Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-09-03
TRACING A DECOY LETTER.
The Veteran Inspector Found It
in Pretty Maryland Girls
Stockingl

StOCkln8I
Philadelphia News.
Mr.. C. B. Barrett, formerly Chic
Inspector Of the United States Secret
Service, had a queer experience some
time age in beautiful little town way
in Maryland. Mr.. Barrett's long ex.
perience with this sort of work had
taught him just how to dig pit fol
his game, and as the train neared the
village he walked through the smoker
into the mail car, asked for the mai
clerk, showed his commission and said
he had something which he wanted
done.
"What is it!' asked the clerk ner.
vously, cycling the Chief Inspector.
where is the mail pouch you
throw off at the next stop?"
1t was produced.
"Open it."
1t was opened, for an inspector has
absolute authority, not only over mail
clerks. but over the postmasters OF
the largest cities.
"Here is letter." said Mr.. Barrett,
addressed to James Lancaster, fic.
titious name. The letter contains a
$40 bill. l want you to examine it,
take the address, put it in that pouch
and lock it with your own hands,"
All this was done, and Mr.. Barrett
went back to his seat in one of the
coaches, confident that the next move
in the game would answer his expec-
tations.
The Secret Service agent stood
upon the platform of the mail car
when the train stopped and the pouch
was thrown off, when he at once step.
ped to the platform. A boy, whose
business 1t was to carrv the mail, took
the pouch over his shoulder and start.
ed up the village street, never dream
ing that the chief Inspector Of the postal
service was following him on the other
side of the street and was watching
him like hawk, while seeming to
watch nothing. 1t was a beautiful
June day, the birds where singing, and
although it was high noon the leafy.
lofty trees lining the quiet street cast
such deep, cool shdous that MIR. Bar.
rett did not find walking unpleasant.
For about quarter of mile the boy
kept on, followed by the inspector, and
then turned into small frame build.
ing, with white and black sign over
the door, labeled, "Post Office"
"Now," said Mr.. Barrett inwardly,
"my letter has reached its destina.
ton"
There was crowd of visitors in.
side of the little post Office and out.
side who swarmed toward the desk "to
get their mall" and Mr. Barrett wait.
ed some fifteen minutes until they had
all gone before he entered the place,
and saw a Sandstone girl, about II
years old, dressed in an old fashioned
bodice and light.colored skirt, sitting
behind the wire grating in rocking
chair sewing.
"ls there a letter here for James
said the inspector, and
ever one who knows his face and figure
will not wonder that the girl took him
for a well.to.do.countryman
NO" she said. after sorting some
letters IN a case marked H."
won't you look agains" and she
did look, but with no better result.
II am sure the letter must have
come" said Mr.. Barrett, and I. who
know him well, can imagine how gent.
y he said 1t.
"1t's not here"
"Are you the postmaster"
mo. l am the assistant. My father
S the postmaster"
"Who opened the pouch that came
by the last trainl"
II did,"
mo ore to help youa"
mo, sir"
The girls bright eyes. looked as in.
'ocently at Mr.. Barrett as any girls
bright eyes ever looked at any man.
maybe it stuck in the pouch. I've
leard of such things" he said. "Won't
'ou look!"
She took the pouch. turned it up. .
ide down, shook it, and looked inside
70 letter.
won't you lefte me come in and
lelp you look forA3' said Mr.. BAR.
EFT.