The $500 Check — page 278: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BERT OBTAINS AN IMPORTANT CLEW. 255 ‘¢T wouldn’t take a thousand dollars for this letter,’ said Bert to himself in exultation. ‘I don’t know what it amounts to in the eyes of the law, but Iam sure it is valuable. Now, if I could only find Ralph Harding himself.” Bert continued his search among the letters, and finaily found one postmarked Peoria, I]- linois, which appeared to have been received by Ralph Harding about a week before he left Harrisburg. This is an extract therefrom: It is five years since I have seen you. This is a long separation considering that we two are the only ones left of the family. If you are in your old business as I infer from your letter, why can’t you get work just as well here in Peoria asin Harrisburg? There isa large shop here, where I think you would not have any diffi- eulty m securing employment. I presume as good wages are paid here as at the East. We have a small room which you could occupy, and it would be pleasant for a brother and sister who have been so long separated to find themselves under the same roof. My husband is a carpenter, as you know. His earn- ings are not large, and he doesn’t always have work, but we have a little sum saved up which we can fall back upon in time of need. I can’t lend you any money, and GOMmIGhoo ‘Ss (E(@) m