Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-06-24
CHAPTER XVII.
COPYRIGHT 1886 BY DoDO MEAD AND COMPANY.


destination must be Stanby, where j
would be necessary to pay visit t.
Professor Lawrance's hair cutting estab
lishment. But first had to read tn
letters / had secured, so turned into
small, quiet looking hotel and, having
ordered dinner, asked that l might hav,
the use of bedroom. Then l rang fo
jug Of boiling water, and on its arriva
1 dived into the folds of my umbrella
and having brought up the two epistle
which were there secreted / proceeded
to hold them over the steam until thu
gum was so moist that it was possible
to open them.
The letter for Green was, as l havt
said, directed to himself in his owl
writing. 1t contained nothing more i'm
portant than sheet of blank note paper
which, as the reader will already have
surmised, had evidently been sent as 6
"blind," its purpose being to afford the
inquiry agent an excuse for calling al
the shop where it had been delivered.
The letter addressed to Mr.. Henry
Jeanes-that which had attracted my
attention from the fact Of its bearing
che postmark Of the very town in Nor.
way where had reason to believe Mul.
lens sister was staying-promiscd to be
more interesting, and it was with nC
little eagerness that I opened it and
read as follows:
"JAMEs-Your letter to hand. l can.
rot reply at present, as Stanley has
gone to Bergen, but will write you
again on his return. F."
Though short and unimportant as re-
CARDS contents, this letter was of the
highest Importance in other respects
firstly, because it was evidently from
Mrs Stanley Burgoyne and intended
for the eye of James Mullen, and SO in
every way confirmed the genuineness of
the letter had found in GREEN'S cigar
case; secondly, because it disclosed
some information that I might other
wise have had much difficulty in discov-
ering-the name under which Mullen 8
correspondence was being addressed to
him.
1t was of the highest Importance if
Mullen was to fall into the trap which
Twas preparing for him that he should
have no cause to suspect his correspond
ence was again being tampered with ;
so, as it was possible that Mrs. Bur
goyne might refer to this epistle in u
later letter, carefully resealed the
note and handed it to the postman,
whom 1 saw delivering letters in the
street where tho shop whence had OBJ
tained it was situated.
whats this?' he said when he had
looked at it.
"You dropped it when making your
last CALL" answered.
He looked surprised at first, and after
ward suspicious II don't remember
seeing that letter when I sorted my de-
livery" he said, "and 1 amt in the
habit of dropping letters i'll the street.
I've been at it too long for that. How
do know this amt put up job?"
"Give it me back at once, you inso.
lent fellow" I replied, "and I'll do
what l ought to have done at first-take
it to the head Office and report you to
the postmaster for negligence. go ont
of my way to do you courtesy and
perhaps save you from getting into treu-
ble for carelessness in the execution of
your duty. and I get insulted for my
pains. Give it me back or come with
me to the head Office and We'll soon put
this matter right"
II humbly ask your pardon and hope
there is no offense, sir, l am sure," he
answered, with change of manner
which showed that he did not relish the
threat of being reported for negligence.
"I'll see the letters delivered all right,
and I'm much obliged to you, sir, I am
sure, and hope you won't think no more
of it,.
''I'm not sure that I oughtn't to take
the letter to the Office now," said.
However, I don't want to get man
into trouble for an accident, but keep a
civil tongue in your head another time,
young man, or you'll not get off SO
oheaply as you have this.
He touched his cap, and promising to
profit by my advice slipped the letter
in with what supposed were others
bearing the same address; so, wishing
him good day, entered stationer's
shop and purchased a couple of envel-
opes and two sheets of paper. Each
sheet Of paper | folded and put into an
envelope, which I then addressed in
pencil to myself, at the postoffice, Stan
by Then after posting them made my
way to the station and took ticket to
Stanby.
As I had to wait some time for a
train, besides changing twice at juno
tions, it was late when l reached that
town, and had some difficulty in find
ing Professor Lawrance' s hair cutting es-
tablishment, which was in side street
and was already closed for the night.
On the other side of the way and only
a few doors down was not very clean
looking temperance hotel and coffee pal
ace, and here secured a bedroom and
sitting room, from the latter Of which,
as it faced the street, I should be able
to keep an eys upon every one who en-
tered or left Professor Lawrance's es-
tablishment.
then went to bed, but was up early
next morning and called at the post
Office, where the two envelopes which I
had posted on the preceding day at
Cotley were awaiting me. These took
with me to my room at the hotel, and,
having boughta piece Of india rubber on
the way, l rubbed out tho penciled
name and address. after which + read
CA9ToRIA.
Tas ~ II .,