Western news-Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1898-1900, 1899-11-03

mo, Calban, never!!" said Mrs. Sellars,
with a smile.
AN he aim gwine failin'
now"
Good for you, Calban," exclaimed the
detective, as he gave his wife a hearty
kiss. II am as hungry as a wolf, wife,"
he added, come to think about it, I have
not been to supper"
why, Lang, and it is eleven o'clock.
Sally!"
F. Yes, Missus, 1 hear what Mars Lang
say, an l gwine feed him till he earn
walk"
Don't you do it, Sally" said Lang,
with a laugh, Tor 1 may have to run be-
fore l am through with this case. Where
is Willie, the rascal?'' asked the detec-
tive, glancing around.
Where you should be, Lang" replied
his wife; Sound asleep"
"And where 1 will be, my dear, in about
twenty minutes" said Sellars, as he seat
ed himself at the table.
"Calban." he presently called out. 81
wish you would have Adam, the co&sn-
man, here at six o'clock in the morning."
Eyes, Mars Lang"
A half hour later, Sellars was in the
land Of dreams; but though for fifteen
days and nights he had not known three
hours consecutive sleep, at six o'clock
the following morning he was comforting
with Adam in his office.
You are sure then, Adam, absolutely
certain that should you see that man again
you would recognize him?"
Certain, Mars Lang! Certain!'
Then go home and give this note to
your mistress. Do not give it to her I'M
til after Herman Craven has left the
house. She will give you q missiye for
me- Put on your best suit-not a coach
mans toggery, but the suit you spark that
girl Of Freeman's in, and be here at twelve
O'clock"
"G'long, Mars Lang! Wha' you know
bout my sparkin'?"
"Well, be here. Go now. l want no de-
lay"
AT nine o'clock Sellars again entered the
private Office of Postmaster Grady.
"Sellars! By the great guns" exclaim-
ed Grady, leaping to his feet. "You are
just in the nick of time. l was about to
send for you. Here is a letter that arriy-
ed this morning. You can see it is ad-
dressed to Herman Craven, president of
The Cape Fear Bank and is marked
personal l do not think it pertains to
bank business. Look at it,"
Sellars took the envelope in his hand.
"Postmarked Baltimore" he observed.
IF / mistake not, it is the letter 1 have
been looking for"
With a sponge from the postmaster's
desk he moistened the mucilage on the
back of the envelope and soon held the
sheet Of paper it had contained before his
eyes.
Good heavens!" he presently exclaim-
ed, while his hand trembled and his fea-
lures paled. Il half expected it, several
days ago. One mystery is a mystery no
longer! Grady, to your vigilance l owe
much! The scoundrel! The numbering
hound! Cool, c~onsummate, smiling viii
lain though you are, ere t~wenty-four hours
roll by l will have you in my grasp"
"Why, Sellars, I never saw you so work
ed up!"
you have discretion, Grady; read
that!"
The postmaster did so, and became
scarcely less agitated than was the de-
t~ectiYe.
Not a word, Grady, and ask me no
questions, 1 beg you; but give me the use
your desk for ten minutes, and furnish
me a large envelope-not Of the official
kind, but one that will contain considera-
BILE bulk. 1 think l can counterfeit his
hand. If not, it does not matter"
A half hour later Sellars entered the ex-
press Office, bearing q large yellow envel-
ope, on the upper left-hand corner Of
which were these figures, $4,000.
He looked twice at the address on the
envelope before he approached the win
dow bearing above it the words: ''Valua-
BILE Packages"
81 wish this package to go out on the
Baltimore express at six-thirty tonight
he said to the clerk, "and without fail. I
wish no one to know Of the fact that such
a package Is in existence save those who
will handle it."
"'Your desires shall be carefully COM
Of great service to our company and we
will not neglect your wishes"
''Thanksl" said Sellars as he pocketed
his receipt. But his eyes followed the
package until it had disappeared in the
IRON road safe Of the company before he
left the Office.
He walked with q lighter step and a
heart on his way to his home than
he had when but a short time before he
had left there, and his left hand often
arose instinctively to his breast pocket,
rested the missive that had wrought
this change.
"Golly! Oar comes Mars LangI.'' ex-
Calban, who in front Of the house
was making a kite for Willie, while Mrs.
seated on the piazza, was looking
On. "Shu's you born, Missus Martha, he
got cherry ting befo' him. He got de right
clue at las, dat he isl"
Hush, Calbanr'
HAS Adam arrived?' asked the detec-
tive, as he entered the gate.
Oar he comes, Mars Lang. Look at
De Niger! He dressed up lax he gwine
see dat gal OBJ Doc Freeman's."
Bring him in the office, Calban," said
as he entered the house, followed
by his wife.
Lang, Lang, tell mel"
Smooth sailing, wife, from now on.
God bless you"
Here him, Mars Lang!!'
swell, Adam, have you a letter for
Eyes, Mars Lang. Here it is"
eyes, well, be seated until l read it."
md SoI1arc Voc som doinc ca oud over