“Yes.”
“Where’s the envelope?”
“I don’t know. The envelope wasn’t there.”
“Then how did you know it came through the mail?”
“Read it and you’ll see.”
Bertha hesitated a moment, then unfolded the sheet of paper.
The message was typewritten — direct, simple, and to the point:
My dear Mrs. Belder: Perhaps I shouldn’t send you this letter, but I’m going to write it anyway; and then when I go out to dinner I’ll drop it in the mail-box or the ash-can. Right now, I’m simply writing to get it off my chest. You probably will never know the reason I am taking this interest in you. I guess you’ll have to take me on trust, Mrs. Belder, and consider me an unknown friend. You won’t like what I am going to say to you, but it’s better for you to know than to go on living in a fool’s paradise. Has it ever occurred to you that despite the fact domestic help is very difficult to get, you are able to keep a very attractive maid? I wonder if you’ve ever stopped to think why it is that Sally has been so willing to keep on working for you, despite the higher wages that are being paid in defence work. Why do you suppose she ever came to work for you in the first place? And have you ever noticed that she’s a highly competent secretary? Perhaps you didn’t know she took a first prize in both typing and shorthand at her business college five years ago. And after that she sold things — got an even better salary as a food demonstrator than as a secretary — and now this very attractive young woman shows up in your house — as a maid! Why? Could it be because there are other reasons which make the job so attractive she’s willing to stay on, doing menial work? Perhaps you had better ask Sally these questions — and when you ask her, ask her as though you already knew the answers. Don’t ask her though you were dubious, or merely suspicious; simply tell her to make a clean breast of things. I think you will be surprised. And that, Mrs. Belder, is all for this time, but if things turn out well, perhaps I can tell you a lot more. I might even telephone you around eleven o’clock Wednesday morning — just to see if you’ve had your talk with Sally and what you’ve found out. And in case you have had your talk with Sally, and are willing to place confidence in me, it might be well for you to have your car waiting out in front, all ready to go places. Doubtless you are surprised that a total stranger is taking such an interest in you, but despite the fact that you have never met me, your interests mean a lot to me. You’d be very much surprised if you knew just how I fitted into the picture. Perhaps I can tell you some time. You see, there are reasons why I’m very much interested in you.
The letter was signed simply, An Anonymous Friend and Well-Wisher.
Bertha peered up at Belder over the top of her spectacles. “How about it?” she asked.