Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-11-16

States government, with its official seals
and signatures, and showed il to the
girl, asking, as she read it, Can come
in now 7"
Eyes" blushing, II beg your par
don."
"You did perfectly right. my child.
said the venerable agent Of the secret
service. "e
There was board partition six feet
high beyond the wired window aud
gate in the end of this partition, towards
which the postmaster's daughter went. /.
but Mr.. Barrett thought she moved very
slowly. AT last she turned the key in
the lock, opened the gate, and admitted
the inspector. He walked forward
few feet and looked around.
There was nothing in sight but bare
deal shelves and the letter boxes. and
he knew his mission was not there.
II mailed letter IN ysclft to James Lan-
caster" he said at last. "That is fc-
titious name Lancaster being my
mothers maiden name. The letter was
put in that pouch by the mail clerk on
the train, who took memorandum of
it aud locked the pouch in my presence.
When that pouch was put of at the sta
ton | followed it and kept it in sight
until it was taken into the postofiicc.
Now you say you opened it alone, that
no one else touched it. Where is my
letter p
II never saw it. If you doubt me
you can search me "
Mr.. Barrett said he would not do
that, and that he had never done such
u thing to a woman, aud he began to
pace the -four in deep thought Tho
girl more beautiful than ever in her ex-
element, sat down in the rocking chair,
crossed her limbs and began to rock
s.'Call your mother and she can search
you in my presence. said no at length.
ia"My mother is dead"
Again the secret service agent paced
the floor. He looked into tho adjoining
room. brightly and neatly furnished,
and wondered whether the girl could
have secreted the letter there while she
pretended to be going toward tho cato
to let him in. As'ho paced back and
forth he noticed the swinging feet Of the
postmaster'si daughter, that one Of her
had sagged down, and under
that stocking was tho shape of an en-
velope. las
Your stocking has dropped no
added. f3a
The girl turned scarlet and white and
stopped rocking. She caught her breath
as it TO faint.
SHOW give me my letter. said tho
inspector III u
She took it from its hiding place,
handed it to hin, and burst into food
of passionate tears, H
The decoy letter, ms usual in cases OF
this sort had been fixed so that it would
be apparent to any one that money was
enclosed, II had done its work.
Where is your father ?" asked Mr..
Barrett.
Sin tho garden" sobbsd the girl.
Mr.. Barrett won't out 10 the garden
and found the old men hoeing, aud
brought him in, and when he was told
all he bowed his white head aud sobbed
with the child.
The inspector learned that tho girl
had admirers, as was natural; that her
father was very miserly, not giving her
sven the money needed for bright bit
IF ribbon, new hat, or new dress
hat she lnss,s been tempted to take money
rom the mails for bits of fnery, and had
lone so Mr.. Barrett bitterly accused
he old man Of being the one to blame
md he acknowledged it.
II suppose you will arrest her, said
he girls father.
"Will you make restitution Of the
Ium Gt was about ten dollars) she has
aiken on account of your miserliness I"
Eyes here it is,' and it was handed
,ver "Will you arrest herr
IF did what would DO her future
No. Unless you or she tell this, it
will never be known 10 the village"
Inspector Barrett left after forcing the
I'D man to promise his daughter should
never be- compelled or allowed to handle
ho mails again, and whom he submitted
,is full report to the heal department
1t Washington his course was fully APP
proved.