Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-11

help you look for itr said Mr.. Bar
rett.
No. No one is allowed in here
The chief inspector drew from his
pocket his commission from the Unit.
ed States Government. with its official
signature and seals, and showed it to
the girl, asking, as she read 1t, Can |
come in uow2'
Yes blushing; Il beg your par
don.'
You did perfectly right, my child
said the venerable agent of the secret
service.
There was a board partition six feet
high beyond the wired window, and
a gate in the end of this partition, TO-
ward which the postmsster's da.ght-
er went, but Mr.. Barrett thought she
moved very slowly. AT last she turn
ed the key in the lock, opened the
solid gate and admitted the inspector.
He walked forward a few feet and
looked around.
There was nothing in sight but bare
deal shelves and the letter boxes, and
he knew his mission was not there.
u mailed letter myself to James
Lancaster he said at last. That is
fictitious name, Lancaster being my
mothers maiden name. The letter
was put in that pouch by the mail
clerk on the train, who took memo
randum OF it and locked the pouch in
nv presence. When that pouc was put
off at the station | followed it and
kept it in sight until 1t was taken into
the postofice. Now you say you op.
ened 1t alone, that no one else touch
ed 1t. Where is my letter?
Il never saw 1t sir. If you doubt
me you can search me.
Mr.. Barrett said he would not do
thai, and that he had never done such
thing to woman, and he began to
pace the floor in deep thought. The
girl, more beautiful than ever in her
excitement sat down in the rocking
chair, crossed her limbs, and began
to rock. The inspector paced the
floor IN deep thought.
Call your mother and she can
search you in my presence, said be at
lenghth.
MY mother is dead
Again the secret service agent pac-
ed the floor. He looked into an adjoin-
ing room, brightly aud neatly turn
ished, and wondered whether the girl
>ou!d have secreted the letter there
while she pretended to be going to-
wards the gate to let him in. AS he
paced back and forth he noticed the
swinging feet of the Postmaster's s
daughter, that one of her stockings
had sagged down and that under that
under that stocking was the shape of
an envelope.
your stocking has dropped he
said.
The girl turned scarlet and white,
and stopped rocking. She caught her
breath as If to faint.
Now, give ne my letter, said the
inspector.
She took 1t from its hiding place,
handed it to him, and burst into a
food of passionate tears.
The decoy letter, as in usual In
cases of this sort, had been fixed so
that it would be apparent to any one
that money was enclosed. 1t had
done its work.
Where is your father?' asked Mr..
Barrett.
In the garden sobbed the girl.
Mr. Barrett went out into the
garden, found the old man hoeing,
and brought him in and when he was
told all, he bowed his white head and
sobbed with his child. The inspector
learned that the girl hal admires as
was natural that her father was very
misery, not giving her even the
money needed for bright bit of rid
ben, q new hat, or new dress; that
she had been tempted to take money
from the mail for bits of fnery, and
had done so. Mr.. Barrett bitterly
accused the old man of being the one
to blame, snd he acknowledged it.
i suppose you will arrest her2
said the girls father.
Will you make restitution Of the
sum tit was about $lO) she has taken
on account of your miserllness?'
yes, here it is, and it was handed
over. will you arrest her?'
If ! did what would be her
future?
mo. Unless you or she tell this /,
will never De known in the village
Inspector B rrett left after forcing
the old man to promise his daughter
should never be compelled orallowed
to handle the mails again; and when
he submitted his full report to the
head of the department at Washing
ton, his course was fully approved,