The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-03-11

said ..,~..
The man by this time was growing
very red in the face, and was glancing
more nervously than ever over his
shoulder. He hesitated moment. and
then with little forced laugh, went on
in quieter tone:
"Of course maybe you're right ac-
cording to the strict rule. | don't want
you to get into any trouble on my ac-
count. III show you in another way
that | am telling you the truth. I'm
going to be in town again in about a
week. I'll just deposit ten dollars wit
you-you can give me receipt and the
letter, and if you find it's all right, as
you will BIZ that time, you can give me
back my money"
mo, there is no rule authorizing any
such thing"
I'm leave you $50. Don't you see
wouldn't do that if l didn't know it
would be all right, and Id get my
money back?"
Perhaps not, but it would be an alto
gether irregular thing for me to do"
why, you're unreasonable cried
the man, again beginning to lose his
self-control. He pulled roll of bills
from his pocket, and laid it down in the
window "I'll make it 500, yes, $780,
and he pushed in four $50 bills. I'll
miss big contract if don't get that
letter instantly. Give it to me-! Never
mind about writing receipt for the
money-I'll trust you even if you don't
want to trust me-"
II can't do it,"
Here, take a ten for yourself and
give me the letter"
NO"
Take $50, then. Keep lido what
you please with it. I'll lose thousands
OF dollars if l miss that contract"
Mabel only shook her head.
Stake the whole 5000! You can use
it. Nobody will ever know. I'll never
come back to bother you. Give me the
letter." and he pushed the money in so
that it almost fell to the floor.
Mabel pushed it back, saying: at
will do you no good to make me any
such offers. You cannot have the letter
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 in
terror, 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 the catch and
sending the door back on its hinges
with 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 dull
bump. With one hand she turned the
handle which threw the bolts, and with
the other spun round the combination
knob. Then the darkness became COM
plete, 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 post office, lying on the dis
tr:buting table. DR.. Roberts, the vii.
lage physician, was bending over her,
ana assuring her mother, who stood
pale and frightened, that the patient
was not in danger. Mr.. Blodgett and
two or three neighbors were also there.
The voices came from a crowd of peo-
pie in the outer room.
There" said the doctor, you're 60
ing to be all right now. You can 60
home in my carriage. I'll go along"
"Did-did he get the letter." asked
Mabel. feebly.
Never mind about the letter." said
the doctor. "We'll tell you about that
tomorrow. Wen just take you home
now"
They carried her out to the easy car
rage which was waiting. AS she drove
away she heard half the population OF
the village, gathered at the office in full
force, set up a cry of ''Three cheers for
Mabel" and they were given with
will.
The next afternoon she was able to
sit up at home. Mr.. Blodgett came and
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 ap-
peared he had good reason for running
away, since he was the accomplce of
some burglar at Riverside who had sent
him large sum of money, stolen the
light before, in the letter, fearing i'm
mediate arrest themselves. This had
been established by the Riverside of
icers, who had arrested the men, in
'luding the one who had come to the |
office, that morning, and by post Of
ice inspector who had taken possession
If the letter
A week later Mabel was back in the |!
:flice. Mr.. Blodgett said to her the first |
morning: