The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-07

black gown was doing her miserabjI
best to be affable and to give an al
OF tho usual 20 this extraordinary III
cIdent.
my husband was very sorry to los'
you, Mr.. Blake" said she. "He woult
be glad indeed II you would return 4
his employment, and I'm sure that al
your differences could be adjustet
upon basis that would be very salts
factory TO You AT any rate, you ant
| have no quarrel, and I'm sure yol
will do mo this little favor
Amy saw her husbands face hard
enlng, and she hastened to the rescue
Of her guest.
"Mr. Pettus has gone away" sait
sho, land no one knows where. III
wrote 4 letter to MI. HOfnageI whicl
doubtless explains everything, but
cannot be read. Meanwhile Mr.. Pet
tus' sister haB fallen very III. and thej
desire 10 communicate with him d
once"
The 1ctlon or the Illness Of the Sis
ter did not impress Blake. but h'
lacked the hardihood to refuse this re
quest under his own roof.
"Haye you the Ietter?' he asked
and Mrs. Pettus produced It from heI
rusty black hand bag with the celer
ity OF a conJurer.
Blake glanced at II, and his face be
came an inch or two longer than or
dInarlly. Tho letter looked as II 4
had been written In the dark on th,
back Of bucklng horse. The line
ran together; the words trod upon on'
anothers heels.
This Will take me all night" sale
he, but you shall have II tomorrow
morning II the thing can be read a
all, viii send II to Mr.. Hofnagevs Of
fee"
Mrs Pettus departed with profusI
expressions Of gratitude and esteem
and promises OF remuneration. which
were firmly set aside by Blake.
Il viii take no money for this" hl
said. II regret to say that my feeling
for Mr., Pe;tus are not sufficiently cor
dial for either friendly or business re
latIons."
"You wrong him; indeed you do
said Mrs, Pettus HE Is really yer,
fond Of you"
Immediately after dinner Blake So
down to bis task, and for two hour
lie worked without appreciable result
Amy became 20 tired watching hin
thai she fell asleep IN her chair, ant
nnally Blake picked her up as II sh'
had been child and carried her Il
her room.
AT I o'clock In the morning BlakI
returned to that room. He was trem
bling from head TO foot with exhaus
ton and excitement. His face wa
pale. and his eyes were sunken. bu
very bright
Amy was asleep precisely where b
had put her Apparently she had no
moved hand or foot She was yer!
beautiful in her healthy youth ant
stainless purity OF heart.
As Blake turned up the light SD,
stirred and spoke
"If we can manage the rent wen b.
all why, George. was asleep"
"You were indeed" said he. ''and q
bad dream you wete having. Rent
eh? Well. well. my dear, just cast
your eye on this and then talk to me
Of beastly bills. guess mott"
His manner was 50 strange that she
could not think OF anything else. Ht
was obliged to force the sheet Of pa
per into her hands and make her read
II was a copy Of the letter which Pet
tus had wrlttNi to his lawyer:
Dear Hofnagel-rm OF to Denver, Am
writing this in cab on the way to the
station. See George Blake, formerly in
my employ, and buy his interest and his
wife's In the Calabash mine, Braisted
Colo. They have put In about $500 be-
tween them and will sell for less They're
hard up Squeeze them. Make trouble
for Blake somehow and force him to sell.
Her brother Is the other owner. He Ii
sick in hospital in Denver. Was on his
way east. He wired Blake at my Office,
and / have the telegram: also q letter.
wired my man Hastings In Denver. and
he says to come at once. The thing Is q
fortune. | may be able 10 get Lesslng 10
sign something II can Ak the hospital
doctors, but you must buy the other in
terest anyhow. Don't fail In this. Wire
me Denver care Hastings. You have
several days for this. as Leasing IL out OF
his head, l understand. and can't COM
municate, but don't lose any time. I'll
AK you all right for this, Yours,
PETTus.
"And at midnight" said Blake in an
awestruck voice, II was on the point
of giving up the Job, Amy, that letter
is undecipherable; nobody can read It.
didn't read it; the Lord did 1t for
me. Why, at midnight | hadn't even
found out that my own name was
lO .-lio YLA