The Irish standard., 1889-03-16

The mans name was Roberts, and when /
asked why his letters did not come properly
addressed, the postmaster explained:
81 can't just remember what the woman
said about it, but believe be used to have
partner IN the business, and is afraid to
use his legal name"
The next day we drove out TO inspect tho
tract of land, and / Sc shaped things as to
cut across the woods and make call at
Roberts cabin. I had hoped to discover
some evidences here to confirm my sus-
picions, but did not do as well as ex-
pected. Roberts was supposed to be almost
helpless with his ailment, but as we APP
preached the place caught sight OF man
walking briskly between the house and the
barn, and afterward knew that it was the
cripple. 1t was an ordinary log house, dl-
vided into two rooms. When we reached
it the man was lying on lounge, and seem
ingly asleep, but the fresh earth on his
boots had not yet dried. Not sign of the
letters could be seen, and when spoke
about his wonderful plasters and my desire
to purchase was informed that he was
Just out. 1t was plain to me that both Rob-
erts and wife were under constraint, and
though the postmaster was my guarantee
they were shy of me. Common hospitality
forced them to offer US a bite to eat, but
knew they felt relieved when we took our
departure.
AS soon as we reached the shelter Of the
woods sent the postmaster across to the
horse and buggy and secreted myself to
see what would happen. In about twenty
minutes Roberts appeared at the door,
carefully looked about him, and then went
TO the barn, which stood about ten rods
from the house, and hung an old sheepskin
on peg near the door This door faced a
highway which was so little used that it
scarcely showed a wheel track. 1t struck
me that he had hung up the sheepskin as
81 signal, and, though he returned to the
house and every Shing was very quiet, 1
waited for two hours. Then was reward
ed by seeing man ride past on horseback.
He was evidently familiar with the signal,
for he rode his horse through gateway
to the barn, and Roberts at once went out
to meet him. I saw them have two Or
three packages between them, and they
kept up conversation which lasted half an
hour. Then the sheepskin was taken
down, the stranger rode away, and Roberts
returned to the house with q package in his
hand.
AS soon as rejoined the postmaster I
thought it hest to take him into my conf
dence. He was dumfounded at my suspi-
cions, but yet, in the new light OF things,
could recollect many little things going 70
show that might be correct Mrs. Roberts
did not come to town that evening, as an
ticipated, but next forenoon she arrived and
posted twenty-one letters, each one Of them
directed to soldier. Thirteen Of them
were directed to members of one Wisconsin
regiment, and each and every one no doubt
contained counterfeits.
1 now reported to headquarters, and
asked for two men to aid me. I met them
at New Albany, and, after canvassing the
case, a third man was sent US from Louis
vile, making up our party to four. Each
proceeded to Shoals by his own route, and
as many strangers were coming and going
the presence of CUR party provoked no un-
usual comment.
During NV absence Mrs. Ro berts had re-
ceiye9 two big mails and posted one, ana
nothing mad occurred to create alarm. On
the day after our arrival she came in with
fifteen letters and took out tWenty-nine. 1t
was in the evening, and the four of US We're
on the road to the Roberts cabin within an
hour. had seen the messenger come and
go by daylight, but chat might have been
an exception. When we reached the place
we pos ted ourselves so that no one could
approach or leave without being seen, and
though the lights were out before eleven
O'Clock we remained alert until broad day
Light. It was ten O'Clock in the forenoon
before Roberts hung up the sheepskin and
a quarter to twelve before the messenger
arrived. 1t was the same uncouth fellow
! I had seen ON the other occasion, and he re-
ceived the mail of the night before and
handed out packet of letters to be posted.
We had our plans all perfected. Two OF
the force were left to arrest Roberts, and
the other two Of us lay in ambush down
the road and arrested the messenger
as he came up. He proved to be
the right sort of q man. He no
sooner found himself In custody than he
wanted to squeal on the gang, and in hall
an hour we had all the information he could
give
Roberts and his wife were of different
| stuff, but when confronted with the mes.
senger and made to understand that he had
given the whole thing away, they became
quite anxious to slip their necks out OF the
halter. They were the agents OF the gang,
and where do you suppose the gang had 1ts
Headquarters? On house-boat which
moved up and down the Ohio river, pre-
| tending to be in the service of the Govern
"'SS~>~o ~~>~
changes in the channel, and recording
depths. The money was printed in Louis:
vile, and this headquarter-boat supplied
several towns on the river. Nearly all the
scueer'' was mailed to the soldiers, and
there was regular system about it. An
the circulars sent to the Army Of the Ten
nessee referred would-be purchasers to az
address at New Albany. The Army Of the
Potomac was supplied from Shoals. The
| troops in the Southwest were supplied from
Madison.
The messenger stated that the boat would
be at certain point about six miles away
at ten o'clock that night and we were on
hand to board and capture her. There were
four men aboard, one Of whom had charge
Of the correspondence. He had d snug lit
tie Office fitted up, bought postage stamps
by the hundred, and had about him a
bushel of compromising documents
The receipts must have averaged $500 or
more per day, and among the letters
ordering the squeer'' were epistles from
several Captains and Major. The messen'
ger knew no one outside the boat. Roberts
and his wife knew only the messenger
Man and wife got regular salary of fifteen
dollars per week, while the messenger got
twenty collars. OF the four on the boat not