The Press., 1915-02-03


 To save himself he must convict me, his to swear falsely that they saw me do the theft. 1 have come to you to ask you firstly to examine any news paper you may deliver at the Sturg1s house before delivering it and if It contains any mention of my case to keep it from Molly. Secondly. in case go to jail ask you to help me to get letters through to her without her Knowing where they were nailed
 This request it was not in my power to grant without placing myself in the position of a criminal myself. My long experience in observing facial expres sions enabled me to judge to my own satisfaction of the young mans guilt or innocence. and l made up my mint that he was telling the truth shrank from permitting Molly to know-at least until it was best she should know of what would be horror to her. wanted time to think the matter over. but her lover said there was no time to spare and begged me to give him the required promise at once. So told him 1 would do what l could in the matter so long as l was convinced that it was best that Molly should not know the secret.
 We arranged that he was to mail his letters in-an envelope addressed to me and 1, having torn it of. would mail the one inclosed to Molly, doing what ever postmarking l was able to make it appear that the letters were mailed from such place as he should designate to me on a slip of paper contained in the outside envelope.
 It was not long before was deliv- ering Henry Bradshaw's letters to Molly Sturgis. he writing her that he had accepted q position that would re- quire him to travel good deal ana he feared it might be long while before he could see her again l knew that he was serving term in state prison. Had 1 not believed him inno- cent I doubt if l could have borne the strain of deception, which might have landed me also in the penlten' tiary. Fortunately l had an unsophls ticated girl to deceive so that the work was not very difficult. collected sev eral worn out sta mps. which l manlp ulated in such fashion that she could not read the postmark.
 Bradshaw kept me advised of the point he wished the letters to hail from, and Molly told me the rest This information helped me to do my part of the work the more intelligently that is. to guard against errors which might give away the truth Bradshaw was evidently taking some very long trips. sometimes even leaV ing the United States for other coun tries While he was at sea there would be long intervals between his communications. l remember that at one time his instructions were to post mark letter from San Francisco Molly opened this letter before me- ana her face fell.
 He's going to Honolulu" she said .and | shall not hear from him again for long while"
 The next letter l received brought instructions to pOstmark it Honoluiu Of course i had no such stamp. but made one for Hanover do, stamping the letter so badly that the postmark | could not be read.
 | And so it was that Henry Bradshaw while in stripes was supposed to b' travelling all over the globe. while was | aiding and abetting him in deceivins his sweetheart as to his real condition | Finally l was detected by reiio" | carrier in using one or my SHOCK o | old stamps, and l was not sure fol | awhile bur that the discovery would | go hard with me- l told him the story | and, moistening the gum on the envel ope | had stamped. took out the lettel and showed it to the man who hat | caught me. He was convinced and 1 considering me guiltless and not ap preciating the importance of keeping his mouth shut. told other carriers. aNt | what l was doing became common tall among my fellow Iaborers. But the! were as much interested in the matte as ]. and ] was deluged with stamps that different carriers gave me for m. purpose.
 We helpei Bradshaw to keep out o jail-so far as his sweetheart's knowl edge of his whereab bouts was concern ed-fOr more than two years. Thel one day early in December. when l de Hvered a letter to Molly that 1 ha' postmarked-or, rather. smudged-Nev
 Orleans. she began to dance up an' down like delighted child, exclaim
 ing:
 He's coming for Christmas. He
 coming for Christmas"
 Then reading little further her fac
 fell, and she said:
 But he's had lot of bad luck. Tn
 firm for which he has been travelin
 has been put out of business by tn
 great war in Europe. and a larg
 amount of salary due him is lost.
 Then reading, "I can't bring you an } Christmas gift"
 Poor feIlowr' she exclaimed. lOOl } ing up with world of sympathy i
 her face What do care for a Chris
 mas gift if l love him!'' Were you thinking of being maj ried when he comesY' asked. l, "Oh. that's impossible nOwp' For want of funds?"
 "Of course! 1 have nothing" drove on. but l couldn't get owe
 my delight at the dear girls good fol tune. to say nothing of my being It lieved of the work in her behalf res Ing upon me. l wondered whethe
 Bradshaw had served his term or ha
 been exonerated. l wished l could d.
 wise some scheme by which Moll
 could have him for husband for
 Christmas gift.
 few days before Christmas b
 came to the postoffice to see me. Tn
 man who had committed the theft c
 which he was accused had been caugh
 in another and confessed to bOti Bradshaw had been released cOupl
 of weeks, hut had kept dark in Orde that his hair That had been clippe
 might have time To grow to lengt that would not give away the fac | I..lt Ina, .ilitiliI6 Flo fnl