Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-25
:. . .
Mr.. Anderson took it up and carried

MIR. Anderson took it up and carried
it to the west window where the sunset
light could tall on this eyes were get
| ting to be little treacherous. The orig
inal post-mark was altogether indistin-
gu:shable from being crossed and re-
crossed with other post marks, and the
envelope was fretted and worn on the
edges n Us sb9faogs1 sau ha&>
Il don'e know how happened to go
into the Rock Island Post-office, unless
twas because H always has g1ori-
Gus cigars with which to regale his
friends, of whomsI have the happiness
to be ONE. Arnold continued, as Ben
Anderson drew the letter from the en-
velope.. 71'Well, what should be the first
thing my eyes fell on but go4r name
heading a list of advertised letters. /
asked II. for the letter immediately, and
he gave it to me very gladly, saying
that it had been to the Dead Letter OF
flee and been sent back again; had been
sent down to Rockdale and returned;
and he had an impression it had been to
Rockford, but he might be mistaken.
He thought it must be nearly q year
since it first came there. The last time
it came back he put it in a drawer, and
hadn't thought OF it since, and the
"List which it headed was an old
one, which he had neglected to take
down."
.'Myra," broke in Ben Anderson,
sharply, ''come here tA.f@~
She. came and took the letter from his
hand, glanced at it, and gave little
quick cry.
80 Bent is from Gordon!' and
she sank into a chair, white and tremb-
ling, the letter falling from her nerve
less fingers. s65 49,
Ralph sprang forward and caught it
before it scarcely touched the floor.
Read it," she said, with an eager
gesture. but he had begun almost before
she spoke. sa.. esr.H: .fs-- =" rH1
MIR. ANDERsoN-Dear Sir: 1 feel as if 1.
must write a word to congratulate you on tho
safety of the little girl wuose disappearance
caused us all so much uneasiness and alarm,
third day after your departure, and ! put her
on board the train for Mich gan City the next
ty several days ago. desired to write for you
to come back for her. but she declared she
wouldn't wait. By the way, III trust her to
most indomitsble little thing ever saw-a lit
tie compressed ornado. There is mystery
where she has been kept all this time, and
more than all, the reason of the abduction. 1
think she has been drugged heavily. for there
it is not natural to seetin5 a child. She seems,
too, to think she has been away but q day or
two. But she has doubtless told You all about
it, as we'll as the way she escaped and found
her way back here and so l will only add that
it gives me more satisfaction than l can tell,
this happy solution of your trouble.
livery truly aud sincerely yours,
"CHAs. GORDON"
"And this was year ago my
poor darling!' Mrs. Anderson cried,
Sharply. 'sWho could be cruel enough
to wish to harm her? o Ben, what shall
we dos there no way to find out any
thing about her?''
eff this Gordon was as careless about
the child as he was about the direction
OF his letter, she might have been for
warded to New Zealandr' exclaimed
Arnold. impatiently. .a-..- ss..s
"But Viola knew where we were
coming, and she would tell that, her
SELF" Mrs. Anderson said, quickly.
"Yes, suppose so. But don't see
what you are going to do at this late
day. It's my opinion that somebody
has an interest in the child, and I think
you had better let the. whole thing
drop" .....s... ......
90 Tom! And never know whether
she is living or dead?" Mrs. Anderson
cried, in distressed voice. +r
.... TO BE CONTINUED ........z