The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1899-05-19

. you 10 get INTO any trouble on my nc.
count. I'll show you in another way
that am telling you the truth. I'm
going TO be in town again in about q
week. III just deposit ten dollars with
you-you can give me a receipt and the
letter, and if you find it's all right. as
you will by that time. you can give me
back my money"
NO, there is no rule authorizing any
snch thing"
III leave you $50. Don't you see l
wouldn't do that If didn't know it
would be all right, and I'd 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. lie pulled a roll of bills
from his pocket. and laid II down in the
window. I'll make it 800, yes, $780,"
and he pushed in four $50 bills. III
miss a big contract if l don't get that
letter instantly. Give 1t to me! Never
mind about writing a receipt for the
money-l'll trust you even if YOU don't
want to trust me-"
81 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 miss that contract"
Mabel only shook her head.
Take the whole $500! You can use
IT, Nobody will ever know. III never
come back 10 bother you. Give me the
letter!" and he pushed the money in so
that 1t almost 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 letter
till you are properly identified"
u 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 aiar bv
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 a feeling Of re-
liefi but he threw himself against the
door heavily, shattering the catch and
sending the door back on its hinges
with a crash. The edge just struck her
orehead, and everything began TO
turn black before her eyes; but there
stood the safe door open. She sprang
oward 1t, knowing as she did so that
he just missed the mans grasp.
The heavy door went shut with dull
'ump With one hand she turned the s
handle which threw the bolts. and with '
he other spun round the combination {
mob. Then the darkness became COM
lete, and she remembered no more. C
The next thing she heard was a con- t
used murmur of voices. Then she y
pened her eyes and saw that she was (
'ill in the post Office, lying on the dis
1buting table. DR.. Roberts, the vii y
ge physician, was bending over her, b
nj assuring her mother who stood 81
ale and frightened, that the patient ~
as not in danger Mr. Blodgett and
'o or three neighbors were also there. -,
be voices came from a crowd Of peo- .,
G in the outer room. "
There" said the doctor, you're 90 ~,
g to be all right now. You can 90 -
me IN my carriage. III go along"
"Did-did he get the letter." asked
abel, feebly. y"
Never mind about the letter." said 81
G doctor. "We'll. tell you about that ca
morrow. Wen just take you home ,n u,
w" la
They carried her out to the easy car 10
ge which was waiting. As she drove
.ay she heard half the population of Is
village, gathered at the office in full n.
zee, set up cry Of "Three cheers for WI
bell" and they were given with a WI
u. ito
The next afternoon she was able TO mi
up at home. Mr.. Blodgett came and
lgratulated her on what she had Ne
ie. He told her that after she had car
'ome unconscious the man had es- to
'ed by running across the field to cos
nearby woods, and that it now ap- to
red he had good reason for running pr,
~ since he was the accomplice OF Ros
le burglar at Riverside who had sent
large sum Of money, stolen the n
ht before, In the letter, fearing i'm A.
late arrest themselves This had -.
D established by the Riverside Of -.
rs, who had arrested the men. in 80
ling the one who had come to the - .
e. that morning, and by O post Of 80 80
inspector who had taken possession -
he letter. -
week later Mabel was back in the - -
e. Mr.. Blodgett said to her the first ltl 'lol
ming: ~ ""'
The folks here have been talking the - &,
ter over and have decided on Civ 80,
you slight reward in the shape Of sror
lrse of money in recognition of eao,
{ you did the other day. Some of s',,.
q are coming in after awhile, and -
ought I'd tell you so you wouldn't 200.
DO much surprised" aa1ss s
hey're very kind said Mabel, IN H.
tly, "but couldn't take anything. 80
please tell them So and stop their
ng- didn't do anything more
day than my duty, and | couldn't II
any reward for that; but you can soils
X 'nem lor me- please ing,
Blodgett went out and she took tilizi
ne old work She heard no more in NJ
I the reward conn