The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1917-01-16
THE MISSING LETTER
BY LOIS PIKE.

49, shihb S''"t h"ppNhNu W iouSN inc
people was the fact that Miss Ruth
Whites aunt died in her far-off state
and left her legacy of 5000. Miss
Ruth was the belle of the village, not
withstanding that her father was q |
carpenter.
Then 1t became widely known that |
Dave johnson, son Of Squire Johnson,
had made new proposals Of marriage
to Miss Ruth--making three In all in
one year.
Then Abner Taylor's widow, who
had been postmistress for several
years, went suddenly blind. She had
the legal right to name an assistant
and she named Miss Ruth White. The
two had been good friends for long
time and the girl took the place of as
sistant that the widow might hold her
place and not come to poverty.
These incidents were gossip for d
week or two, and then sleepy old Col !
umbus went to sleep again. The fact
! that Miss Ruth was at the general de-
livery window gave Dave Johnson op,
portunities to see her and speak with
her which he had not had before, and
there was scarcely day in the week
that he was not caller at the post
office. His father, justice of the
peace, received more mail than any
| five other persons In the village put
together, and his sons excuse every
time he came in was to get his fathers
mail or mail letters for him.
AS for Ruth, the girl had little to
say to him. for she had refused him
absolutely, but as public official she
had to treat him with courtesy. One
day when there was no one in the of,
| fee but the two he said to her:
Miss Ruth, love you and am go,
ing to have you for a wife. If you
keep on refusing me shall play you
some trick to make you wish you had
accepted me-"
His speech angered the girl, and
she gave him back such hot words
that he skunk away while she was still
talking. He went direct to his ia
TIERS Office GNd told his parent that
the assistant postmistress had vilified
the whole family. He told lie after lie
to get the old man excited and re-
vengeful, and the squire was ready to
enter into any plan.
"The idea that you are not good
enough for her and her familyv he
shouted. "Dave, you have not the best
: Of regulations; but we must go to
work to take some Of the conceit out
of that slip of girl. She seems to
think she runs this whole town, but
she won't even run the post office when
we get through with her."
There was scheming ana planning
Cor the next month. The first thing
, to be done, as father and son looked
: at 1t, was to cause the girl to lose her
position-and under cloud of sus-
picion mt that. But no opening pre-
scented itself for month or two. Dave
kept away from the post office and
the squire got his mail himself.
One day he entered the office in his
; pompous way and said to Ruth:
! 81 wish to enter complaint to the
postal authorities, and it may turn out
to be very serious for you"
very WELL" was the reply. 81 viii
take your complaint and forward it.
Has there been anything wrong about
your mail?' .n
yes, ma'am, there has. A letter
, containing money addressed to me, and
which | believe reached this post Of
V flee all right, has not come to me, and
: | want to know where the trouble
{ lies"
n In about q week the inspector on
n that route arrived. lie was young
!, and good-looking man, and his impress
sion of the assistant postmistfess was
very favorable. She had probably
made some mistake in boxing the mail
o The squire was sent for, and the story
@ told was that man named Harkness
: over at the village of Milford, had
bought horse Of him and had paid
all but $40 of the price. He was to
pay that on u certain date. He said
: he would send $40 bill over In let
g ter, and he was a man whose word
|, was as good as his bond. He surely
, had mailed the letter and il ought to
have reached the squire next day, but
weeks had elapsed and the letter had
y not yet arrived. He was asked by the
'. inspector If he had telephoned Hark
ness, and he replied that he had not
Ruth quietly and calmly protested
IS and she could do no more. The in.
r spector was about to go across the
street and telephone to Hardness him
self when old Uncle Doremus came In
with Il letter in his hand and ex
" claimed:
i IL ana getting to be a darned ole
~ fool. l'got letter in my box som,
=, days ago and put it in my pocket tc
take home. Dog my cats If didn't
Is forget all about that letter till jus
Y his morning! 1t wasn't for me any
r. how. 1t was for Squire Johnson here
and it was put in the wrong box"
# The squire received and opened Tho
u letter. There was no so bill in 1t
Instead of sending him the money, Mr.
Hardness called him q cheat, a lial