Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-12-15
gazed Mt them thought
small and brown-eyed,

the letters and re-read them.
she calmly tore them TO bits.
"I've q notion to do'it, she said to
herself. Things are getting mixed.
They are ready to fly OF the handle
eech so jealous of the other! I've got
to calm them down, till l can decide
which like"
Then she wrote to each man an hon
est, casual, friendly letter, with no
trace Of filtration, or any sentiment
beyond friendship. They were much
alike. She told the news, hoped she
might see each man sometime before
long addressed each as Dear Mr.
and signed herself, Sincerely your
friend, Margaret Benton"
She deliberately but Bobby's letter
into Ned's envelope. and Ned's into
Bobby's. Each, she thought, would,
after proper qualms, read the other
mans letter, return 1t to her with the
assurance that be had not read 1t. and
take fresh heart from her frankly I'M
sentimental attitude to his rival. Thus
would she gain time, and peace. She
sealed, stamped and mailed the letters
with relief, and little mischisvous
glee in her heart.
But she reckoned without her. hosts,
Up to a certain point her calculations
were correct however: each man re-
ceived the letter belonging to the other.
resolved virtuously not to read 1t, and
succumbed in the end, jubilant that
the lady Of his desire had evidently no
love whatever for rival; each put
the letter in his pocket intending to
return 1t, not to its owner proper, but
to Peggy herself. For on the spot,
each decided to run up Friday and sur
prise Peggy. Each decided to declare
his love, and each, thanks to the letter
in his pocket, was sure the other had
no chance with her, and was confident
of winning They received these let
tiers Wednesday.
About the same time Mrs. Benton
wrote note to John Burton, 100 miles
north in Clayton.
Dear Jack: promised to write You
when ] thought it would do you any
good to come. think this is the time
When a girl finds it hard to choose
between two men, it is ten to one she
wants third man, and doesn't know
1t. You are the third man, and the
right one. Yesterday Peggy grew very
angry when mentioned Nell Forest,
Hadn't you better explain? Do it by
force If necessary; make her listenl
She deserves punishment for her treat
ment of you. And l am so tired of
having Ned and Bobby about! Sin
cerely yours,
ELEANOR BENTON"
Friday came and found Peggy all
unconscious Of three approaching sur
prises. Jack Burton was speeding
along on q south-bound train; Bobby
from the east, and Ned from the west,
were complacently approaching her,
and-each other. For as fate and poor
railway connections would have 1t,
Ned had 10 pass Bentonville by 16
miles, and change cars at Flat juno
ton, where Bobby also changed cars
for the city >of his lady-love. The
trains of both men were late; they
missed connections. and met, aston
ished, but friendly, on the platform. 1t
was raining in floods, and there would
not be another train till morning.
They took a room together at the
little place that called itself hotel.
and decided to make the best OF it.
Thus 1t befell that gradually and eau
tiously they compared notes. 1t ali
began by Bobby magnanimously re-
turning Ned's letter, with the assur-
ance that he had not read 1t, by Ned's
astonished reciprocation Of the COM
pliment, and the perusal by each Of
his own letter, which ne saw, with dis
gusted amazement. was almost the du-
plicate Of his rivals.
Then there were explanations, and
from being angry at each other, they
became angry at Peggy, for the whole
story came out how each had been to
see her every two weeks, and how
each hoped to get her now that she
had broken with Burton.
FINALLY they went to bed, having
agreed to give her thorough surprise
Together they would visit her, declare
their love almost in unison, and make
her choose between them; each was to
abide by her decision, and to bear the
victor no ill-will. They agreed that
they had been friends too long toI
quarrel about girl. But in his heart
each man was sure that he would sue
ceed..
They slept; 30 did Jack Burton in q
Bentonville hotel; and Peggy In her
dainty room at home. Saturday morn
ing Ned and Bobby, immaculate. and
not suspecting the surprise they were
to spring upon themselves, sauntered
out to Peggy's. They went by the back
road to the old orchard. She might be
thereS and they could take her entire
ly unaware. She was 'there-and una
ware Of them with a vengeance.