The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1913-11-27
SOLVING A
MYSTERY
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1913 by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

When village Oh l,fUV lnhooiIohe'
can boast of six widows, five old
bachelors, six widowers and five Old
maids you may take it that that COM
munity is "going some"
Such was the case with the village of
Grand View, and when a stranger
would refer to the rival village OF
Spring Valley as having two butcher
shops he was met with the reply
eyes, sir, admit that she has. but
where are her widows and widowers
and old maids and old bachelors? She
hasn't enough to count on two fingers.
If you are looking for home. sir, go
no further than this. where business
is always steady and real estate on
the BOOM"
!. There was q flaw in the armor,
though strangers did not get on to the
fact. While these four classes of peo-
pie were residents, there were no mar
,riages between them.
The catch among the combined wild
xowers and bachelors was Abraham
Gunner He was bach. He was
1.-THE wealthiest. He was popular.
All Of sudden Abraham received
'. drop letter at the postoffice. 1t was
written by woman who said she ad-
mired and loved him and hoped he
would not judge her too harshly for
her plain statement of fact. He might
never come to know the writer, but
he could treasure it in his heart that
one woman at least held him above all
other men in the world
i Abraham scratched bis ear and grin
ned.
'Who the devil can it be?" Abraham
kept repeating to himself as he work
ed about the mill. but wondering and
guessing didn't bring the solution.
That evening he didn't appear at the
drug store to play checkers. He re-
manned at home to read that letter over
and over and try for clew. OF course
no married woman had written him
thus. and as he was forty years old
and made no secret Of it the marriage
able girls in town would pass him by.
Its some one giving me JOSH" was
Abraham's conclusion as he quit specu-
dating and went off to bed and to sleep.
On the third day thereafter he re-
ceived another letter from the same
person. 1t was also full of admiring
terms. 1t was not likely they would
ever meet, the unknown wrote. but she
was strangely and strongly interested
in his welfare,
AS bachelor, he must live more
or less lonely life.
As husband. he would have CON-
rade and companionship
As boarder, as he had been for
years and was yet, he knew nothing
whatever of the comforts of home
1t was hoped he would give the sub
ject all due consideration and, in case
he decided to enter the bonds of matrl-
mony, might he take to the altar such
a bride as good man deserved.
by thunder, but that's darn good
woman, whoever she isr' exclaimed
Abraham as he read the letter
After ten minutes he read 1t again
and unused:
who can it he? Who can it be?"
"Say. old man, you must have heard
some bad news" was the greeting he
got from dozen friends in the next
three days.
what makes you think 500"
"Why, your face is as long as
cames. and you were going right past
without speakingn
1t was almost week before another
letter came. Same handwriting same
womanly interest in his welfare.
And has it ever occurred to you"
was one of the paragraphs in the let
ter. that man situated as you are is
selfish not to marry? 1t would relieve
at least ore woman from, her cares
and struggles. 1t would add one more
household fox the many
''By John. but I'd propose to that wo-
man in holy minute If knew who
she wasr' exclaimed Abraham, and |
when he reflected that he didn't know
and had no way of finding out he |
wanted to kick over chairs and call his |
dog names.
Five hundred people Il day called at
the postoffice. How could they all be
watched?
Abraham had no intimate man friend
to so to with the letters.
He had a strong admiration and lik-
ing for the woman. no matter whether
she was an old maid or a widow. but
how was she to know 1t? How was he
to find her and tell her SO?
The old bach received fourth let
ter and then a plan popped into his
head. The postmistress had held her
position for five years She must know
the handwriting of scores and scores
of women Why hadn't he thought of