The Meeker herald., 1914-02-07

Ou AIs ValU0uuV0 06I V&seVt
Browning and Ellen Crane wsFs trying
to make up their minds n to what
course to pursue. Walter begged for
private wedding. Though there was
no reason for such q dread. be fancisd
he might be arrested during the cere-
mony. Ellen strove In vain to eradi
cate this fear. She was arguing with
him when shrill whistle was heard
without. followed By = sharp ring Al
the doorbell.
ats the postman," she exclaimed
"and since he's loaded down With val
entines hes in 4 hurry.e III 60 to the
door and take in the mail"
She returned walking very slowly
and looking intentIy at an unopened
envelope.
who has been sending me this. I
wouder?" she said. speaking more to
herself than to her lover. ut seems to
be valentine. At least there are some
flowers stamped on II I don't know
the handwriting. and don't know any
one at the place whers It was post
marked"
ut seems to me-" said Waiter drear-
lily, "that the quickest way to dnd out
about q letter IL to open and read It.
But that's something NO woman would
think Of doing"
"If the postmark was palmer" con-
tinued Ellen. without needing his sar-
casm. II might make 1t out. It's San
something or other, and Col. That
must be Colorado
Break 1t open!' cried Walter testify.
you'll drive me crazy"
She soothed him with kiss. then
tore open the envelope. remarking at
the same time that II was dirty enough
to have gone around the world. It con-
tanned . cheap looking valentine. and
within the valentine was folded several
thicknesses Of newspaper. Ellen un-
folded the Newspaper and took ont two
$500 bills.
"For heavens sake!' she exclaimed
Walter simply sapsd at the bills.
what does 1t meanr was EHsn's
next comment
BY this time her lovers curiosity was
excited. With a trembling hand be
took tho valentine and the bills from
her.
"why. these are old state bank bills"
he said. wonderingiy. Then. taking the
envelope. he scrutinixed 1t. This val-
entine was mailed in $780, be went
on. land those letters are not Col:
they are Cal. It's from San Francisco.
Cal"
Many . time Ellen Crane had heard
her aunt tell about the valentine her
lover was to send bar, about which she
was to rake inquiry u It did not come
and which It was supposed BE- had bssn
cut OF from sending BY sickness and
death. A hood Of light burst In upon
her. This was that valentine. 1t had
been sent, but had been many years on
the way. The happy girl did not wait
to explain this to her lover. Holding
the bills high up above her head. she
danced around the room. crying:
snow We can restore the missing
money"
Later Browning went to the postomcs
with the valentine and learned from
the postmaster that a rostofice build
ing had recently been pulled down on
the line the valentine had Travelled. and
the letter had been found on the re-
moval Of fixture behind which 1t had
slipped. doubtless while being sorted.
1t was forwarded and fell into the
hands not Of the Ellen Crane to whom
1t had been written. but to her name
sake and heir. who lived in the house
to which 1t had been addressed.
Ellen placed the bills in Browning's
hands. Going to q money broker. he
learned that though the banks that had
issued the bills had gone out Of ex-
istence fund had been put aside for
payment Of all demands against It
Then Walter went to the hank that
had issued the bill be had lost and ex.
changed his money for one Of its
$1,000 notes and with 1t made mp the
deficiency for which b was respon-
sihle.
The act removed all suspicion, and
there was a happy wedding. made
happier by the great load taken OF
the shoulders Of the contracting par
ties.
The $1,000 was in time returned BY
the bank. One Of the employees Of
the institution proved dishonest. and .
long series Of peculations was discov-
cred. He confessed the stealing Of the
bill that Browning hail lost. On that
occasion he was acting az paying teller
In the next cage to Browning. When
the latter's back was turned. seeing
that no one was looking In his dtrec-
ton. he took out from 4 pocket In his
coat slender piece Of whalsbons with
hook on the end Of It and. passing Il
through an opening In the grating that
separated the cages. removed one Of
the bills lying on the counter.
This occurred shortly after Brown
ing's marriage and caused 20 great =
reversal In tho feeling toward Brown
inn that Ahn aAna a. khA ha>L