The Ordway new era., 1911-12-15
S91R8f-f-fff--EE f-fE-88899
SPINNER AND HIS WEB
<cop,risht. 1917. by Associated Literary Press.>
By M. ]. PHILLIPS

turning to her work behind the parti.
ton of the little opstomcs a. one re-
prieved. though unsatisfied.
At seven o'clock that evening. a. II
to escape from her thoughts. she gave
the narrow quarters . thorough clean
ing. She sprinkled the pine door. and
then welded broom vigorously. The
pine box which served a. q receptacle
for outgoing mail was moved away
from the slot partition. SO she might
sweep behind it. BY 1880. the usual
closing hour. everything was In order.
Nothing remained but to tie up the
meager grist Of letters. lock them in
the mail bag and dispatch them to tho
Chicago train by Robbie. her brother
and after-school assistant.
There was a clatter at the front
door. BY the light Of the oil lamps she
the snow OF his shoes. preparatory to
entering. AS he stepped in. a letter in
his hand. Ruth slipped out Of the back
door. Robbie. whistling. sorted and
tied the mail. John dropped the long
envelope into the letter slot, and hur-
ried out. almost guiltily. Robbie. en-.
crossed in his task, did not turn
round. Two days later Aldrich came
to the delivery window. a worried look
on his face. Got telegram from Mr..
Spinner. Ruth" he said. my money
hadn't reached there yet What do
you imagine's wrong? mailed the
letter here night before last"
"The mail went out as usual" re-
piled Ruth. Robbie tied 1t up. Well
send a tracer"
The next afternoon Aldrich came
back again. His face. usually ruddy.
was white as chalk. did you see the
papers?" he asked. THE police have
closed up the Condor Crude Rubber
company. And they're looking for
Spinner. They say he's-he's . swim.
dler."
With trembling hands he unfolded
a partial list Of the losers. Zebulon
Cole is in 1t for $4,000. My name isn't
there. Ruth. Do you think he didn't
get my money! Or was he trying to,
fool me in sending more?"
II didn't like that Spinner" replied
Ruth irrelevantly. II didn't like his
mouth. or his eyes. And he dyed his
hair. 1t Is funny about the letter.
John. Maybe Robbie overlooked It.
somehow. Come in and we'll look
around" She opened the door in the
partition.
They searched. very thoroughly for
half an hour. but the little workroom
T6lied nothing They were about to
give up in despair. when John kicked.
tentatively. the receptacle for outgo-
Ing mail. do you ever move that
box. Ruth? II 1t was out q little bit.
a letter from the slot would drop be.
hind It"
why, yes!" answered Ruth excited.
ly. II sweep behind It I moved It
that night-Oh. Goody!"
For John had swung It aside and
there. standing upright against the bot.
tome Of the partition. was bis letter.
He seized It eagerly and tore It open.
Yes. his ten 800 bills were inside. Just
as he had sealed them up.
Ruth" he said huskily. with shin.
ing eyes. Il need a guardian! But for
you, I'd have lost this. every cent Of
1t. l guess I'm too easy. VIII you
marry me. dearf l want you: I've al.
ways wanted you."
When John went happily home that
night. of a sudden an idea came to
him. and he chuckled to himself: THE
little rascal: believe she left that
box out from the wall on purpose!"