The Press., 1907-09-04
.rnorp were otner screams. followed

Tnere were other screams. followed
by ordinations. tears and close APP
proach to hysteria, and the result was
that a quarter Of an hour later aunt
and niece drove up the dusty highway
as fast as the old horse could gallop.
They were looking far ahead in hopes
Of catching sight Of the tin peddler.
Those letters must be recovered at all
hazards. Failure apparently meant
one case OF suicide and one Of life
long remOrse.
Meanwhile, things had been happen
ing elsewhere. Arthur Blakely had
finally decided to send that bouquet
and to follow 1t In person several hours
later, only to find that Molly had de-
parted for the country. 1t wasn't
case where he could go into court and
argue 1t out, but a case of hustle.
About the time that Aunt Sarah was
picking up paper rags to make her
deal with the peddler the young law
yer was leaving the city on the ex-
press and preparing his argument for
the jury of one. There was, of course,
no one at the depot to meet him, and
he stepped out In a lively way for
the half mile walk. AS he did SO a
tin peddler came driving along, and
one of the wheels Of his wagon struck
a stone and slowed the vehicle around
and upset 1t in the ditch. The bags
Of paper rags on top were thrown
to the ground, and one of them burst
ing open shot bundle of letters to the
feet of the lover. He recognized his
stationery and his handwriting at a
glance. Sherlock Holmes could not
have invented a more dramatic situa-
ton.
"Villain, where did you get theseT'
Arthur finally demanded Of the ped
dler.
"villain yourself! What in thunder
ails your
"You have robbed O house! You
have stolen these letters from a grill"
'Come or. You are crazy"
"I arrest you'll You are my prisoner!
Here is evidence to convict your
There Is a difference between the
legal business and the constabulary
business, and young Blakely soom dis
covered this. He Ind only taken the
man Of t1nware by the cellar when he
was seized himself In return, and as
Aunt Sarah and Molly drove up the
men were rolling over and over on the
ground.
There were calculations, exclama-
lions, explanations and introductiOns.
Mr.. Blakely hunted for his hat and
missing buttons and begged pardon.
Molly regarded him with what she in
tended to be a cold stare, but which
had a "Pn-forgive-you" look mingled
with 1t. The peddler swore frankly
and picturesQuely and said somebody
had to pay for his skinned nose. Aunt
Sarah, bless her heart, was equal to
the emergency. She felt the sting of
conscience for having laid her sacri-
legious hands on those love letters.
She suggested that a Ave dollar bill
was the right sort Of plaster for
skinned nose, and Mr.. Blakely handed
it over. Under other circumstances,
being In the law, he would not have
given it up until judgment had been
rendered by a court and a writ Of ex-
ecution issued. When peace reigped
Aunt Sarah climbed down from the
buggy and said:
81 must go and see Mrs. Williams in
that cottage over there. Mr.. Blakely,
will you have the kindness to drive
Miss Gray back to the hOuseT
1t was only a mile back to the farm
house, but owing to the lame horse and
various other matters it was three
hours before the buggy drove up to the
gate. Many lovers quarrel has been
settled In far less time.
Some weeks later when Aunt Sarah
was asked about the rumored engage
ment she assumed knowing and i'm
portant look and replied:
Eyes, 1 expect it's SO, but where
would they have been but for me and
the tin peddler and Providence? l
shall never let one Of these men pass
my gate again without at least calling
to him and asking the price Of wash
dishes and nutmeg graters."