Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-03


cover Il. There were some plate
lsyers at work on the line not very
fer away, and some OF the"
~,,e smoking. There had hesn ."
rain for week. Whist was more likeiy
lbsn that one Of these nayyies MA
picked up the screw Of pink paper an
lit bis pipe ~iih il? The whole OF the
next days hunting brought mo no bst
ter luck, though searched from morn.
ing till night, up and down, till could
scarcely limp, | was so tired. | began
to think that | should have to 90 back
TO London empty hsnded-which would
have been harder to put up with be-
cause, having had plenty Of leisure to
turn the matter over in my mind. J
thought saw my way to making ESQ
out Of it."
"How SOP" demanded Mr.. Gentles.
who manifested much interest in the
story.
"I'n tell you why" returned the
narrator, with a wink. "1t was not
much the chap had told me, but, put
ting this and that npgether, what
made out Of it was this: The lady men
toned was the chaps wife, aud the
third party they had the words about
was somebody he was jealous Of. IL
Was the third party who had sent
her the pink letter-it was delivered
by hand, bear in mind-ahd how
much cause the husband had for being
Jealous was revealed by the circum-
stances of her getting rid Of it slyly by
throwing i. out Of the railway-carriage
window. So I thought to myself if |
had the letter, and it should turn out to
be a nice Of compromising kind OF
ore, I'll work you, my lady, instead oil
your husband. Since he is so ready
with $50 you can't be poor, and very
likely you would be glad to give hun
bred for it" An ejaculation of adj
miration on the part Of Mr.. Gentles
caused the speaker to pause. "Rasp-
berry, old boy" exclaimed the former
with emotion, "Give us your fist. Ibid
not think it was in you, - me If |
did. Did it come off?" How could
it," returned the lighthearted NJ.
Raspberry, with laugh; " didn't
tell You that fifty was all that ]
esrned?" "Tben it was laundering
pity" said Mr.. Gen!les with a
weiehty oath, sit was talent
chucked away" "Well, it would have
been talent wasted any how, because the
pink letter did not prove to be anything
like the scorcher it nigh. have bcen.''
"You found it. then?" " | found i. on
the third day, in the field where the
brown cows were, trod six inchss into
the clay by one Of their hoof3. 1t was
screwed up just as he said; and what
dye think it vas? 1t was letter
rom tie young woman to her mother.
| had got the clue, aud it was easy
enough to interpret. She had written
10 the old lady, asking her to come on
a visit. and telling her to pretend
she could only stay day or two, bat
that she (the daugh,erl had no doubt
he would be able to coax " William
and her mother might mako sure OF
stay ing g month at least. The few
words no doubt" continued Mr..
Raspberry, twas precious row, and,
IS tho wife had not posted the letter
be had written to her husbands
mother-in-lsN, she thought it as wellto
postpone it for the present, and 50
threw it away. So I carefully screwed
it back int the old shape, and took
the next train and was in London in
lire to catch my chap before ne left
he Office in the city. lie was all
of a tremblS when took it out OF my
pocket. Ho stretched ont his hand,
snd never saw = fellow look more
sheepish than he did when he read it.
Then he burst out laughing and crunch.
ed it sp and threw it into the fire, and
went to desk and gave me out OF 1t
ten IS notes. i won't ask you il you
have read that COMPOUNDED letter. said
he, because | know you have, and,
having done so. you are aware that you
have got the best Of the bargain. So
be eff and keep your mouth shut
and ,s there was nothing to be got By
opening it." said the ingenious Mr..
Raspberry in conclusion, " did So"