Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-11
TRACING A DEC0Y LETTER.
The Veteran Inspector Found 1t in a
Pretty Maryland Gifl'S Pocket.

inspector of the United States secret
service, had queer experience some
time ago in beautiful little town
way down IN Maryland. Mr.. Barretts
long experience with this sort OF work
had taught him just how to dig pit
for his game. and as the train neared
the village he walked through the
smoker into the mail car, asked for
the mail clerk, showed his commission
and said he had something which he
wanted done.
where is it2' asked the clerk nerv-
ously, cycling the chief inspector.
Where is the mail pouch you throw
OF at the next stop?'
1t was produced.
Open It,"
1t was opened, for an inspector has
absolute authority not only over mail
clerks, but over the postmasters OF
the largest cities.
Here is "a letter, said Mr.. Barrett
addressed to James Lancaster, 6c-
titlous name. The letter contains a
$40 bill. l want you to examine it,
take the address, put 1T in that pouch
and lock it with your own hands
All this was done, and Mr.. Barrett
went bacx 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 npon
the platform of the mail car when the
train stopped and the pouch was
thrown off, when he at once stepped
t, the platform. A boy, whose busi-
ness it was to carry the mail, started
up the village street. never dreaming
that a chief inspector of the postal
service was following him on the 9TH
er side of the street and was watching
him like hawk, while seeming TO
watch nothing. 1t was beautiful
June day, the birds we're singing and
altogether 1t was high noon, the leafy,
lofty trees lining the quiet street cast
such deep cool shadows that Mr.. Bar
ret did not find walking unpleasant.
For about quarter of an hour the
boy kept on, followed by the ispector,
and then turned INTO q small frame
building, with white and black sign
over the door, labeled "Post Office. "
Now said Mr.. Barrett inwardly,
my letter has reached its destination.
There was q crowd of visitors inside
of the little postofice and outside who
swarmed toward the desk TO get their
mail, and Mr.. Barrett waited some
fifteen minutes, until they had all
lgone before he entered the place, and
saw handsome girl about II years
old, dressed in an old fashioned bodice
and light colored skirt, sitting behind
the wire grating in rocking chair
sewing.
| is there a letter here here fol
James lancaster said the inspector
and every one who knows his face
and figure will not wonder that the
girl took him for well-lo-do country.
man.
| NO. she said, after sorting some
| letters in a case marked L.
j Won't you look again?' and she
did look with no better result.
| Il am sure the letter must have
come, said Mr.. Barrett, and /, who
knew him we'll. can imagine how
gently he said it.
I ITS not here
4 Are you the postmaster
No, am the assistant. My faith
er is the postmaster
who opened the pouch that cam'
by the last tramp
i did,
No one to help your
sNo.'
The girls bright eyes looked as in
nocently at Mr.. Barrets as any girl
bright eyes ever looked at any man.
Maybe it stuck in the pouch. l'v'
heard Of such things, he said. won
you iook7'
She took the pouch, turned it up.
side down, shook it, and looked in
side. No letter.