Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1919-10-24

paper Union.)
The post office at Ferndale paid
only four hundred dollars a year, and
because Silas Moore, it's incumbent in
charge, was old and poor, the position
had been awarded to him by common
consent. 1t occupied a railinged-off
space in the general store of the viii
lage, and his stepdaughter, Effie, an
orphan, kept track of things generally.
The old man was selfish and eXacting
and would not appear upon duty until
nearly noon. AT dusk he went back
home, but Fife would remain to get
the bag of mail brought down the line
at eight o'clock.
After the morning mail Effie would
do double duty, helping as clerk in the
store. She had tried to save up from
this, but her stepfather would borrow
from her little store, and the purpose
she had in view grew DINNER as time
went on.
When Etfie was eighteen she told
her stepfather that she felt she had
done her duty by him and asked him
to consent to her going 10 the city
where she could earn fair wages.
Don't do it, Ellie" pleaded the old
man. Il know this isn't the life for
you, but l couldn't get along without
you. Wait for one more year. At it's
end l shall have paid off the last five
hundred dollars | owe on the old place
and then l could maybe afford to hire
some one to take your place. Then
there's ROyden to think of. Why can't
you like him? He can afford to get
married and"
"Neverr flashed out Efie decisive
ly.
Effie was thinking deeply as she
heard the fast mail in the distance
and went down to the depot. The train
did not stop, the Ferndale mail bag
being tossed out as it passed the
depot. Effie watched it roll and land.
She walked toward it and as the sleep
err and dining car flashed by some
thing cut the air, hurled from one Of
the coach Windows.
Mercy! what's that?' gasped Effie.
for the object had landed directly
against her cheek. She felt sharp,
singing contact and, startled and curl
Gus, walked OveT to where the object
had landed. At her feet lay something
wrapped up in a large silk handker-
chief AS she picked it up there was
q metallic jangle. From the handker-
chief protruded One-half of jeweled
stick pin. 1t was it's pointed end that
had abrased her cheek. She heard
approaching footsteps, made out the
| advancing figure of ROyden and con-
cealed the package under. her CAPE
Thought I'd come and see you
home, Efie," spoke Royden, and he
picked up the mail bag which was left
at the post office, and as soon as they
reached home Fife left her stepfather
to entertain Royden, pleaded weari-
ness and went to her room.
She drew the shades, locked the
door, opened the mysterious package
and stared down fairly affrighted at a
| mass Of bewildering richness. There
was a diamond bracelet, a necklace of
| pearls, rings, charms, pins. For two
| or three days after that Life was I'm.
easy and sleepless. She watched the
newspapers and made many guarded
| inquiries. One evening she CHANGED
to overhear her stepfather and Roy
den conversing in low tones. The OLD
man had come across the jewels He
and Royder were discussing theil
seizure and disposition.
That night Efie stole from the
house at midnight and the next day
was in the city. She had small sun
Of money and installed herself in
cheap quarters, depicting her savings
by advertising in newspapers for ''the
owner of some valuables found in 6
silk handkerchief at Ferndale."
Effie did not find work as hoped for
Finally all her money was gone. Their
came foodless days. A letter came tt
her. 1t was in reply to her advertise
ment. There might be a possibility Of
'sRale Arnold, % Walsingham bhild
ing, being interested. Would she please
call?"
Rife had eaten nothing since thu
day before. When she reached thu
office designated in the letter she wa
told by a stenOgrapher that Mr.. Ar
mold would be down little later, anC
Fife sat down to wait for him, waver
ing and exhausted. Then she kaev
nothing more for many hours, t,
awaken in a beautifully furnished
room with a kindly-faced, motherl,
woman bending over her solicitously.
She was the mother of Dale Arnold
who had found his strange visitor In .
dead faint and had learned from {
physician hastily summoned that lacl
of food was the cause. Discovering tn,
Jewels he surmised that a poor ant
honest girl had gone without the nee
essaries of life, rather than appropri
ate what did not belong to her.
Later Fife knew that the jewel
had been stolen from his sister. TIL
thief, tracked by detectives and sus
pecting their presence on the train
hod co17phf RI cost oyuou tho ouidono.