St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-08-12
THE PoSTMAsTeR's DAUGHTER.

Kept Her secret.
An inspector had q queer experience
some time ago in q pretty little towr
in Maryland. As his train neared thi.
village he walked into the mail-car and
asked for the mail clerk, showed hi.
commission and put in a letter ad
dressed to James Lancaster. a fictiti
Gus name. The letter contained ten dol
lar bill. The inspector stood upon the
platform of the mail-car when the
train stopped and the pouch wa.
thrown of. 4 boy took the pouch over
his shoulder and started up the village
street. There was a crowd Of visitor.
inside the office who swarmed towards
the little desk. The inspector waited
fifteen minutes until they had all gone
to get their mail. lie entered the
place. A handsome girl, seventeen
years old, dressed in an old-fashioned
bodice and light-colored skirt. sat be-
hind the wire grating in a rocking
chair sewing.
rs there letter here for James Lam
caster?" he asked.
| NO" she said. after sorting some
Il
Il am sure the letter must have come, ''
said the inspector.
''Tt's not here"
"Arc you the postmaster?"
$40; I am the assistant. Ny father
IL the postmaster"
"Who opened the pouch that came in
by the last train?"
~ did"
mo one 70 help you?"
NO. sir"
MAY be it's stuck in the pouch.
have heard Of such things. Won't you
loolx:.'
She took the pouch. turned il upside
down. shook il and looked inside No
letter.
won't you let me come in and help
you look for it?''
NO. No one is allowed in here"
The inspector drew ont his commits
sion. May come in now?" he asked.
"Ies." blnshing: II beg your par
dom"
81 mailed a letter myself to James
Lancaster" the inspector said. 1T is
a fictitious name-Lancaster. The let
ter was put in that pouch by the mail
clerk on the train, who took a memo
randum of it and locked the pouch in
my presence. When that pouch was
put of At the station followed il and
kept it in sight until it was taken into
the post-office. Now. you say YOU
opened it alone and that no one. else
touched il. Where is my letter.
II never saw it. sir. If fyou doubt me
you can search me-"
The inspector began to pace the floor
In deep thought. The girl. more beau
tiful than ever in her excitement, sat
down in the chair. crossed her legs and
began to rock herself to and fro.
Call your mother and she can search
you in my presence"
MY mother is dead
Again the inspector paced the floor
As he walked back and forth he noticed
the swinging feet Of the pcstmaster's
daughter. One Of her stockings had
fallen a little and under il WAS the
shape of an envelope.
Your stocking has dropped" he said.
The girl turned scarlet and then
white and stopped rocking. She caught
her breath and almost tainted. Then
she recovered. took the letter from its
hiding place. handed it to the inspector
and burst into . flood of passionate
tears. The girl had admirers. as was
natural; her father was miserly. not
giving her the money even that was
needed for a bright bit Of ribbon. let
alone a new dress. She had been
tempted to take money from the mails
for bits of finery. The inspector bit
tcrly accused the old man of being the
one to blame.
81 suppose you will arrest herr he
said.
"Wil you make restitution Of the
sum stolen?"
It was handed over.
''Will you arrest her?'
''If did what would be her future?
No. Unless you or she tells this will
never be known. n."-Indianapolis Jour