The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-12
TREASURED LETTERS

things being as they are. Goodby' Miss Travis"
 But must have my letters back, and that night as I sat up In bed I thought of the way to do 1t.
 Bcn-I mean Mir. Howard; he was BeR to me no longer-lived with Sally Gay's mother.
 Sally was a girl you could trust. She wOs a plain little thing. with something thc matter with her spine. but just as good as gold. told her everything, and now I Intended to tell her the facts of the case and get her to let me go Into Bens room while be was away and look for my letterA
 knew that Ben-I mean Mir. How ard-was out by 8 o'clock. and at o l tapped on the basement window. and Sally. who was making a cherry pie. looked Vp and saw me and opened tha door herself.
 And then and there sat down and told her all about it and about the let ters.
 And l want you to help me to get them. Sally" said. Let me get into Mir. Towards room and take what be- longs Co me And you will, won't your
 "Its a splendid idea." said Sally. You'll have Co wait until lunch is over and Mss Peck and Mrs. Jones go out Then mother wlll lie down for a nap and Biddy VIII be getting things ready for dinner and Sarah rubbing the forks and glasscs m get the pass key. or course we have one for every room. Now, do stay for lunch. dar. ling"
 And cold shlvers ran up my back when Sally unlocked the door. md we were really In the room -his room.
 "I suppose he keeps his letters in his desk" said she. "I know he doesn't put them In his trunk. This key un- locks all the drawers and desks in the house. We keep lt to lend the lodgcrs when they lose their key rings. Now, I shall lock you In and come for you in on hour"
 I drew a chair to the desk and sat down and turned the key In the lock.
 There was nothing inside but some note paper md a little package of toolscap and pens and an inkstand md a plotting pad
 shut the desk and looked ln the drawer. There was a cigar box.
 "Oh. dear" thought, where can | look nOwT' And l wns about Co try my key on the drawers when 1 heard the street door open and shut and fcOt ascend thc stairs
 Then key rattlcd In the lock. and l did the only possible thing to avoid dis covcry-Ot least for moment
 There was Q wardrobe cupboard with curtains before lt. l ran toward it and stood bolt upright in the corner as BcD T mean Mir IIoward-cntercd. follow cd by another man.
 They shut the door and sat down. They lighted their pipes.
 Ben" said the strange person, ''yUp are not looking we'll"
 "I'm feeling wrctchedly," said Mir. Howard. 'I wouldn't tell another fel- low. but l believe my heart is broken There. don't laugh. You sec that pho tograph on the mantelplecel We were engaged Co each other" said Ben. "and loved her better than my life. and thought she was very fond of me But sou know my grandfather cut me out Of his will and then a rich fellow be- ean to call upon her. and she picked Q quarrel with mc-that's nll. She's a nlercenary little wretch. but IT am a fool. Henry. love her still I shall keep her photograph all my life and her letters to read and kiss. would not give them up"
 Stun and nonsense" said this Mir. Henry y-hcartleSs brute. You'll find a better girl in no time"
 There is but one woman in the world for me" said Ben. There. now. I'm done. You know my trouble. I'll hide it from the world. and you will never speak of it to any one, know"
 You'll not have any trouble in six months" said the horrible Mir. Henry. "NOw you'll come up and spend your holiday with me. won't youI I'll just step out and buy those things for my wife, and you pack up what you need auu meet me nc the station
 Then Henry walked away. and Beo yes. Ben. my poor Ben-took a bun de of letters from his bosom and kiss ed them and took down my photograph and kissed that. and then, having pull ed a bag from the corner. he walked straight Co the wardrobe and drew the curtain back
 The next moment be was staring at me and Ot him.
 "Is it her ghostT' I heard him nut. ter. and I-wcil. there 1 was. It was not a situation Co impart dignity.
 'It is only me in the flesh, Ben" l said. 'I wish ! was a ghost SO that [ could vanish. And now you can boast all your life If you like. And ] will sny something. Firstly, did not care about your grandfather's horrid money. Secondly. I-I-only meant to nN a little not to break off-Only to lrichten you. Thirdly, I-I-oh. I've found out that you really md truly loved me. Ben, and though lt is broken on IT want to know-I used to love you very much-and l couldn't be go- Ing to marry old Mir. Javerill. for he is engaged to my aunt Ophella. and he r.ss.r rvnufnT rnn | enmn f0 wnf my