Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-17
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Treasured Letters.

i VIII not give you DacR your letters,
Miss Travis. 1 suppose the fact that
my grandfather did not leave me his
property has a good deal to do with
things being as they are. Goodby, Miss
Travis"
But must have my letters back. and
that night as / sat up in bed thought
Of the way TO do IL.
Benz mean Mr.. Howard; he was
Ben to me no longer-lived with Sally
Gray's mother.
Sally was a girl you could trust. She
was plain little thing. with something
the matter with her spine, but just as
good as gold. l told her everything.
and now intended to tell her the facts
of the case and get her to let me go
into Ben's room while he was away
and look for my letters.
/ knew that Benz mean Mr.. How
ard-was out by 8 o'clock. and at 9
tapped on the basement window, and
Sally, who was making a cherry pie,
looked 70 and saw me and opened the
door herself.
And then and there l sat down and
told her all about ii and about the let
tiers.
And l want you to help me to get
them. Sally" l said. Let me get into
Mr.. Towards room and take what be-
longs 10 me. And you will. won't youF
Its Il splendid idea" said Sally.
You'll have to wait until lunch is over
and Miss Peck and Mrs. Jones go out.
Then mother will lie down for n nap
and Biddy will be getting things ready
for dinner and Sarah rubbing the
forks and glasses. III get the pass
key. or course we have one for every
room. Now, do stay for lunch, dar-
ling"
And cold shivers ran up my back
when Sally unlocked the door. and we
We're really in the room-his room.
81 suppose he keeps his letters in his
desk" said she. Il know he doesn't
put them In his trunk. This key I'M
locks all the drawers and desks in the
house. We keep it to lend the dodgers
when they lose their key rings. Now,
shall lock you in and come for you in
an hour"
/ drew q chair to the desk and sat
down and turned the key in the lock.
There was nothing inside but some
note paper and a little package Of
foolscap and pens and an inkstand and
a blotting pad
/, shut the desk and looked in the
drawer. There was n cigar box.
"Oh, dear" l thought, where can
look now?" And was about to try my
key on the drawers when l heard the
street door open and shut and feet
ascend the stairs.
Then a key ratified in the lock, and /
did the only possible thing to avoid dis
covery-at least for moment.
There was n wardrobe cupboard with
curtains before It. / ran toward It and
stood bolt upright in the corner as Ben
Il mean Mr. Howard-entered. follow
ed by another man.
They shut the door and sat down.
They lighted their pipes.
Ben" said the strange person, you
are not looking we'll"
I'm feeling wretchedly." said Mr..
Howard. Il wouldn't tell another fell
low. but believe my heart is broken.
There. don't laugh. You see that pho
tograph on the mantelpiece? We were
engaged to each other" said Ben, "and
I loved her better than my life, and l
thought she was very fond of me. But
you hilOM MY cut mt OuL
OF his will. and then Il rich fellow be-
gan TO call upon her. and she picked n
quarrel with me-that's all. She's 4
mercenary little wretch. but IL am q
fool, Henry. / love her still. / shall
keep her photograph all my life and
her letters to read and kiss. 1 would
not give them up
STUFF and nonsenser said this Mr.
Henry-heartless 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, l know"
You'll not have any trouble in six
months" said the horrible Mr.. Henry.
"NOw you'll come up and spend your
holiday with me. won't you? I'll just
step out and buy those things for my
wife, and you pack up what you need
and meet me at the station
Then Henry walked away. and Ben
yes. Ben, my poor Ben-took bun
die of letters from his bosom and kiss
ed them and took down my photograph
and kissed that, and then, having pull
vi a DdS the COIntA, lic
to the wardrobe and drew
the curtain back.
The next moment he was staring at
me and at him.
''Is 1t her ghostT' heard him NUT
ter, and I-well, there 1 was. 1t was
not a situation to impart dignity.
at is only me in the flesh, Ben" I
said. II wish 1 was a ghost so that
1 could vanish. And now you can
boast all your life if you like. And
will say something. Firstly, 1 did not
care about your grandfather's horrid
Secondly. I-I-only meant to
tiff a little-not to break off-only TO
brighten you. Thirdly. I-I-oh, I've
found out that you really and truly
loved me, Ben, and though 1t is broken
of II want to know-I used TO love