Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1899-04-06

miss big contract if don't get that
letter instantly. Give it to me, Never
mind about writing a receipt for the
lnoney-Ill trust you, even if You
don't want TO trust me-
II can't 90 It.
Here, take q ten for yourself ana
give me the letter.
No"
"Take fifty, then. Keep lido
what You please with It. I'll lose
thousands OF dollars il 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 III never come back to
bother you. Give me the letter. 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" +"
I viii 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, sLattefing 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; bat there
stood the safe door open. She sprang
toward i, 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 COM
bination knob. Then the darkness
became complete, and she remembered
no more.
Tie next thing she heard was q con-
fused murmur Of voices. Then she
opened her eyes and saw that she was
still IN the postof1ice, lying on the dis
tributing table Doctor Roberts, the
village physician was bending over
her, and assuring her mother, who
stood pale and iligltened, that the
| patient was not IN danger. Mr.. Blod
gett and two or three neighbors were
crowd q oeoPphse oPphe III lhof{6ess f{ess oGag5a Sane from
"There," :" said the doctor, 20
going to be all right now. You can
60 home IN my carriage. III go along. ,
"D;d-did he getthe letter?' asked
Mabel, feebly.
NO" answ cred Mr. Blodgett.
"Never mind about the letter, said
the doctor. "We'll tell you about
that tomorrow. Wen just take you
home now
They carried her outside to the easy
carriage which was waiting. As she
drove away she heard half tho popnla
ton OF the village, gathered at the
Office III fui force, set up cry @
s'TAree cheers for MabelI' and they
were given with u viii.
Tha next afternoon she was able to
sit up at home. Mr. Blodgett cane
ana Congratulated her on what She Aa(
done. He told her that after she hd'
become UNCONSCIOUS the man had e5
) capel by running across the field t.
the nearby woods, and that it noy
i appeared lie lad good reason for run
: ming away, since lie was the accom-
/ pIice OF some burglars at hlversid
: who had sent hlm large sum {
money. stolen the night belere, III ii
q letter. fearing immediate arrest then
J. themselves. This nal been estal
II iisle;l by Riverside officers who la
/ arrested all the men, including Il
/. one who ha1 como 70 the Office, ths
y morning, and by 4 postotlice inspectc
who had taken possession of the lette
It \ week later Mabel was back IN Il
office. Mr. Blodgctt said to her Il
/ first morning:
8 The folks here have been tallsir
e the matter over, and have decided
IS ciying you a light reward II t
Y shape oI a purse Of money III reco
Of niti;,u q wlat You did the other ia
at Some of them are coming ii after
ct while, aud I thought II tell yoa
Of vou wouldn't BE too much surprised
They're ve1y kind, said Nao'
,et instantly. 'Iut I couldn't take an
.Aiag. Wa please tell then 50, a
&C 900 their coming. [ didn't 10 al
. thing more that day than ny out
IS and / couldn't take any reward
i, shat. Dur you can tLanl. them Ior L
"a, please
~. 1910 leett went our. and 5
B. took up The old work She heard
I more ao9ut tle reward.
q Bat three weeks later big o--io
= envelope cane. aldre~ sei 10 her o
4, u.,ae il as letter, and the 60
sni--.eu tson .4e Pesto-tite Iepa
IS" n4r..t as a.rJsng Mabel Loo-4ll8 II
r. 14i>tre-. a. bsrl.n1vllla. We j
81 H!ctt. relaue0. = Gont1' : c
1a.:qa.
~ v.,..aslt :ss72ra,in...
I'll. -o-. valuable engraTin5s
IT tlse world are t--e four impression;
mt Ee4hIa1at, portrait u man lean