Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-08-13
by FRANCES SHELLEY WEES
Copyright by Frances Shelley Wees
WNU Service
CHAPTER VIII-Continued


said positively, and put her chin up.
Simon raised himself on his arms
and called down to them through the
twilight. eli" he said, what about
the other mail?"
"Theres more. Tubby's got it," Made
line explained. "In his pocket. He's
coming across the bridge now. l can
hear his delicate footsteps"
Tubby came around the end of the
house. His face was very red. He was
not smiling. He was almost frowning.
Madeline glanced significantly at Sal
ly, who compressed her lips and stared
at her brother. Tubby stopped beside
the steps, only a few feet in front of
Deborah, so that as he took the letters
from his inner coat pocket she could
easily see them. Idly, as he called out
name, she glanced at each enve-
lope. =.
Simon" he announced. Nothing
for you, Bryn. Sally, two for you.
Nothing at all for you, Deborah, and
Madeline had hers in town. Another
for you, Simon. And here" he said
CALAMITY, "is letter for you, Mrs.
Larned. 1t looks very interesting.
Written in bold, dashing, masculine
hand, with very thick enclosure, it
carries with it hint of mystery"
He had been holding out Simon's
last letter, waiting for him to take 1t,
as he spoke; so that Deborah had had
moment to take in the meaning of
the handwriting on Grandmother's en-
velope. 1t was familiar D.. it was
dreadfully familiar. A cold icy hand
clutched at her heart and she felt her.
self turning faint again, as she had
on that dreadful afternoon on the
wharf L. she put out her hand invol-
UNFAIRLY for the letter and made a
queer little strangled sound. Grand
mother was smiling at Tubby's nom
sense, waiting for her letter. She did
not notice Deborah's face. But Bryn
did. He stood up sharply. He saw Deb
orah's whiteness. He put out his hand
and took the letter from Tubby's. He
glanced at it. He looked over at
Grandmother.
'He could be arrested for this" he
told Grandmother grimly. Interfering
with government mails. Bribery and
corruption. The crooked game of pol
tiles"
Tubby stared at him, his mouth open.
"Shut up," Bryn told him, although
he had not spoken. mot word out
of you, you Ubiquitous scoundrel. Try
Ing to defraud me of my rightful prop
erty, indeed. This is my letter. I've
been looking for 1t for weeks, longing
for it, not being able to sleep nights.
It's a detailed and careful account of
bridge over the over the Volga
river in Russia. New departure in en-
cheering. I'm sure Grandmother would
enjoy reading it, wouldn't she? sup
pose this is your idea of joke. Grand
mother, I apologize. / apologize for
having such stupid and Grass insect
for friend"
II was was just kidding him,
Grandmother" Tubby muttered st
isn't your letter after all. It's his"
"Oh, DEAR" Grandmother murmured,
laughing. you two keep me in a per-
feet state Of bewilderment. l don't
suppose shall ever. be able to tell
whether you are talking sense or non
sense"
"Tubby's fault" Bryn answered,
thrusting the letter into his pocket.
''Tubby's an awful ass, Grandmother.
You have no idea"
Hes all right" Simon explained.
HE smells the dinner. We're going
to have duck and watercress."
Deborah stood tensely before the
window, hands locked together, wait
ing for Bryn to come downstairs after
taking Grandmother up to bed. To-
night of all nights, Grandmother had
stayed up half an hour later, and all
the time Stuart Graham's letter, filled
with all sorts Of unimaginable possibili
ties, lay unopened in Bryn's pocket
Bryn came in quickly and shut the
door behind him. Deborah broke away
from Madeline's arm. She took a steI
toward him. She put her hand out
mutely
His eyes were upon her face He
compressed his lips. His hand went to
an inner pocket, and then he said
quietly, Just a minute, Deborah. Are
you perfectly sure that you're not mis-
taken?'
"Oh, yes, yes!" she cried, and the
air in the room was suddenly electric
as If someone had turned a switch.
Bryn drew the letter out. He looked
at it. Il don't like opening other PEG
pies letters" he said slowly; ut might
be only an extraordinary resemblance
Deborah. You've had it on your mind
you know"
She took 1t from his hand and looked
at it. The very touch of the envelope
made her SILVER. "Tm sure" she said
Bryn ripped the end off the envelope
and drew out the folded pages. Ht
glanced at Deborah's face "Shal
read it, Deborah"
She nodded mutely. Bryn straight
ened the pages and began.
My Dear Mrs. Larned:
Naturally l cannot imagine just wha
Deborah has told YOU regarding tn,