The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-11

money-1ll trust you, even if you
don't want to trust me-"
ST can't do it.''
"Here, take ten for yourself and
give me the letter.
"No."
"rake fifty, then. Keep lido
what you please with it. I'll lose
thousands of DOLE " if I miss that con-
tract"
Mabel only shook her head.
Take the whole two hundred dol
lars! You can use it. Nobody will
ever know. I'll never come back to
bother you. Give me the letterr' and
he pushed the money in so that it al
most fell to the floor.
Mabel pushed it back, saying, 'It
will do you no good to make me any
such offers. You cannot have the let
ter till you are properly identified. "
II will have it, he fairly shouted,
snatching back the money and hurry
ing around to the side toward the door
through which access was had to the
interior, and which had, been left ajar
by the boy who had taken the mail
sack. But Mabel was too quick for
him, and pushed it shut in his face.
The spring lock clicked, and she
caught her breath with feeling of re-
lief; but he threw himself against the
door heavily, shattering tho catch and
sending the door back on its hinges
with a crash, The edge just struck
her forehead, and everything began to
turn black before her eyes; but there
stood the safe door open. She sprang
toward it, knowing as she did so that
she just missed the mans grasp.
The heavy door went shut with q
dull bump. With one hand she turned
the handle which threw the bolts, and
with the other spun round the COM
bination knob. Then the darkness
became complete, and she remembered
no more.
The next thing she heard was con-
fused murmur Of voices. Then she
opened her eyes and saw that she was
still in the postofice, lying on the dis
tributing table. Doctor Roberts, the
village physician, was bending over
her, and assuring her mother, who
stood pale and frightened, that the
patient was not in danger. Mr.. Blod-
gett and two or three neighbors were
also there. The voices came from a
crowd Of people in the outer room.
"There," said the doctor, YOU'RE
going to be all right now. You can
so homeia my carriage. I'll go along. "
''Did-did he get the letter." asked
Mabel, feebly.
NO, answered Mr.. Blodgett.
"Never mind about the letter." said
the doctor. '"We'll tell you about
that tomorrow. Well just take you
home now"
They carried her outside to the easy
carriage which was waiting. As she
drove away she heard half the popula-
ton of the village, gathered at the
Office in full force, set up cry Of
"Three cheers for Mabel" and they
were given with will.
Tha next afternoon she was able to
sit up at hcme. Mr.. Blodgett came
and congratulated her on what she had
done. He told her that after she had
become unconscious the man had es-
capped by running across the field to
the nearby woods, and that it now
appeared he had good reason for run
ming away, since he was the accom-
plice Of some burglars at Riverside
who had sent him large sum Of
money, stolen the night befere, in the
letter, fearing immediate arrest them
themselves. This had been estab-
lished by Riverside officers who had
arrested all the men, including the
one who had come to the Office, that
morning, and by postofice inspector
who had taken possession Of the letter.
A week later Mabel was back in the
Office. Mr.. Blodgett said to her the
first morning:
"The folks here have been talking
the matter over, and have decided on
giving you slight reward in the
shape Of q purse of money in recog-
milton Of what you did the ether day.
Some OF them are coming in after q
while, and I thought I'd tell you so
you wouldn't be too much surprised" !"
They're very kind" said Mabel,
instantly, "but T couldn't take any
thing. You please tell them so, and
stop their coming. I didn't do any
thing more that day than my duty,
and 1 couldn't take any reward FOR
that; but you can thank them for me,
please" "
Mr.. Blodgett went out, and she
took up the old work. She heard no
mere about the reward
But three weeks later a big official
envelope came, addressed to her own
name. II was letter, and the COM
mission from the PostoAice Depart
ment, appointing Mabel Loomis Post
mistress at Downingville, vice j. P.
Blodgett, resigned. 49, Youths Com
panion.