Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-07-23
On the Rural
Delivery
BY OLIVE EDNA MAY

fhe letters to be put IN the next mail
box. when he encountered George Ir-
win walking.
Anything for me, Edf" asked Irwin.
.If there is you'll get It In your box"
replied the postman.
arrn going out OF town: on my way
10 the station now. II would be an &C
eommodation II you would give II to
me now II there's anything for me.
otherwise It'll have to be forwarded"
Bartlett pulled up. Irwin drew near
him. and while the former looked over
handful OF letters the latter leaned
forward TO see the addresses himself
There It ISL he exclaimed. making
a grab for one OF the letters. and his
Interference resulted In the splitting Of
some twenty Of them on the ground.
while dozen more fell within the bug.
gy. Irwin apologized. and. picking up
the letters scattered near his feet, be
handed them to Bartlett
Did you take the letter addressed to
youf" asked the latter.
~No. II wasn't for me thought It
was, but was mfAthhen
Now, see here, George Irwin. here
after when rm handling my mail you
keep your hands OF II Tho next time
you do q thing like that I'll have you
arrested for interfering With govern
msnt officer In tho discharge Of his du-
ties"
SORRY. Ed. I didn't intend to inter
fere4"
Bartlett dra~e on without making q
reply. At Deacon warder's box he
found Susie warder, the deacon's
daughter. aged eighteen waiting for
him There WINS an intensity In her
face that Indicated anxious expecta-
ton. Bartlett had often delivered let
tiers to her addressed In a masculine
hand. and by the way she Rugged
them to her heart and ran into the
house with them he had surrnised that
they came from lover. Instead Of
putting the mali In the box he hand
her face fell.
Nothing moref she asked, looking
up at the postman despa!ringly.
That's all. Sorry haven't one for
you today. Miss warder. Perhaps I'll
bring you one tomorrow"
"No. you won't replied the girl. tears
starting 10 her eyes. "If II was to
come at all IL would have come today"
Bartlett sighed sympathetically. Dur.
ing the rest of his trip over his route
bis mind was more on Susie Warder
than on the mail Her words III II
was to come at all II would have come
today" remained with him. and be
couldn't Danish them. What did they
mean? That the expected letter was
not doubt
Our minds now roll smoothly from
one train OF thought 10 another. and
again they jump gaps And yet there
Is doubtless q connection between the
two sides OF the gap too subtle for US
TO distinguish. Bartlett's mind turned
from susie's disappointment to George
Twins grabbing at the letters. Then
be made mental jump. for there was
no connection between his two
thoughts. Susie's letter didn't come,
and perhaps George Irwin when he
picked up those that fell on the ground
retained one for Susie
Though he knew of no reason for
such an act he couldn't dismiss the
back and charge Irwin with purloining
letter. trusting TO have struck the
correct theory. He looked at bis
watch 1t was 4 o'clock. He had met
George about 800 There was no train
either way out OF the station between
8S25 and 4;40. He remembered to
have heard the whistle Of the 3:25
The man had doubtless made his state
ment about going out OF town falsely
and for pretext to steal the letter.
When Bartlett reached these Undue
1--WE conclusions he had finished his de
uvery. He drove rapidly back to the VII
lage, occasionally asking one he met II
be had seen George Irwin Presently he
found man who had seen him and
gave the postman a ciew to flnd him
Bartlett found his man on q road
where no one else was about
Give me the letter you took!" he
said resolutely and confidently.
The letter took. What do you
meanY
Il mean that when you picked up
those that dropped on the ground you
kept one"
Irwin stood at bay. Presently he
said: You have no right to accuse
me. II you know took letter, sure
~ you know to whom that letter was
addressed"
Il do-Susan warder."
Irwin turned white. Bartlett must
nave evidence against him that he did
not know Of.
Whatn you do II l give 1t upT"
I'll tell you what I'll do II you don't
Gve It up" said Bartlett. jumping out
OF his buggy. I'm break every bone
In your BODY"