a pigeon-hole,
behind a small, railed-off place just at the end of the bar. Josh.
started home with Barclay and Horton. Rivers accompanied them a short
distance and then returned to Stemples's. He looked through the windows
and saw that the bar-room was completely deserted. He peered around and
found that both Stemples and the barkeeper were in the stable harnessing
up the horses, bent on going to a ball at a neighboring town. He glanced
around in all directions until he was sure there was no fear of
detection, and then stealthily entered the bar-room. He noiselessly
crossed the floor, went behind the railing, pulled the much desired
letter from the pigeon-hole and, with his treasure, returned safely to
the street without detection.

He returned to his boarding-house, procured a lamp and went directly to
his room. He then dexterously opened the letter in such a manner that no
trace was left to show that it had been tampered with, and tremblingly
proceeded to read it, filled with the hope that the mystery would be
solved by its contents. He read as follows:

"MY DEAR HUSBAND:--I know it will pain you to learn that a notice
of our marriage has been published in Montgomery. It has caused a
great many of our old friends to turn away from us, among others
Mrs. May, who was the first one to inform me, and who grossly
insulted me and fairly ordered me out of her house. Who could have
spread the news? I think the only true friend you now have in
Montgomery is Mr. Porter. Patterson swindled me in the bargain for
the livery stable, and Charlie May is, you know, as variable as the
weather in the North; but Mr. Porter did me many kind turns without
seeking to make anything out of me. Flora and I arrived in
Jenkintown this afternoon thoroughly tired out. I could not get the
requisition. I will write fully to-morrow or the next day.

"I have all safe in the trunk. Left ------ at hotel in Athens. I
afterward found it convenient to alter my bustle and put paper into
it and strips of old rags. It set well, but I was tired when I got
home with it.

"Your loving wife."

Rivers scribbled off a copy of the letter and then sealed it up again.
He walked back to Stemples's and found a party in the wagon waiting for
the barkeeper to close up and go to the ball with them. Rivers, still
pretending to be drunk, staggered up to the door