The Forrest City times., 1893-06-16
THE POSTMASTER'S DAUGHTER
She Robbed the Mail, but the Inspector
 Kept Her Secret

III war idHu AS ms train neared this village he walked into the mail-car and asked for the mail clerk, showed his commission and put in letter ad- dressed to James Lancaster, fictiti- ous name. The letter contained ten dol lar Dill. The inspector stood upon the platform of the mail-car when the train stopped and the pouch was thrown off. A boy took the pouch over his shoulder and started up the village street. There was crowd of visitors inside the office who swarmed towards the little desk. The inspector waited fifteen minutes until they had all gone to get their mail. He 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. ''Is there a letter here for James Lap- caster?" he asked. No" she said, after sorting some letters in case marked ''L." Il am sure the letter must have come, ," said the inspector. Its not here"
 Are you the postmaster?' No; I am the assistant. My father is the postmaster" "Who opened the pouch that came in by the last train?" II did" "No one to help you?" E8 ''No. sir"
 May be it's stuck in the pouch. have heard of such things. Won't you look?"
 She took the pouch. turned it upside down. shook it and looked inside. No letter.
 Wont you let me come in and help you look for it?" No. No one is allowed in here"
 The inspector drew out his commits sion. May come in now?" he asked.
 "Yes," blushing; II beg your par don"
 II mailed a letter myself to James Lancaster" the inspector said. ''It is 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 off at the station I followed it 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 it. Where is my letter?'
 II never saw it, sir. If you 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 postmaster daughter. One of her stockings had fallen a little and under it 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 fainted. 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 bright bit of ribbon, let alone new dress. She had been tempted to take money from the mails for bits of finery. The inspector bit terlv accused the old man of being the one to blame.
 "I suppose you will arrest her?" he said.
 Twill you make restitution of the sum stolen?' It was handed over.
 Twill you arrest her?
 'If I did what would be her future? No. Unless you or she tells thls Will never be known. n."-lndianapolis Jour nal