed. have little money, but if you
would take a specimen of the rock to
u city analyst and get me report on
its constituents, | would try and
scrape up enough to pay for his la
bor."
Noble was glad to get into favor
with the father of Airline. He started
forthwith for the city with the pre-
cious specimen. 1t was five days later
that he returned to Brownville. AS he
neared the cliff his pulses quickened
magically. Seated at the self same
spot where he had last seen her, was
the fair being, whose loveliness had
attracted him hither.
She arose with conscious blush
as he approached her. She swayed un-
steadily under the influence of his
magnetic glance.
"You-you are the gentleman who
has undertaken a kindly mission for
father?" she faltered confusedly.
81 fear am bringing back dlsap-
pointing news" replied Noble. Il in
fer you are aware of your fathers
hope that the boulder is meteoric The
analyst told me it was not But he
has sent an analysis" and Noble in
dicated a sealed envelope in his pock.
ct. 'Why. the light suddenly dawns
upon me-" exclaimed Noble in an ami.
mated tome THE meteor stone must
be a fragment of the rock you loosen
ed that-that day first met you" and
the speakers face was rapt and glow
ing. sit fell upon the roof below"
THE day you saved my life, which
| shall never forget" said Airline in a
low, earnest tone, and then. side by
side, each realizing that mutually they
shared the same emotion, they went
TO the home below the cliff.
A shade of disappointment crossed
the face Of Mr. Drury as he read that
his wonderful meteor was only com
mon earth clay. Then his eyes brighted