The Dolores star., 1912-02-16

desire to invest. Mr. Aidrich can give
you our address Come along. Aidrich.
] van, to talk to you"
Spinner slipped a triumphant hand
through the arm OF the fiattered John.
Fomo~ed by the messenger from Zebu.
Ion Cole. they left the once
Next day Ruth Brooks forever ait.
ted TO the front door 10 peer out on
the sorm.swept. deserted street. re.
turning to her work behind the parti.
ton of the little opstofiice as one re.
priesed, though unsatisfied.
Al seven O'Clock that evening. as n
70 escape from her thoughts. she gave
the narrow quarters a thorough clean
ms She sprinkied the pine floor. and
then welded n broom vigorously The
pine box which served as a receptacle
from the slot partition. so she might
sweep behind Il ny I 30, the usual
closing hour. everything was In order,
Nothing remained but to tie up the
meager grist OF letters, lock them In
he mail bag and dispatch them to the
Chicago train by Robbie. her brother
snd after.school assistant
There was a clatter at the front
iooS by the light OF the oil lamps she
;ould see II was John Aldrich scraping
he snow on his shoes. preparatory to
,ntering As he stepped In. a letter In
iis hand. Ruth slipped out Of the back
ioor Robbie. whistling. sorted and
led the mail John dropped the long
envelope into the letter slot. and hur-
led out. almost guilty. Robbie. en-
crossed in his task. did not turn
'ound Two days later Aldrich came
o the delivery window. a worried look
~ his face Co, a telegram from Mr..
spinner. Ruth" he said. My money
hadn't reached there yet What do
sou imagine's wrong? mailed the
etter here night before last"
''The mail went out as usual" re-
,lied Ruth. Robbie tied It Ip, Well
send tracer"
The next afternoon Aidrich came
Jack again His face. usually ruddy.
vas white as chalk Did you see the
Apers7' be asked The police have
:l0sed up the Condor Crude Rubber
company. And they're looking for
spinner. They say he's-he's a swim.
Her.
with trembling hands he unfoided
he newspaper which he held Here's
partial list of the losers Zebulon
cole is In II for $4,000 My name isn't
here Ruth. DO you think he didn't
ret ~ money? Or was he trying TO
ool ne In sending more?"
r tidat like that spinner" replied
Ruth irrelevantly. y didn't like his
mouth. or his eyes And he dyed his
hair. Il 10 funny about the letter.
John. Maybe Robbie overlooked It.
somehow. Come in and well look
around" She opened the door In the
partition.
They searched. very thoroughly for
half an hour. but 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
box. Ruth u Il was out n little bit.
a letter from the slot would drop be.
hind Il"
Why. yes!" answered Ruth excited
y y sweep behind IT, ! moved II
that night-Oh. Goody!"
For John had swung II aside and
there. standing upright against the bot,
tome Of the partition. was his letter.
He seized II eagerly and tore II open.
Yes. hia ten 500 bills were inside. Just
as he had sealed them up.
Ruth" he said huskily. with shin.
ing eyes. u need a guardian! But for
you. ID have lost this. every cent Of
IL guess I'm too easy. VIII you
marry me. dear1 I want you: I've al.
ways wanted you"
When John went happily home that
night. Of . sudden an idea came TO
him. and he chuekIed to himself: The
little rascal: I believe she left that
box out from the wall on purpose!"