The Washington times., 1936-06-27
They pulled back the sheet.

!
the still face before him. It
reSembled Nell. 1t might have
been Nell.
Finally after hours Of questions,
a clerk in the Bureau Of Missing
Persons came to his aid.
He came back to Ricky with a
very solemn shake Of his head.
Perhaps we're on the right
trail"
Ricky cried out brokenly: "Is
she alive?"
"Yes-So far. A young woman
who may answer your deScrip-
tion was found in a state Of col
lapse on Tenth Avenue near West
Fifty-fifth Street, about noon yes
terday. The ambulance was called.
She was taken to Flewer. They
had to give her a blood trans
fusion. They're giving her an
other one now"
But at the hospital they con-
firmed the sergeant'S report.
They didn't know the patients
name. She was in the operating
room now.
For hours Ricky sat on stone
bench in the white corridor. For
eternities he walked about the
block. The gas tanks to the
south of the hospital rose yellow
gray, tremendous in size and
menacing, like hulking giants
against the pale morning sky.
He remembered the night he
had begged Nell to elope with
him: how her dark eyes were
shining and how pallid was her
face. He remembered the feel of
it in his hands and went rush.
ing back to the corridor where
all his hopes, even his life as it
now seemed, were at stake.
Finally the nurse came to him.
The nurse said: "You can go
in now. Please be very quiet.
Even if it is your wife, don't
make an outcry. She is weak
and cannot stand it."
Ricky saw the face on the
pillow. He saw the large, beauti-
full eyes open. Saw a wild, un-
believing smile of joy across her
lips-heard his name called.
He was at her side. He was on
his knees, his lips and his tears
warm in her palm.
She said family: "Ricky!"
II have found you, dearest
dear!"
MY baby, Ricky?"
"Our baby, Nell! He's fine. I've
held him in my arms"
He poured soft brief words
that were miracle of Solace in
her ears.
She moved her head slightly to
say with a faint laugh: Nurse
dear, I'm better. I'm better. I'm
all right now!"!
They were so good to her. The
whole world was so good. Day
after day Ricky sat at her side,
watching the young color return
to her cheeks.
"It's so good to touch your hair,
Nell"
He told her about the raise.
And one day he handed her a
letter. It was from Ned Hamil-
ton. There was a check with 500
for the baby and $3.50 for a we'd
ding gift.
Ned wrote: '1'll be dropping in
to see you when you're all settled
in your new home. I'm SO glad
for the happiness you both have
found and kept"
Were rich Ricky! Even if
Mason did steal $120 from U.S."
Esther Mason had something to
say about that. On a high sunny
day when their baby was a month
old and they were ready to leave,
she gave a check to Nell.
This is his money with which
I return what he has taken. Not
one penny does he get until his
slate is clear!"
Esther wiped her eyes. She
stopped down and kissed Jimmy.
The youngster screwed up his
face. He tweaked at Nell's arm
and whispered loudly: "It's mean
to leave Esther alone! She treated
me swell!"
That was recompense to Esther.
Jimmy will be better with you I
know, Nell. But you'll have to put
up with me twice a year. I'm
coming out to see my baby. He's
just q little mine, isn't he? That
little I'm going to keep"
At the last minute they took
their little son from Mamie. She
lowered over it, fluffing out the
ruffles on his cap, Strengthening
the lovely pink coat she had
made.
She lifted the child and laid it
in Ricky'S arms.
He laughed. Nell wept in sheer,
proud delight.
Mamie went on blinking and
smiling. you've let me share
your joy. I though year. ago
when you came here you were
the happiest couple in the world.
But you weren't. You're the hap
piest now!"
She stood at the door, waving
and weeping while they climbed
into the croSs-town bus.
put the blanket over him,
Ricky! There's a wind Blowing"
murmured Nell, softly maternal.
| He looked down at her with q