New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-12-30
A MISER THE CAUSE.

Inspector of the United States Secret
Service, had a queer experience some
time ago in a beautiful little town
way down in Maryland. Mr.. Bar
rett's long experience with this sort
of work has taught him just how to
dig , a pit for his game, as the
train neared the village he walked
through the smoker to the mail car
asked for the mail clerk, showed his
commission and said he had some
thing which he wanted done. -
"What is it," asked the clerk
nervously, eying the Chief Inspec-
tor
.Where is the mail pouch you
throw off at the next stop?"
1t was produced. ~ r
"Open it,
1t was opened, for an inspector
has absolute authority, not only
over mail clerks, but over the post
masters Of the larger cities. r =
Here is a letter." said Mr.. Barrett,
addressed to James Lancaster,
a fictitious name. The letter con-
tains a $40 bill. WANT you to eX-
anime 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
day coaches, confident that the next
move in the game would answer his
expectations.
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 stepped to the platform. A boy,
whose business it was to carry the
mail, took the pouch over his shout
er and started up the village street,
never dreaming that Chief Inspec-
tor of the Postal Service was follow
ing him on the other side of the
street and was watching him like a
hawk, while seeming to watch moth
ing. 1t was a beautiful June day,
the birds were singing, and although
it was high noon the leafy, lofty trees
lining the quiet street cast such deep,
cool shadows that Mr.. Barrett did
not find walking unpleasant. For
about a quarter of a mile the boy
kept on, followed by the Inspector,
and then turned into small frame
building, with white and black sign
over the door labelled "Postotfice.
"Now." said Mr.. Barrett, inward
ly, "nly letter has reached it's desti-
natiOn.'
I There was a or ovid of visitors in
side of the little Post-ofice and out
side who swarmed towards the desk
ito get their MAIL" and Mr.. Barrett
waited some fifteen minutes unit
they had all gone before he entered
the place, and saw a handsome girl
about seventeen years old. dressed
in an old-fashioned bodice and light
colored skirt, sitting behind the wire
grating in a rocking chair sewing
''ls there letter here for James
Lancaster" said the Inspector, and
every one who knows his face anc
figure will not wonder that the Cir
took him for we'll to do country
man.
mo-" she said, after sorting some
letters in case marked IL. -
-.''W Won't you look again?'' and sh'
did look, but with no better result.
Il am sure the letter must hav
come said Mr. Barrett, and [, wht
know him we'll, can imagine hoy
gently he said it,
'sIt's not here" y
"Are you the Postmaster?''
"No. I am the assistant. NJ,
father is the Postm aster. %
"Who opened the pouch that cam
DO the last train" 4 .
II did" - = E,&.s4
'No one to help you?''
NO, SIT
The girls bright eyes looked a
fnnocently at Mr.. Barrett as an.
girls bright eyes ever looked at an.
man.
"Maybeit stuck in the pouch. "
heard Of such things he sale
Won't you look?''
She took the pouch, turned it W
side down, shook it and looked inside
No letter.
Won't you let me come in an
help you look, for it? said Mr.. Bal
rett.
mo. No one is allowed in here.
The Chief Inspector drew from hi
pocket his commission from the Uni
ed States Government, with it's of
cial signatures and seals, and shove
it to the girl, asking as she read il
Can come in now"
eyes," blushing, Il beg your pa
i don >, s5 5s-..$ss