The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-30
have laughed at me. I'll stop making
a ninny Of myself. Shed never have

luC.
Hoyt ascended the steps and reached
the letter box. He strove to lift Its
cover. 1t was in vain.
LOCKED" he muttered. "Letter
still In? Yes. That's lucky" for, shift
ing the outside plate, he could see q
white object beyond. swell, I've just
got to get back that letter! My com.
bination tool knife-it's all right" and
he drew the article from his pocket
and opened Its screwdriver blade.
There's no other way" decided
Hoyt, and he proceeded to unscrew top
and bottom fastenings of the letter
box. He would have to carry it away
with him to break 1t open, but in his
present desperate mood he needed no
destruction.
The box ratified as he stole down the
steps. Hoyt uttered a low chuckle Of
e~xultation. Then suddenly two fig
ures dashed from the shadows.
"He's a daring fellow, coming back
a second time" spoke a gruff voice !;
"but we've got him"
"Here, unhand mel" ordered Hoyt,
struggling in the firm grip of two pairs
of stout hands.
"You keep quiet, or I'll give you a
sumner !" growled the other of his cap
tors. "Jim, ring the bell and tell Mr..
Walters we've found one Of the bur-
glars"
Burglar? I'm no burglar !" shouted
Hoyt. "What does all this mean"
"What does that meanY demanded
his captor, kicking aside the mail box
which Hoyt had dropped.
His comrade had rung the bell. In
a few minutes Mr.. Walters came to
the door, his wife behind him, Eva a
shrinking third, all in attire hurriedly
donned.
"Mr. Walters" the man said, 1--WE
haven't got a clew to the men who
broke in here nor the stuff they took,
but we just got this fellow on the porch
there, stealing your letter box; see! !"
"\Vhy |" exclaimed Eva, as the porch
light was turned on, "It's Mr.. Hoyt!"
II declared" exclaimed the astound.
ed Mrs. Walters.
Just then Hoyt began to gather his
wits, recognizing the two men as vii
lage officers. There had been a bur-
glary earlier in the evening, it seemed,
and he had come around at a moment
when the officers We're proving in the
vicinity.
"Why, here's a mystery" observed
Mr.. Walters, picking up the mail box.
II don't understand why Mr.. Hoyt
should steal a mail box. All, there's
a letter in it."
Eyes, sir. It's mine. II left it by
mistake, sir. Please restore it to me |"
left a letter." echoed pretty Eva,
coming forward.
by mistake. It was one I wrote
in an ill-advised moment. Regret.
Kindly restore it. About the burglars
! Just kicked some kind Of a bundle In
among the shrubbery yonder. Maybe
the burglar dropped It,"
"Why, look here" cried one of the
officers, securing the bundle and OPEN
Ing it. "A fur cape, some jewelry,
some silver"
"Oh, I'm 20 glad" exclaimed Mrs.
Walters. "These are the things we
most cared for"
but the letter?" insisted the peril
nacious Eva.
II wrote it." admitted Hoyt, with re-
luctance.
ITO whom" challenged persistent
Eva.
ITO you, Miss Walters. Thank you,
SIR as Mr.. Walters, unlocking the
box, extended the letter.
NO." de1nurred Eva, its mine. See:
Miss Eva Walters"
"Youll-youll dislike me If you read
It'll" groaned Hoyt.
"How do you know that, sir" de.
manded Eva.
Just then the embarrassed Hoyt end.
ed the comedy Of the night by retiring
from the scene. He felt cheap, beaten,
ridiculous, but the next day he re-
ceived q dainty note from Eva which
read:
Mother wishes you to come to the
house so she may thank you for your
share in the recovery Of her stolen
treasures" !
And when he went, Hoyt received
an answer to his letter from the sweet
lips of Eva that set his heart beating
with delirious joy.