The Washington herald., 1907-08-03

large bundle. She selected three or four
and read them over. and then she had
a good cry.
Aunt Sarah had said that the conver-
sation would be resumed next day. Molly
woke up with determination that moth
ing further should be said. After break
fast she took her book and hied herself
TO the hickory grove down In the meadow
and there she remained till the horn
blew for dinner. She read a little, she
cried a little and she thought a good
deal II she had had the hefty bundle
Of Arthur's letters with her she might
have cried more, but she had carelessly
left it behind her. and did not wish 10
go back for fear Of Aunt Sarah. AS she
reached the house she ran upstairs 10
look over just one letter. and minute
later a scream resounded through halls
and rooms
What on eartn is it?" demanded the
aunt from the foot of the stairs.
'Ny-my letters are gone."
What letters?'
"ATthur's letters to me. left them on
the floor beside my trunk"
Then you'll never see them again. A
tin peddler came along about 10 O'Clock
and l wanted to scare up enough paper
rags 10 buy a dipper. | picked up what
could find, and as | thought the bundle
was something you had thrown away. I
chucked it in"
There We're other screams. followed oy
exclamations, tears, and a close approach
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 Fail
ure apparently meant one case OF suicide
and one Of lifelong remorse.
Meanwhile, things had been happening
elsewhere. Arthur Blakely had finally
decided 10 send that bouquet, and 10 fol
low it in person several hours later, only
10 find that Molly had departed for the
country. It wasn't a case where he could
go into court and argue il out. but a case
of hustle. About the time that Aunt
Sarah was picking up paper-rags TO make
her deal with the pedder, the young law
yer was leaving the city on the express
and preparing his argument for the fury
OF one. There was, Of course no one at
the depot to meet him, and he stepped out
IN lively way for the half-mile walk.
As he did so q tin peddler came driving
along, and one of the wheels of his
wagon struck a stone and Slowed the
vehicle around and upset it In the ditch
The bags Of paper-rags on top were
thrown To the ground. and one OF them
bursting open shot a bundle OF letters 10
the feet Of the lover. He recognized his
stationery and his handwriting at a
glance. Sherlock Holmes could not have
invented a more dra latic situation.
Villain, where did you get theser'
Arthur finally demanded of the peddler.
Villain yourself. What in thunder
ails you?"
You have robbed house! You have
stolen these letters from girl"
Come off. You are crazy"
Il arrest you! 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 soon discovered this
He had only taken the man OF tinware
by the collar, when he was seized himself
n return; and as Aunt Sarah and Molly
drove up the men were rolling over and
over on the ground.
There were calculations, exclamatIons
explanations. and intrOductons. Mr.
Blakely hunted for his hat and missing
coat buttons and begged pardon Molly
regarded him with what she intended To
be a cold stare, but which had I'll
fOrgiYe-you' look mingled with 1t. The
peddler swOre frankly and pieturesduely
and said somebody had to pay for his
skinned nose. Aunt Sarabrb bless her
heart was equal TO the emergency. She
felt the sting Of conscience for having
laid her sacrilegiOus hands on those love
letters She suggested that a flve-dollar
bin was the right soft of plaster for a
skinned nose, and Mr.. Blakely handed #
over. Under other circumstances, being
in the law, he would not have given If
up until judgment had been rendered by
a court and a writ OF execution issued
When peace reigned Aunt Sarah climbed
down from the buggy and said:
Il must go and see Mrs. Williams. in
that cottage over there. Mr.. Blakelv
will you have the kindness 10 drive Miss
Gray back 10 the house?"
It 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 a lovers quarrel has been settled
in far less time
Some weeks later, when Aunt Sarah
was asked about the rumored engage
ment, she assumed a knowing and impor-
tant look, and replied
Yes. expect It's so, but where would
they have been but for me and the tin
peddler and Providence? I 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.
Copyrighted. 1907, By E C. Parcells.)