The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-22
LOVES LABOR LOST.

It is now some two or three years since
Young gentleman entered the office OF
specisl agent of the Posto1ice Department
in one of our large cities, and announced
that he had q serious case Of mail depreds-
ton 10 report, which he would Ike to have
investigated Immediately. Being request
cd to give the particulars of the matter, he
produced from his pocket q letter addressed
TO himself and pOstmsrked with the name
of q small town in the State of PennsYl-
vsnla. The envelope bore unmistaksble
evidence Of having been opened and reseal-
ed. and the address was in lAdy's hand
writing.
TThere, sir" said he carefully removing
the letter, and handing the envelope to the
AGENT for inspection, HthAt ere letters
been robbed by some pOetOthce thief OF
tueDty.six dollars. Now 1 want you to
catch him and put the screws to him--giye
him ton years st least 1 don't care for the
loss of the money!" (it is singular, by the
way, how sublimely indifferent to pecuni-
sry considerations most people are who
prefer these complaints "but I'd like to
sec the rascal caught"
Now, the agent having had consider
able previous experience in the investlgs-
tion Of cases of "rihing," was quite sensi-
BILE that 8 very necessary preliminary to
such investigations was thorough knoHl-
edge of all the circumstances connected
with the affair, snd after attentiVely exam
lining the envelope, which was literally
dau6ed with mucilsge, he observed:
Well, sir, will take the memorandum
| of your statement, and if it proves to be
post Office thief rs you say
RIf it does, sir ?" Why, who else can
It beP Isn't there the envelope to speak
for itself-hssn't it evidently been torn
open and gummed up agAin2 Of course
It's q post Office thief-Any one can see
that"
aProbably, sir; but don't see it, just
yet. Be good enough to give me the name
| OF the writer of this letter"
The Young man hesitAted, and at once
his manner became confufed and nervous
GTd rather net, if it's all the same, sir
It's a young lady, and there are Pecullal
circumstances about the case-and-ln
abort. 1 don't want her name mixed up II
it."
HBut it will be absolutely necessary, IL
order to make s proper investigation tina
I should know her name. Without 1t
CAQQOk uuQoEbaA9 " Nv - -.--3 - -
matter"
The gentleman still sought for some tim
to avoid giving the name Of his fair friend
but at last announced it as HMiss Emil.
Melville" Other questions followed as :
the circumstances which led to the enclo
sure of the money, SC, to which the com
plsinant answered in an evaslVe shuthnI
wsy, evidently striving to conceal some
thing of which he was secretly ashamed
Percsiving that the investigation was like
ly to make but slow progress while con
Quoted in this fashion, the Agent hnAll
observed:
, any friend, my time is too precious
, waste in drawing information from 20
. with 8 cork-screw and you may as We
: make up your mind either to give me
! clear and unreserved account of this tran
action, or to go elsewhere with your griel
ance. Now, please tell me 'Ohy Mi
: Melville sent you Tor tried to send yoV
l GTo pay for some brosdclOth for cloak
? (which you were to purchase for her