g the house,
she crept to her room, and from its hiding-place brought forth a
fifty-dollar gold piece. It was of California gold, octagonal in
shape, and minted many years before.

"Here, dear," she said, returning noiselessly. "Here is a coin that
was given me long ago by my grandfather--take it as a lucky-piece. And
whenever you see it, think of one who loves you and is praying for you.
And, Checkers, if you should have misfortune, and should really need
to, don't hesitate to spend it; because, you see, if you don't have
good luck, so that you do n't need to spend it, why it is n't a lucky
piece, and you 'd better get rid of it--that is, if--if you have to."

Checkers embraced her passionately. "My darling," he protested, "I
shall have to be nearer starving to death than I 've ever been, or
expect to be, before I part with this. I shall treasure it as a
keepsake from the dearest, sweetest, prettiest, sandiest girl in the
world; the one that I love and the one that loves me; and here--here's
a scarfpin that once was my father's. They say opals are unlucky.
Well, father got shot, but I wore it the lucky day I met you; so that
does n't prove anything--wear it for my sake. Now, dear, I _must_ go.
Keep a stiff upper lip, and do n't let the old man get in his bluff on
you. Win your mother over--she'll help you out. I think she likes me;
I am sure I do her. I 'll write to you every day. Good-bye, my
precious--I 'll be back for you soon; good-bye, good-bye."

One last fond embrace, one lingering kiss, and Checkers turned and
walked resolutely away.

The next morning early he bid the Bradleys a sorrowful farewell, and
boarded the train for Little Rock. Mr. Bradley gave him letters to a
number of merchants there, but he was unable to find employment. In
fact, he only sought it in a half-hearted way; Little Rock was too
small, too near Clarksville. Chicago was his Mecca. He felt a happy
presentiment that once there circumstances would somehow solve for him
the problem of existence. But, alas, for vain hopes! Day after day,
from door to door, he sought employment without success. The answers
he received to his inquiries for work were ever the same: "Business was
dull; they were reducing rather than increasing their forces; sorry,
but if anything turned up they would let him know." At times he
received just enough encouragement to make his eventual failure the
more disheartening and cruel.

How could he wr