The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-17
Mhlfef& Rhoa&
SPINNER AND HIS WEB

| you our address. Come along, Aldrich1
| | want to talk TO you.
| Spinner slipped triumphant hand
| through the arm of the fiattered Johns
Followed by the messenger from Zeb-
uion Cole. they left the office.
| Next day Ruth Brooks forever nit
ted to the front door to peer out on
the storm swept. deserted street, res
turning to her work behind the par
tition of the little postoffice as ona
reprieFed, though unsatisfied.
At o'clock that evening. as IL to
escape from her thoughts. she gave
the narrow quarters a thorough clean~
ing. She sprinkied the pine floor, and
then welded broom vigorously. The
pine box which served as receptacle
for outgoing mail was moved away
from the slot In the partition. 90 She
might sweep behind II. BY 7:3o, tha
usual closing hour, everything was In
order. Nothing remained but to tic
up tie meager grist of letters, lock
them in the mail bag and dispatch
them to the Chicago train by Robbie.
/ her brother and after-school assist.
ant.
There was a chatter at the front
door. BY the light OF the oil lamps
she could IL was John Aldrich.
scraping the snow OF his shoes, prep-
aratory to entering. AS he stepped in.
a letter in his hand, Ruth slipped QUE
the back door. Robbie. whistling. sort
ed and tied the mail John dropped
the long envelope into the letter slot
and hurried out. almost gui'tiiy. Rob-
bic. engrossed in his task, did not
turn round
Two days later Aldrich came to ths
| delivery window, a worried look ON
his face Got q al m, ~
! Spinner. Ruth" he said. My money
hadn't reached there yet. What do
you imagine's wrong? l mailed the
letter here night before last"
The mail went out as usual re.
piled Ruth Robbie tied II up. Wen
send a tracer
The next afternoon Aidrfch cama
back again. His face. usually rudy.
was white as chalk. Did yon 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 a swim,
der.
With trembling hands he unfolded
the newspaper which he held. Here's
partial list of the losers. Zebulon
Cole Is In II for four thousand dollars.
My name isn't there, Ruth. Do YOU
| think he didn't get my money: Or waa
ne trying to fool me into sena...
more"
i didn't like that Spinner" replied
hutn, irrelevantiy. Il didn't like hia
mouth. or his eyes. And he dyed his
nalr. 1t Is funny about the letter.
John. Maybe Robbie overlooked II.
somehow. Come in and we'll look
around. She opened the door in the
partition.
They searched. very thoroughly for
nalr an hour. hut the little workroom
Yielded nothing. They were about to
give up In despair, when John kicked.
tentatively. the receptacle for outgo.
ing mail. DO you ever move that
pox, Ruth! II II was out a little biz.
letter from the slot would drop be.
hind it,
Why. yes." answered Ruth. ex-
citedly. II sweep behind 1t. / moved
1t that night-Oh, Gopdy!"
For John had swung 1t aside ana
there. standing upright against the
bottom Of the partition, was his ID.
ter. He seized It eagerly and tore Il
open. Yes; his ten one hundred dol
lar bills We're inside. just A. he had
sealed them up.
"Ruth. he said, huskily with shin-
ing eyes. Il need guardian! But for
you Ia have lost this, every cent Of
II. guess I'm too easy. Will you
marry me. dear? | want you; I've al.
ways wanted YOU
When John went happily home that
night OF sudden an idea came to
MIN, and he chuckled to himself: THE
little rascal: l believe she left that
oox out from the wall on purpose!"