The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-06
TRACING \ DnCoY LETTER.
TMe Veteran Inspector Found 1t in a
Pretty Maryland Girls Stocking.

ee the United States secret service, had I
1neer experience some time ago IN a beantl
sul little town way down in Maryland. Mr.
Barretts long experience with this sort, o
work had taught hi II just how TO dig {
nit for his gam, and as the train neared th'
Village he walked through the smoker me
the mail car asked Tor the mail clerk
showed his mnission, and said he had
something which he wanted done.
"Wha, is itf" asked the clerk, nervously
eveing the chef inspector.
"Where is the mail pouch you throw of
at the next stOpF
Ii was produced.
open it
II was opened, for an inspector has ALSO
lutte auth rity not only over mail clerks, but
over the postmasters Of the largest cities.
Here is letter." said Mr.. Barrett, 'ad-
dressed to James Lancaster, fictitious
name. The letter contains ten iollar bill
| want YOU to examine it, take the address,
put it in that pouch, and lock 1t with your
own hands
An this was done and Mr.. Barrett went
back t. his seat in one of the day coaches,
confident that the next move In the game
would answer his expectations.
The secret service ag9n- stoo upol the
platform OF the mail car when the traln
stopped and the pouch was thrown on,
when he at once stepped to the platform. A
boy. whose business il was to carry the
mail. took the pouch over his shoulder and
started I'D the village street, never dream
ing that a c lief inspector of the postal serv-
ice wa, following him on the other side OF
tie street. and was watching him like
hawk. VIII lie seeming to watch nothing. l0
was a beautiful June day, the birds were
singing. and though it was high noon, the
leafy, lofty trees linlnR the quiet street cast
such deep, cool shadows that Mr.. Barrett
did MOI find walking unpleasant. For about
a quarter of mile the boy kept on, fol-
lowed by the inspector, and then turned
into 8 mall frame building, with white
ard black sign over the door, labeled
"Postotfice."
Now, said Mr.. Barrett, inwardly, my
letter has reached its destination"
There was a crowd of visitors inside OF
the little podoffice and outside, who
swarmed toward tire desk ito get their
mail, and Mr. Barrett waited some fifteen
minutes, until they had all gone, before he
entered the place. and saw a handsome girl
about II wears Old, dressed IN an old-fash-
ioaed bodice and light-colored skirt, sitting
behind the wire grating in a rocking chair
sewing.
rs there letter here for James Lancas-
terg' said the Inspector, and every one who
knows his face and figure will not wonder
that the girl took him for well-to-do co1n-
trynan.
mo" she said, after sorting some letters
in case marked IL"
Wont you look againn and she did
look, but with no better result.
II am sure tie letter mus have come
said Mr.: Barrett, and l, who know him
well, can imagine how gently he said it.
otis not here
"Are Won the postmasterp
NO l am the assistant Ny father is
the postmaster" -, ,n.
the last trainN
IL iii ~
mo one to help your
NO sir. "
The girls bright eyes looked as innocently
at Mr.. Barrett as any girls bright eyes ever
looked at V man.
Maybe it stuck in the pouch I've heard
of such things" he said. Wont you
look =
She took the pouch, turned il upside
d wn, shook it, and looked inside No
letter.
Won't you let me come in and help you
look tor it y said Mr.. Barrett.
NO. No one is allowed in here.n
The chief Inspector drew from his pocket
his commission from tae United States gov
eIEtHtDi, - llu ats OLlCAht fl8IdluTc6 anu
seals, and showed it - the girl, asking, as
she read il. Can | me in now"
YES" flushing; II beg your pardon"
lyon did peri ectly rig 1T, my child, said
the venerable agent of the secl ct service.
Tn re was board rtition feet high
beyond the wired window, and a gate in
the end of this partition, toward which the
postmaster's daugi ter went, but Mr.. Bar
rett ought she moved very slowly. AT
last size turned the key in the lock, opened
the solid gate, ami admitted the inspector
ne 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.
Il 6Ilel a letter myself to James Ian
caster he said at last That is a tictitiou
name. Lancaster Icing my motter's maiden
name. That let er was put in that pouch
by the mail clerk on the train, who took q
memorandum of it aud locked the pouch in
my presence. Wien that pouch was put off
at station | followed it and kept it in
sight until it was taken into the postofiice.
Now, you say you opened it alone; that no
one else touched it. Where is my letter"
Il never saw 1t, sir. II you doubt mo,
you can search me.n
Mr.. Barrett said he would not do that,
and that ne had never done such a thing u
a woman, and he Logan to pace the floor in
deep thought. The girl, more beautiful
than ever ia her excitement, sat down
the rocking chair, crossed her limbs and
began to rock. The inspector paced tue
floor in deep thought.
"Cau your mother and she can search
you in my presence" said he at length.
MY mother is dead"
Ag2n the secret service agent pa ed the
floor He looked INTO an adjoiulng room
brightly land neatly Furnished, and won.
dered whether the girl could nave secreted
the letter there while she pretended to be
going toward the gaze to let him in. As he
paced back and forth he noticed the SWING
ing feet OF the postmaster's daughter, thai
one Of her stockings had sagged down anC
that under that stocking was the shape OF
an envelope.
"Your stocking has dropped" he said.
The girl turned scarlet and white, anC
stopped rocking. She caught her breath a:
If to faint.
Now, give me my letter" said the in
spector.
She took it from its hiding place, handel
it to hint, and burst into flood of passion
ate tears.
The decoy letter, as is usual in cases o
this Sort had been fixed so that it would b
apparent 10 any one that money was Ell
closed. IL bad done its work
"Where is your fatherin asked Mr.. Bar
rett.
''In the garden" sobbed the girl
Mr. Barrett went out into the garden
found the old man hoeing and brought him
in, and when he was told all, he bowed hi
white head and sobbed with his child Tn
inspectOr learned ia at the girl had adnirer,