The San Francisco call., 1908-07-05

A peculiar gasp caused her to turn
her head inquiringly-
"Oh-what have you done!" cried
Edith, her face white.
oh, you mailed those letters! Oh,
OH"
They We're not TO be mailed?" The
maids eyebrows rose in well bred as
constituent.
'NO-of course not Oh. what a terri
bic thing. I can never explain-not II
I live TO be a hundred"
They were stamped" ventured the
maid, in a slightly aggrieved tone.
But they should not have been
mailed-at least, not yet" Edith replied
confusedly.
They were stamped" reiterated the
maid in self-defense.
"But-how stupid! Couldn't you see
they We're all addressed to the same
person? Naturally wouldn't wish to
send one person three letters"
The maid favored Edith with look
which indicated plainly that she feared
for her young mistress sanity.
4 do not read the addresses on let
ters," she saie with a slight trace Of
acidity. If there was one thing that
irritated her 1t was having her good
taste questioned.
frantically clasping her hands. Il SIM
ply must get them. Go downstairs-no,
I'll go myself"
She rushed out into the hall. The ele
vator was on it's down trip. The top
of it disappeared from view just as
she reached the shaft, and the Mitchell
apartment was on the eighth floor
Edith made a quick mental calcula-
tion and then she ran for the stairs
and raced down them. In an incredibly
short space Of time she had hurled her
self breathless against the desk, to the
embarrassment of the clerk behind it..
MY letters" she gasped Il posted
some letters-I must get them out
can you open the box-or when will
the postman-" She stopped to draw
breath.
Just now-no, five minutes ago
emptied the box. If you hurry you
might catch him-wait, I'll send a
bellboy!"
The clerk. Miss Mitchell and the bell
boy started simultaneously for the
front door. Edith took no chances. This
was a personal matter and she was CIV
ing it PERSONAL attention.
The three stood on the steps bare
headed and peered through the thick
curtain Of descending snowfakes The
snow enveloped everything in white,
binding cloud. Various dark forms
could be seen. closely mufied, with
heads and umbrellas bent to the blast.
But never a sign Of the postman.
He could not have disappeared more
completely II the earth had opened and
swallowed him.
The bellboy, under orders, ventured
a few yards into the storm In pursuit of
a man with a bundle, only to come
back with the information that he was
not the postman and that his sack ap-
parently contained charcoal.
Il suppose you must have them let
ters," said the clerk as they returned
TO the shelter Of the hotel lobby.
Certainly" said Edith. with the
calmness of despair. 1T is-dreadfully
important! Oh Mr.. King, can't you
suggest something? Anything!
Let me see," said the clerk briskly.
THE nearest postoffice station is Gram
ercy Park. Perhaps-Tll tell you
Get hanson and drive over there and
see If you can't get the letters back
before they are distributed to the local
delivery men Whom were they to-
mean, were they to be delivered near
here?"
yes. At-well, it's not more than
half mile, should say"
All of them?"
Edith blushed.
Yes, all of them. I'll do as you say.
Mr.. KING. lnaQk you very uuCn. IeI
me hanson, will you? And I'll hurry
up and put on my things"
She few back to the apartment. Re-
gardless of the perishable qualities. OF
the pale blue broadcloth, she disdained
to waste any time in changing her
dress. With celerity that was aston
ishing she acquired her hat, coat.
gloves and pocketbook.
Five minutes later she was sitting
bolt upright in the hanson, mentally
urging the horse to greater activity.
In due course of time she arrived at
the Gramercy Park postofflce. But the
lack of enthusiasm that greeted her
request was appalling. She had to deal
with underlings, and this, in itself, is
always unsatisfactory.
In vain did Edith haughtily urge
upon them the vital necessity of get
ting at the matter quickly In vain
did she plead and protest for the re-
turn of her letters. For almost one
solid hour she was passed languidly
along to the man higher up" until
the chief clerk deigned to give her q
moment of his time.
BY now she was in a rage of impa-
thence. The golden moments were fly
ing. Further and further away seemed
the possibility of recovering those let
ters.
The chief clerk re1arded her fondIy