The Yale expositor., 1921-03-17
CHAPTER xli-Continued.

high like the peaked crown of his
rusty hat.
Did your grandpa send you?"
"Uh-huh! l brung y'u letter.
Gran'pa tends t. tn post office now.
The OIL postmaster had a stroke night
bfore last, an haln't knowed nothin'
since. SO gran'pa tends to it,"
He unbuttoned the bosom Of his
waist, drew out letter and handed it
over.
"Air you Box 23?"
"I-yes--I guess So" was the
startled answer as she took the letter.
Huh That's a funny name-fer a
girl"
But she was too busy with the let
ter to notice the remark. 1t was ad-
dressed in very bold and legible
hand: Box %, Buckeye, Ind. The
postmark she could not be sure Of. 1t
appeared TO be Vincennes, but some of
the letters were too dull read with
certainty.
us that your r'volver"
There was not much chance to read
letters-Or do anything else-with a
youngster like that in the house.
"Yes. Have they found that man
that escaped from Jail last night?"
NAV! An I hope they don't. I
met that timber buyin' teller on the
way down here" He came near the
girls chair. IF they's anybody l hate,
it's him. Gran'pa says"-he leant
nearer, and spoke low-"he kills peo-
pie! Gee but l wus skeered when I
saw him a-cOmin down tn road! He
wus awful mad, an a-swearin' to his
self. He slashed at me with a switch.
But ducked, an cut dirt, an Skinned
over tn fence. When I looked back
he was a-goin' on toward town. an I
streaked it through tn woods lickety-
split"
The very information she had been
about to venture forth into the woods
to acquire.
"How is your grandma today?"
"Oh, she's well ag'in. She cooks
lots Of things now She fried me
some screw-cakes yisterdy."
He was ne-"lickety-split."
The girl closed the door, laughing
softly, and turned toward the curtains.
The Pearlhunter was Just coming
through them. at couldn't have
turned out better" he said "The
dark, one stroke more. and things will
take turn"
"That stroke!" She was very
thoughtful, her eyes searching the side
Of his face toward her. "You speak
OF it lightly; but so you spoke of that
dreadful fight with the mob"
He sat still a long time.
81 don't know why shouldn't tell
you" he said at last. 1.-THE only rea-
son I didn't was to save you the
thought of 1t. But girl like you'd
ask no better backin' in a tight place"
Her face lighted.
"Then why not take me with your"
He started, turned his slow eyes
toward her. A moment he studied
her, and then shook his head
"No"-the word seemed final. at
won't do for girl-a lady-to hear
what will have to be heard tonight
and see what will have to be SEEN"
Her eyes dropped; so did his. They
both met at the same focus-the letter
In her hand. She passed it to him. He
turned it over and over, looked at the
address, the postscript, and handed it
back.
II never got letter in my life" he
said, "nor wrote one"
Neither did l." She turned the let
ter over and over, studying 1t. BOX
23," she unused. "It's for Daddy! He
couldn't read it, even if he were here.
Do you think / should open it?"
"Yes, think you should" he ad-
used.
She tore open the end Of the envel-
,pe and drew out folded sheet Of
egal cap. AS she unfolded 1t, bill
"a greenback- fell out upon her lap.
She pounced upon it.
Fifty dollars Why-why-w
"The letter will tell" he said, lean
ne eagerly toward her.
She unfolded the stiff sheet, the in
Ter side of it covered with the letter,
written in clear, readable hand:
"Vincennes, Ind, June 10, 1874.
My Dear Colonel:
Enclosed ! am sending the usual
Monthly remittance, as per your order
vhen you left.
"Why haven't you answered any of |
ny letters? j have sent the remit |
ance regularly but have not heard a
vord from you for nearly seven years.
Is i have repeatedly told you, your
state has Increased till hardly know
ow to invest it further. If l don't
ear from you ] shall have to come /
p to Buckeye for a consultation.
"The little glrl-little Hesper Dawn
must be quite woman now. AS 1
ave written you. her grandfather, old
lodfrey Dawn, died last year. He re-
ented in his last hours and left her
ole heir to his fortune, which, as you
now, Is even more considerable than
our own. The estate is In my hands
eaoy to convey to her. The legal age
I d woman In this state Is eighteen.