Middletown transcript., 1899-04-01

ing around to the side toward the doc
through which access was had to tt
interior, and which had been left ala
By the boy who had taken the mail
sack. But Mabel was too quick fc
him, and pushed it shut in his face.
i The spring lock clicked, and sh
caught her breath with a feeling of re
lief; but he threw himself against th
door heavily, shattering the catch am
sending the door back ON it's hinge
with a crash. The edge just strucl
her forehead, and everything began t,
turn black before her eyes; but ther
stood the safe door open. She sprant
toward it, knowing as she did so tina
she just missed the mans grasp.
The heavy door went shut with {
dull bump. With one hand she turned
the handle which t. rev the bolts, anG
with the OF er spun round the com
binalion knob. Then the darkness
became complete, and she remembered
no more.
The next thing she heard was a con-
fused murmur of voices. Then she
opened her eyes aud saw that she was
still in the postofice, lying on the dis
tributing table. Doctor Roberts, the
village physician, was bending over
her, a4d assuring her mother, who
stood pale and frightened, that the pa
tient was not in danger. Mr.. Blodgett
and two or three neighbors were also
there. The voices CANA from crowd
of people in the outer room.
"There said the doctor, "you're going
to be all right now, You can go home
in my carriage. I'll go along"
''Did-did lie get the letter." asked
Mabel, feebly.
NO." answered Mr.. Blodgett.
"Never mind about the letter. said
the docter. "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-
tion Of the village, gathered at the Of
fee in full force, set up cry Of "Three
cheers for Mabel" and they were Civ
en- with a will.
The next afternoon she was able to
sit up at home. Mr.. Blodgett came
and congratulated her on what she had
done. He told her that after she had
become unconscious the man had esr
capped by running across the field to the
nearby woods. and that il now appear,
ed he had good reason for running away
since he was the accomplioe of some
burglars at riverside who had sent him
. large sum Of money, stolen the night
before, in the letter, fearing immediate
arrest themselves. This had been es-
,ablished by Riverside officers who had
arrested all the men, including the one
Who had come to the Office, that morn
ng, and by postoffice inspector who
lad taken possession of the letter.
A week later Mable was back in the
'fice. Mr.. Blodgett said to her the
lrst morning:
THE folks have been talking the
natter over, and have decided On giving
ou slight reward in the shape of a
'urse Of money in recognition of what
ou did the other day. Some of them
re coming in after a while, and |
hought I'D tell you SO you wouldn't be
90 much surprised"
"They're very kind y said Mabel, in.
family, ''but l couldn't take anything.
lou please tell them SO, and step their
oming. I didn't do anything more
bat day than my duty, and | couldu't
axe any reward for that; !; but you thank
hem for me, pleass.n
Mr., Blodgett went out, and she took
p the old work, She heard no more
bout the reward.
But three weeks later a big officialen-
elope come addressed to her own name.
t was letter, and the commission
rom the Postoffice Department, ap-
ointing Mable Loomis Postmistress at
'owningvilIe, vice J. P. Blodgett, re-
Igned.-Youths Companion.