Middletown transcript., 1899-04-01
'sIs there registered letter for M.
p. Morganstone here2'

! answered Nun III LIS alnfmallV6s Wne
t he continued:
Q "Tbat is my name-M. P. Morgan
B stone. Please let me have it,
"The rules require Identification il
! the case Of registered letters, yol
know, " answered Mabel.
"Oh yes, / had forgotten. Well,
I am stranger here, but / can shoV
you Who am all right" He searched
his pockets. taking out number o
papers and old letters. Two of th,
latter he pushed through the window
"There you see, miss-"M. P. Nor
/, gan5tone, Watertown. just give mi
the letter-it's very important for mt
! to catch the up-train.n
"But l can't give out a registered
letter on such Identification. Mr.
Blodgett, the postmaster, has instruct.
ed me not to do So"
Mabel's suspicious were beginning
to be slightly aroused by one thing
about the man. Twice since coming
up to the window he had glanced over
his shoulder at the door. She knew
Of course, that it was her duty to de-
liver the letter if he could fully con-
vince her that it belonged to him; but
she determined to insist on Identified
tion OF the strictest kind, as matter
of protection to herself and her en-
ployer.
"Why, see here, I've got lots of
registered letters on less identifica-
tion than this, and at larger Offices"
the man said. "You're going beyond
the rules"
"No, don't think | am. A post
master is responsible for registered
letters. If he delivers one to the
wrong person the rightful owner can
hold him accountable. Mr.. Blodgett
is very particular. He has told me to
deliver no such letters to strangers
except on Identification such as would
be satisfactory at bank. You must
know that there you would. have to be
vouched for by some one known per-
sonally to the bank people,"
II can describe the letter." went on
the man, ignoring what she had said.
Large. Gblong envelope. From J.
IL. Smith, Riverside. Mailed this
morning. Isn't that right2"
Yes, but ! can't let you have it
without proper Identification. Mabel
was becoming more suspicious Of the
man every moment. His disappoint-
ment and worry over the situation
seemed to ie bringing his true char
acter to the surface, and his face and |
manrer were rapidly growing less
gentlemanly.
"Why, | never saE anything like |
this. DO you know can make trou.
BILE for ycu with the department for
holding back my letter. You know l
am telling you the truth about who l
am, and you have no right to delay
my mail.n
Mabel made no reply at all, but held
her ground at the window.
snow see here, miss, no foolishness.
Fm business man and my time is
worth money. Pm a contractor, and
that letter contains papers valuable to
me, but of no value 10 anyone else.
Plans and specifications of new factory
Pm bidding for over at WATERFOWL.
Give it TO me and let me catch my
train. It's a matter of dollars and
cents to me-"
81 cannot do II" was all that Mabel
said,
The man by this time was growing
very red in the face, and was glanc-
ing more nervously than ever over his
shoulder. He hesitaLed a moment,
and then, with a little forced laugh,
went on 10 quister tone.
''Of course maybe you're right ac-
cording to the strict rule. I don't
want, you to get into any trouble on
my account, I'll show you in another
way that I'm telling the truth. I'm
going to be in town again in about
week. III just deposit ten dollars with
you-you can give me receipt and
the letter, and il you find its all right,
as you will by that time, you can give
me back the money!
"No, there is no rule authorizing
any such thing"
"I'll leave you ffty dollars. Don't
you see / wouldn't do that if' didn't
know 1t would be all right, and I'd get
ny money backPn
Perhaps not, but it would be an
altogether irregular thing for me to
io.n 1.
aWhy, 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
he window. "I'll make it hundred
iollars, yes, two hundred" and be
pushed in four tifty-dollar bills. "I,l
miss big contract If dan't get that
etter instantly. Give it to mel Never :
mind about writing a receipt for the /,
noney-I'll trust you. even IL You :
ion't want to trust me. y
II can't doit.n
Here. take ten for yourself and :
give me the letter. +.
"No.n
Take q ilfty, then. Keep lido
What you please with it. I'll lose
thousands Of dollars II miss that con-
ract.n
Nab | oDly shook her head.
Take the whole two hundred dol J
arsl You can use it. Nobody will
yer know. LII never come back TO !
,other you. Give me the letteri', ana {