The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-03-13

flashing blue eyes.
Mr.. Alcot turned angrily upon |
his daughter.
"What do you know about ii,
Miss? Have you two fools con-
spired to give me a shock? A
wretched joke, l swear!"
"Oh, father You are unjust. Pm
sure VIII knows as little about the
disappearance of that letter as l do,
I want him to tell you about his
patent"
Il don't want any foolery. Where
have you spent the night, Bill?
"In our barn"
"In your barn p sneered Mr.. Alcot
"a likely storyw
The young man bit his lii S to
keep down rising anger, when Hat
tie interposed.
"Please, father, listen. Willie has
been at work long time on a pa
tent stopper-his own invention. At
night, after he leaves here, he works
at it in.the barn, so that his mother
won't be disturbed. Last night, al
though it was late when he left here
after bringing me home, he said he
felt Just like work. He has secured
patent rights on a crude design and
was anxious to get the perfected
model done and sent away and
everything all secure before he said
anything to anyone. This morning
the finishing touches were put on it,
and after it was packed he sat over
it thinking"-Hattie looked at him
with loving smile at this point
"and then he fell asleep. That's
where l found him?"
"You? how do you know ?"
"Oh, l knew all about it from the
very first?"
"Oh, indeed ! If you know so
much, just tell me what has become
of that letter." was the sarcastic re-
ply.
Perhaps the rats have got in the
house again, she suggested.
"Rats Oh, yes; no doubt. Two
legged rats, who need money to
secure patent rights and make
models, sneered the troubled man,
with irritation.
"Mr. Alcotl Dare you"
Hattie ran to the affronted and
angry young man, quickly placed
one hand on his mouth, and the
other crept around his arm, upon
which she caressingly pressed her
cheek, saying:
Darling, don't mind father; he
cannot mean it so he is anxious"
"What do you mean, my girl ?
What is there between you? Heaven
be good to me Such dishonesty
and deceit right under my nose p'
"Mr. Alcot, hear me-"
81 wont hear. Restore that letter
and clear up this mystery. Harriet,
60 into the kitchen and see to break
fast"
Hattie pressed the unhappy
Wills hand lovingly and obeyed
her fathers command.
"Now, young man, you and
will have talk"
At this moment the door leading
to the second floor opened, and
Martha, who had gone up stairs to
attend to the chamber work, entered
the store again. In her hand she
held that missing letter.
Will gave one joyous bound to-
ward her and grasped at it as one
drowning might grasp at life saw
ing oar.
"Father in heaven | thank thee p
he cried, fervently, and then-Hat-
tie Hattie the letter is found
the letter. the letterp'
Hattie came flying in, gave one
answering glance and burst out cry.
ing "Oh, viii! And father sus.
pected you"
Mr.. Alcot clutched at his beard
again, took the letter and asked in 8
voice hoarse with emotion:
"Where did you find it, Martha p
"In your bed, tHixt the case ant
pillow you slept on"
Goodness sakes! Have | taker
to walking in my sleep again as
did when | was a youngster?"
This was doubtless the case. TIL,
last thing before retiring he hac
, gone to see whether that money let
ter was all right, and in his sleep i
haunted him, with the result tha
caused its removal to safer quarter
near his person. The other two wer
. cast aside as uninportant.
"Bill-I'm hasty old fool" be
l gan the postmaster in awkward, sell
reproachful tones.