Ruby's Reward — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

She was on the alert the next morning, and when Thomas came into take the mail she saw Estelle give him three letters. She was in the upper hall, looking over the banisters, and then she waited until Mrs. Gordon went back ipto the library, when she darted lightly down stairs, and few out of doors after the man. “Thomas, Thomas, are you going without my let- ter?’ she called out, in her bright, cheery way, that re “a every servant in the house her faithful riend. “No, indeed, miss,’ he said, turning back as Ruby came up to him holding out a uote that she had written to her friend Florence Partridge, ‘‘but I thought likely the letters were all here,” “No wonder,” said:-Ruby, glancing at those in his hand, “for you have three already. I wonder who has been so favored by ny sister ;” and, standing on tiptoe, she perched her head daintily on one side, like a bird, and tried to read the superscription. The man was entirely unsuspicious of the im- portance of the mail that morning, and obligingly slipped the letters through his fingers for her to read the addresses, Yes, there was one for Edmund Carpenter among thom, and a flush of excitement dyed the fair girl’s cheek as she read his name, for she was sure it con- tained the stolen bill, Oh, iftshe could but get pos- session of it! She merely glanced at it, however, then laid her own upon the others, while she said, lightly, and with a simile, “Be sure you bring back as many, Thomas; I haven’t had a letter tor nearly a week.” “It’s no fault of mine, miss; ye should have one every day if I could bring it ye,” the man returned, as he touched his hat and walked away. Ruby sped back to her room, hastily dressed her- self for going out, and then went down oan gq dibrary. where Mrs, Gordon was reading the mof arises gi