Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-11-29

,sunM-k's very Important far IL -
each ths uptrln."
"But I 0aw give out reg&2eEsa
letter On such idan0G0lion. Mr. Bid
gut the postmaster, has instructed
me not 10 do 60"
Mabels suspicious were beginning 10
Be slightly aroused by one thing about
tho man. Twice SINCE coming up to the
window be had glanced over his shoul-
der ait the door. She knew, of course,
that 1t was her duty TO deliver the let.
ter If he could fully convince her thss
1t belonged 10 him, but she determined
to insist upon Identification of the
stricuest kind as mauter of prote<-
ton Ito herself and her employer.
"Why, see here, I've got lots of re-
gistered LETTERS on LESS identification
than this, and aIt larger Offices" the
MAN said. You're going beyond the
rules" :.
mo, / don't think l am. A post
master is responsible for registered
letters. If be delivers one Ito 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 ex-
cept on Identification such as would be
satisfactory ait bank. You must know
that there you would to be vouched for
by some one known personally to the
bank people,
Il can describe the letter" went on
the man, ignoring what she said.
Large oblong envelope. From j. H.
Smith, Riverside. Mailed this morning.
Isn't that right?"
Eyes, but can't let you have 1t
without proper identification" Mabel
was becoming more suspicious Of the
man every moment. His disappoint-
ment and worry over the situation
seemed TO be bringing his true charac-
ter to the surface, and his face and
manner were rapidly growing less
gentIemanly.-
'Now see here, miss, no fJolishness.
I'm "a business man and my time is
worth money. I'm contractor, and
that letter contains papers valuable to
me, but of no value ITO any one else,
plans and specifications OF new fac.
tory I'm bidding for over ait Water
town. Give 1T ito Inc and let me catch
my train. It's matter of dollars and
cents to me-"
II cam NOT do It," was all THAT Mabel
said.
The man by this time was growing
very red in the face, and was CHANGING
more nervously than ever over his
shoulder. He hesitated a moment, and
then with forced laugh went on in
quieter tone:
"Of course maybe you're right ac.
oording ITO the strict rule. don't want
you Ito get into trouhls on my account. .
run show iu another way THAT I'm tell
ing the truth. I'm going Ito be IN
tdwn again i'm about week. I'Q just
deposit $40 with you-you can give me
a receipt and the letter, and II you
find it's all right, as you will by that
time you can give me back the
money"
"No, there i NO rule authorizing
any such thing"
"I'M leave $50. Don't you see
wouldn't do 1t II l didn't know 1t would
be all night, and I'd get my money
back?"
perhaps mot, but IT would be an al.
together Irregular thing for me to do"
"Why, you're unreasonable" cried
the man again beginning to lose his
self-cdntrol. He pulled out a roll Of
bills from his pocket, and laid tt down
in the window.
"Il make 1T $500, yes, $780, and he
pushed in four $50 bills. "I'll miss a
big contract if l don't get that letter
instantly. Give it to mel Never mind
about writing "a receipt for the money
Pm trust you, even If you don't want
to trust me-" -
81 can't do It."
"Here, take ten for yourself and give
me the letter.
NO"
"Take fifty, then. Keep lido
what you please with 1t. I'll lose thou.
sands of dollars if l miss that con-
trlact."
Mabel only shook her head.
Take the whole two hundred dol.
lars. You can use it. Nobody will
ever know. I'm never come back TO
bother you. Give me the letter." and
he pushed the money in so that 1t al
most fell to the floor.
Mabel pushed it back, saying, 1T
will do you MO good to make me any
such offer You cannot have the Vet
ter till you are properly identified"
II will have it," he fairly shouted,
snatching back the money and hur-
rying 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
nlallsack. But Mabel was too quick tor
him, pushed DIT and shut 1t in his face.
The spring lock clicked and she
caught her breath with "a feeling OF