The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-18

and sometimes stay two or three days,
and there was no getting I'm his office
either 10 get your mail or deposit letters
until he came back.
Another postmaster OF this kind, hav-
ing just lent friend al the postal
funds. amounting 10 some 81 or SO, an
hour after saw a postoffice inspector
making his way leisurely toward the
office.
Knowing from past experience that
Inspector would make just as big
kick about the s. as he would about
1900 being out OF pocket I'm the office.
the postmaster did some quick thinking.
In a jiffy he had barred the door and
run a red bandanna handkerchief out OF
side window. When the inspector
haughtily demanded that the door be
opened the postmaster asked him
in he didn't know what a red fax meant.
and IL he didn't want TO know he'd better
not stop too long to investigate.
BY this time the little burg was i'm
panic over this hint of smallpox, and
without waiting to add anything TO the
panic the Inspector Immediately made
himself scarce In that region.
Another case was where time and again.
the department had been aware Of
gross Irregularities I'm the management
of one office away I'm the wids some
where. At last the inspector was or
dered out 10 look up the matter.
HELD MAIL FOR A BILL.
At the wayside station nearest this
postoffice the Inspector learned that il
was kept by an old mountaineer named
Saunders. who owned -ererythin I'm sight
around It, and on this account could
hold the office against all applicants
The Inspector Nwas forced TO wend his
faat ~.
Its general Witness caused a slight
feeling OF apprehension In his mind, and
he approached II With some stealth. tax
ing an inventory OF IL from behind tree
The office was rough pine structure,
In front OF which sat a man, as rough
looking as the shanty. tilted back i'm n
splint-bottomed chair, plecidly smoking
a pipe
Presently he laid his pipe down. and.
pushing his hat back from his eyes,
peered over in some bushes beyond the
office, calling out as he peered;
II see you, Jim Larkin; you needn't
come sneakin' aroun' here. I've tole an
tole you thet you can't hev no mail as
long as you owe ma for them taters you
bought las fall. Now, gitY'
From behind the bushes a shaggy head
now popped up. and voice said. plead
ingly: Saunders, I've heern theirs now
come three months ago, an one thet
come the tother day. Ia like TO hev
'em: I feercd some Of my folks j. sick
or they wouldn't be a-writin' so often"
Nary a letter do you git till them
tsters L. settled fur The postmaster
voice was decisive.
I've got part OF the money 20 pay
you, an Mary said fur me 60 not dar'
come home without them letters ef ] had
TO wsllop you 10 get EN-"
And now Larkln advanced holding out
some silver. and disclosing himself as
something akin in build and age 10
Saunders. The postmaster took the
money. and. going into the house. came
out with one letter.
INSPECTOR SHOWED SENSE
There's half yer mail. Isrkin." ne
said: now, ef you want the other half
you'll hev 10 do what Mary said Ter you
10 DO. Come on"
The next moment. without any preli-
minary skirmiShing. at one another they
went. In less than two minutes 1.srkin
was completely knocked out
There said the sostmaster, brushing
the dust from OF his shirt aud Overalis
II need jls a ieetle sich exercise evrv
dsy Ia keep me I'm good health Tell
Mary ! feel - gocS over vsliupm yog
,hct Of shc comes svcr herself she kin