Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-11-03
The POstmistress
OF
Laurel Run.
by eR EFT HARTE.

sent that notice, too, to Hickory Till
But with IL all the feminine secrctive in
stinct within her was now thoroughly
aroused, and she kept silent.
II ought to have explained" he wen,
on, smilinSly; "but You are quite right,
Mrs. Baker," he added, nodding toward
the bag "As far rs you know, ] had
no business TO 20 near II. Glad To see
you know how to defend Uncle SANS
property SO we'll was only bit puz'
zled to know" (poiuting to the wirc),
iii that thing was on the bag when II
was delivered to you?
Mrs Baker saw no reason To conceal
the truth After all. this official was u
man like the others, and II was just ms
well that he should understand her
power Its only the expressnan's
foolishncss." she said. with n slightly
coqrcttish toss of her head ale
thinks il smart to tic some nonsense on
th.t bag with the wire when he Gings
IL dnwl."
Mr. Home. with his eyes ON her pretty
face. seemed - think il Il not nhuman
ar unpari0aaGic folly AS long as he
doesn't mc,,l b. with the inside of the bag,
suppose you must put up with IT," he
said. laurliingly \ dreadful rccol!cc'
tim that the Hickory Ilill postmaster
had used the inside Of the bag 10 con.
vcv his loplishncss. cGmc across her II
would never do 10 confess il now her
face must have shown some agitation.
for the official rcstmcd, with II half
ra.crnul. ha!f.rcasSuring air But
enough Of this Now Mrs Baker. 70
come to my business here Briefly.
then, il doesn't concern vOu III the least.
except so far H. il may rrl,rvc won ANA
some Others that the Department knows
equally well from Il certain rcSponSihli
itv. and. perhaps. anxiety We are
pretty coil posted down there III all
that concerns Laurel Run ana think
with si,.ht bowl we've known all
about ynn and lo.n Baker sly only
business here t. Ia take your place 10
night In receiving the omnibus way
bag. tha, you know arrives here at
$50: doesn't IL"
Yes. ~" snid Mrs Baker hurried
~. int Il never has unvthin! int lis
cxrrp; "r,hr can.!lt herself MP qur!ily
with stgrlm"r. ns she remembered The
sigking Gc Gems occasional offerings
''cyrcn, Il II notification from Hickory
llill pps, OIL" /, leaves there she
wen, on. with an a!Tcctnil"n oi prrc'
sion. at hlif.pa>, rirht "Xnr,lv and
it's about an hours run seven miles bI
road
Exactly" sad Mr. linmc Well. |
will receive the bag oP'n II ana dis
patch II again You can. II you choose
take Il holiday
but" slid Mrs Baker. ns She re
mcmhcrcd that Laurel Run always
made point of attending her evening
lcvce on account Of the superior leisure
i, offered. there are the people who
come for letters. you know
Il though, you said there were no
letters Mt that time" SAID Mr. Home
quickly
NO but hut with II slight hys
tcrical stnmmcrl ''the boys come all
the same
oh" SAID Mr. Home drvly
And @ lorl' I,ut here the spccta
Gle of the possible discontinue Of
Laurel Run nj meeting the bearded face
of MIR Homo. instead Of her own smooth
checks. III the window combined with
her nervous excitement ovrrcarne her
so that. throwing her little frillcd apron
over her head. she gave way to II parox
ysm OF hyHtcrical laughter Mr. Home
waited with amused liberation for II In
stop. and when She had recovered re-
su,ncd Now. | should like to refer
an instant to my iirSt communication TO
yoa Have you got it handy"
Mrs Bakers face Eel! No. sent
ii over to Mr. Green. of HICKORY Hill
for Information
What"
Terrified IL the sudden seriousness
of the mans voice she managed Ia gasp
ont. however that after her usual hab
il. she had not opened the official let
tcrs, but had sent them In her more cS
pcrienccl colleague for advice and in
formation. that she never could under
stand them herself They made her
head ache and interfcrcd with her
other duties: but he understood them
and sent her word what to do Rcmrm
bering, also. his usual style OF indorse
Incnt. she grew red again.
And what did he say"
Nothing: he didn't return them"
Naturally" said Mr. Home. with a
peculiar expression After few mo
mcnts' silent stroiins Of his beard he
suddenly faced the frightened woman
"You obIige me. Mrs Baker, To srcal;
more frankly to you than had in
tended You have unwittingly he
licvc- given information 10 man
whom the government suspects OF pccu
latioa Yon have. without knowing IL,
warned the postmaster ut Hickory Hill
that he Is suspected, and, rs you might
have frustrated our plans for tracing q
series of entertainments tn their proper
source. you will see that you might
have also done great wrong To yourself
us his only neighbor and the next re-
sponsiblc person In plain words. we
have traced the disappearance of money
letters 10 point when il lies between
these two Offices Now. ] have not the
least hesitation in telling you that we
do not suspect Laurel Run, and never
have suspected il Even the result Of
your thoushtless act. although Il warned
him. confirms our suspicion Of his guilt
As 10 the warning. II has failed. or he
has grown recisless. for another letter
has been missed since Tonight. how
ever. win settle all doubt in the matter
When open that bag In this Office 70
night and do not find a certain decoy
letter In Il which was last checked n
Heavy Tree Crossing. shall know that
Il remains In tireeu's possession n
Hickory HILL
gl, ,,..a s;eftr~ l,o.i, IN hor chair