The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-02-16

as many as q hundred thousand ailing
women a year. All women who suffer
are invited to write to Mrs. Pinkham
at Lynn, Mass, for advice, which will
be promptly given without charge.
the editor literally grabbed at the
''oopy," especially after he had fairly
convinced himself that his would be
the first paper to publish the startling
news on the morrow. Elsie went weari-
ly home with the much needed money
in her pocket Harold was waiting in
hiding for her and pounced down eager.
ly on the gold
An boar after his departure their I'M
cle's manager came to the house and
asked to see Elsie When he was ad-
mitted into her presence, he noticed
with sharp pang how wan and desc
late her little face had grown.
Poor child! Such things as these
were hard for her to have to bear. How
he wished that he could save her all
care and annoyance in the future! For
with the whole of his stout, loyal heart
he loved her
He showed her a telegram which he
had received from her uncle.
Returning at once, it said. keep
news of robbery out of the papers at
any price till see you.
Elsie read the words, or, rather they
chased each other before her dizzy,
aching eyes: She suddenly tottered for
ward and fell i'll dead faint.
Next morning huge posters appeared
from the Offices of the Blackmore Times,
making public the robbery. Newsboys
shouted it frantically from one street to
another. Soon a big crowd had gathered
outside the bank, clamoring loudly for
the doors to be- opened
They wanted their money back, their
hard Won earnings, and they meant to
get it. That exclusive news sold by
Elsie Maitland on the previous evening
to the editor of the Blackmore Times
had caused an appalling run on her IN
cle's bank,
The doors were opened at last. The
crowd surged in. presenting checks to
the full amount they had deposited in
the bank. They looked astonished when
the gold came over the counter in tbeiz
direction. Clearly they had expected to
be turned away penniless. They thanked
their stats for being the first. The bank
could not 60 Oh paying out for long. Of
that they felt sure.
At noon Elsie and her uncle drove up
to the front entrance in an open car
riage. He had insisted ON her accom-
panying him, despite the fact that she
looked wretchedly pale and i'll.
All the way along they had seen those
hideous posters announcing the robbery.
How did they get the news?" John
Rivers kept repeating. ELSIE, child,
how did they get the news: 1t is a mys-
terry to me- II only it could have beeD
| Kept from them another "a hours,
could have weathered the storm.
Poor Elsie's heart ached
II have done it!' she cried. "The
fault is mine-mine! Oh. Harold. il
only could have toreseen all this! II
only l could have foreseen it allr
AS yet Elsie had not told her uncle
who supplied the news to the paper
She prayed fervently that she might be
able to keep the knowledge to herseli
forever, safely hidden FROM the fond ole
man who believed in her Fate would
| decide.
For hours she sat in little room ovel
the bank, listening to the persistent
clamorings below for gold.
How much longer could it 20 on?
mot much lOnger!' John Rivers
said dejectedly to his suffering niece
"Not much longer, Elsie. my girl
They must have paid it nearly all ou
by now. Soon they will have to clos,
the doors. Don't cry, child. 1t is th'
will of Providence, suppose. but it,
hard to get such blow as this at my
time of life!'
Presently there were sounds of cheer
ing in the street A we'll known mil
lionaire had driven up to the bank.
my Godr' muttered the old banker
This is the last straw! Reginald Fair
fax has turned against me with the rest
When he has withdrawn his money
there won't be Il penny left''
"Go and see hln,, uncle" Elsie
pleaded He is so rich he might b,
persuaded to leave it,
| ''No. child. could not speak to hin
or any one else today"
| 'Then | will, uncle. Oh, do go ant
send him here to me! must see him
Reginald will save us!"
| John Rivers went blindly out, and
Elsie waited for Reginald Fairfax t,
come to her Twice this self made MAJ
had asked her to marry him; twice sh'
had refused He was rich, but he wa
also coarse Life with him would be
nightmare, she had always told herself
She did not love him.
But now
| He was standing there in front o
her, loudly dressed and looking NOR,
commonplace and vulgar than ever
How could she appeal to this boorisi
parvenu? She must, though; she hat
worked the mischief, and she must RICH
it if possible.
At the end of another five minutes
she was telling him everything-al
about her brother and her selling th,
news Of the robbery to the editor II,
| listened in silence. She humbled hersel
to the dust before him and uegged hin
not to Withdraw his money from tn
bank
| He smiled queerly
| "You twice asked me to be YOU
wife, she wound up feverishly, "ant
/ refused you Would you still MARI,
me, Mr.. Fairfax? Oh. do answer! If
| said tvoS uOuld vo,, ctill mo rrv may