The Snowflake herald., 1919-09-05

Copyright, 1919, by the Western News
paper Union)
The post office at Ferndale paid
only four hundred dollars year, and
because Silas Moore, its incumbent in
charge, was old and poor, the position
had been awarded to him by common
consent. 1t occupied a railinged-otf
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 Efiie 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 Effie was eighteen she told
her stepfather that she felt she had
done her duty by him and asked him
TO consent to her going TO the city
where she could earn fair wages.
Don't do it, Efiie." 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 its
end l shall have paid off the last five
hundred dollars owe on the old place
and then l could maybe afford to hire
there's Royden to think Of. Why can't
you like him? He can afford to get
married and"
"Never!" flashed out Effie decisive
ly.
Efie was thinking deeply as she
heard the fast mail in the distance
and went down to the depot. The train
did not stop, the F'erndale mail bag
being tossed out as it passed the
depot Effie watched it roll and land.
She walked toward it and as the sleep
er and dining car flashed by some
thing cut the air, hurled from one of
the coach windows.
Mercy! what's thatY gasped Effie.
for the object had landed directly
against her cheek. She felt a sharp,
stinging contact and, startled and curl
Gus, walked over to where the object
had landed At her feet lay some, hing
wrapped up in large silk handker-
chief AS she picked it up there was
a metallic jangle. From the handller-
chief protruded one-half of a ieweled
stick pin. 1t was its pointed end that
had abrased her cheek. She heard
approaching footsteps, made out the
advancing figure oe Royden and con-
cealed the package under her cape.
Thought I'd come and see you
home, Enie." spoke Royden, and he
picked up the mail bag which was lef,
at the post office, and as soon as they
reached home Efie 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 Jared 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 Effie was un-
easy and sleepless. She watched the
newspapers and made many guarded
INQUIRIES. One evening she CHANGED
to overhear her stepfather and Roy
Nden conversing in low tones. The old
man had come across the Jewels. He
and Royden were discussing their
seizure and disposition.
That night Efie stole from the
house at midnight and the next day
was in the city. She had small sum
of money and installed herself in
cheap quarters, depicting her savings
by advertising in newspapers for ''the
owner of some valuables found in a
silk handkerchief at Ferndale."
Efie did not find work as hoped for.
Finally all her money was gone Then
came foodless days. A letter came to
her. 1t was in reply to her advertise
ment. There might be possibility of
"Dale Arnold, % Walsingham build
inc. being interested. Would she please
call?"
Efie had eaten nothing since the
day before When she reached the
office designated in the letter she was
told by a stenographer that Mr.. Ar
mold would be down a little later, and
EfFie sat down to wait for him, waYer-
ing and exhausted. Then she knew
nothing more for many hours, TO
awaken in a beautifully furnished
room with kindly-faced, motherly
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 a
physician hastily summoned that lack
of food was the cause. Discovering the
Jewels he surmised that poor and
honest girl had gone without the nee
essaries of life rather than appropri-
ate what did not belong to her.
Later Effie knew that the jewels
had been stolen from his sister. The
1900 - 5ofoatiUnc and cIIc-