The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1888-09-21

Ietl went back to his seat in one o
The day coaches, confident that The
next move in the game would an
sWer his expectations.
The secret service agent stood
upon The platform Of lhe mail caI
when The train stopped and the
pouch was thrown OF, when ne at
once stepped 10 HE platform. A
| boy; whose business it. was to Garry
the mail, took the pouch over bis
shoulder and started up 10 The wi.
| Iage street, never dreaming that a
clnel Inspector Of the postal service
was following him on the other
side Of the street and was watch
ing him like a hawk, while seeming
TO watch nothing. 1t was beauti.
ldl Jue day, the birds were singing,
and although it was high noon the
Iealy, lofty trees lining the quiet
street cast such deep cool shadows
That Mr. Barrett did not find walk
ing unpleasant. For about quar-
ter Of a mile the boy kept on, lol-
lowed by the Inspector, and then
turned into a small frame building,
with a white and black sign over
the door, labeled, "p0slollire.n
Now" said Mr.. Barrett in-
wardly, my letter is in that pouch
and has reached lis destination
There vas a crowd Of villagers
inside Of the little postofice and
outside who sWarmed toward The
desk "to get their mml,n aud Mr..
Barrett waited some fifteen mIn-
uteS, until they had all gone, be-
fore he entered the place, ana saw
handsome girl about seventeen
years old, dressed IN an old,fash-
l0ned bodice and Iight-colored |
skirt, sitting behind The wire graf
ing ina rocking chair sewing.
Is there letter here for James
LancasterW said The inspector.
and every one who knows his be-
neyoIent face and figure will not
wonder that the girl took him for
a weIl-tO do counlryman.
"No,o she said after sorting some
letters in case marked 81"
won't you look again? 2" and
she did look, but with no beuer
result.
Il am sure the letter must have
cone," said Mr.. Barrett, and [, who
who know him well, can imagine
now gently he said it.
IFS not here"
Are you the postmaster~ p
"NO, | am the assistant. Ny
ather is the postmuster.n
"Who opened the pouch that {
anne by the last train N
Il did"
No one to help you?" I
mo, sir" {
The girls bright eyes looked as
lnocenlIy at Mr.. Barrett as any
irl's bright eyes ever looked at !
ny man. 0
"Maybe it stuck in The pouch. Il
We heard Of such things" he said. d
Won't you look /" il
She took the pouch, turned it p
Dside down, shook ii, and looked Fl
side. No letter. di
"Won't you let me come IN and OF
lip you look for y said Mr.. Bar vi
tt. OF
No. No one is allowed in here. +" a
The chief inspector drew from be
S pocket his commission from the IL
lited States government, with III
oflicial signatures and seals, and sa
ad it, "Can | come now?' do
" Yes" blushing family, Il beg an
ur pardon. gr,
'You did perfectly right, my po
liz" d" said The venerable agent Of tht
? secret service. wi
There was a board partition six de-
t high beyond the window, and VIII
.ate in the end Of this partition ha,
ward which the poslmaster's bra
lghters went, but Mr.. Barrett six
,ught she moved very slowly. the
last she turned the key in the
k, opened the solid gale and ad-
ted the Inspector. lie walked "ar
ward a lew feet and looked I'M
und him. ant
here was nothing in SIGHT but mu
e deal shelves and the letter ligl
.es, and he knew his mission dus
! not there. ren
| mailed a letter myself 10 brll
les Lancaster he said at last day
lat is fictitious name, 'Lancas- glol
being my mothers name. sun
It letter was put in that pouch
he mail clerk on the train, who a
< a memorandum Of it and no
led the pouch in my presence. can
en- that pouch was put off at n
station | followed 1t and kept - ~
! sight until it was taken into - -,
postollice. Now you said you - -
ned 1t alone-lhat no one else us'
shed it. Where Is my letierr A
never saw il, sir. 1T YOU doubt -, =,
you can search me" ra;r
-r. Barrett said he would not tan.
hat and that he had never done ''''
d a thing 10 woman, and he Y
an 10 pace the floor in deep bus
lght. The girl more beautiful cor
! ever in her excitement, sat n
n in the rocking char, crossed con
limbs and began TO rOck. The
ectnr paced the floor in deep 9
lghi. .
Jail your mother and she can -
ch you in my presence said Wv
i length. " 4.
II - L.. =. IL :.