The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-08-31
UNCLE SAMUEl'S
P. 0. DETECTIVES
Under Guise of nPalmist" They
Effect an important
Capture.
CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS
Postmaster Who Was Considered
Above Suspicion, Found to
Be Systematically
Piifering.
CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS
From the Kansas city star.

Tho mail carrying remlttances for
several firms in x Y Y, Kan. had gone
astray; at least the contents, amount
ing to $4,000, had never reached their
destination. Such an amount is en-
titled to create something of a sensa-
ton in a small town, and the urgent
appeals and threats that went to the
postoflce department in Washington
resulted In one Of the best men in the
service being given the case. The peo-
pie of the town did not know this. how
ever, for nearly a month, and when
they found it out they received the
shock Of their lives.
Inspector Crafty was an artistic iook-
Ing chap with a Van Dyke beard of
Light color and a pretty pink skin. His
appearance and demeanor We're so UNI
like what would be expected of q sleuth
that his profession was never suS-
pected except when it WAS revealed at
q trial. He went quietly irto y Y Il
with a young assistant. and soon was
Installed in two ooms directly over
the postoffice as Professor Teller,
palmist." He fastened 10 have his sign
painted on the door. and his assistant
busily distributed his cards. Crafty's
whiskers were something of Il sensation
In the town, and they drew him con-
siderable trade, but Crafty was not
there to tell fortunes in Seneral-he
was Interested IN the past. present and
future of only one person, and he
to learn his fortune" before ne
told 1T to anyone.
For this reason 1t hancc that
those who called on Professor Teller
were politely asked BY the assistant,
stationed In the outer room, to excuse
the professor today as he was busily
engaged at the present. All OF which
MR. O partrE trI1a for Tho s.: PrOfrSSDr"'
spent all the hours of the day lying
nat on his stomach With his eyes peer
ing through gimlet holes he had made
In the floor. He had q full view of
every corner of the small postoffice
and his later report proved that every
transaction during his stay in \ Y Il
came under his observation.
In the meantime Professor Crafty
had learned the history OF the town
and every one in it. Suspicion was
narrowed down to three people, Post
master Hanks, Miss Scott, his assist
ant. and Tim Blake, the man who car
rled the mail bags to n from the
trains. The town people thought Blake
might possibly be guilty, the post
Blake had shown no particular signs
OF increased wealth; he WAS the same
jovial square" man OF old, Miss Scott
was preparing to be married, but her
simple trousseau showed no signs of
having come from a flooded bank ac-
count. Postmaster Hanks--why, he
was the poobah of the village. He was
the pillar of his church, and a
contributor TO the opposition just to
bs public spirited. He vas superin-
tendent of the Sunday school, the best,
most genial, charitable and thoroughly
good man in the town. He had the
sweetest, hest loved little wife In the
- ~1N ~,,lL l,A -.s, -s,.,E 49,. ,,N, la l{e,- So
cry glance. He was a hard worker.
too. che %postoffice door swung open
every morning In answer to his key,
and he was the person who locked it
again every night. Crafty Investigate
ed them all and found the rumored
good reports to be true. He vas up
q stump and had decided that the
people who thought they had lost
money In that postoffice must have
1t. There wassno more model
branch of the government in the Unit
States. IIe had decided to give 1t
as a bad job and told the assistant
they would pack that night for Wash
ington.
About 8 o'clock that afternoon the
assistant rushed in from the outer Of
aca and exclaimed.
There's a customer TO see YOU"
We'll, YOU know the answer, I'm
busy. ] don't see why YOU
"But It's Mrs. Hanks" the assistant
Interrupted.
..The ~postmaster's wife,"
Crafty paused only a moment, Then
said res0lutelN:
SHOW her In. I'll take a l~ast$chance
at t~hiasranae before leaving this town.
Mrs. Hanks was timid about having
her fortune told, even though she
wanted. 1t done very much. 1t was a.
new experience for her. but Crafty put
her at ease in a moment as he spun
off a great many things he had learned
about her past during his investigation,
to ALI OF which she eagerly added.
That's true! How wonderful"
lIn gave her the most magnificent.
reading ever delivered from a palmist
and at the end he eyed her keenly as
sata
.But With all this there is somathing
wertTiaa You, some secret trouble is.
eafin~ at your thoughts. This trouble
Includes some one Very close to you.
You cannot see your way clear. But
must not worry. When the time.
as 1t will come soon. for you
TO tfsll Your story. 0 must tell the.
truth Just al you know it. no matter
whom 1t hurts. and everything will
come out all right"
ae--S. TANKS gave no evidence of be-
tcuehad onsasa tender spot by.
GraftY's effort. and after she was gone;
the *Frofessof's told his assistant that
he Was truly sorry he had done it.
d mighty sweet and pretty
wou1an,0he added. and i ought t o be
of myself. But i am at the
point where I've got8to take chances"
Crafty sat In study for a long time.
Well e Illuminated. IF her hus-
band had anything to do with that rob-
bsry and she knows anything about it,
5taere'n surely be Developments. She'll
tell h1m8the minute she gets home. If
theysre Innocent, I guess there's no
particular harm done. II you'll use the
observation holes I'll take a nap I'm
going TO Sit up tonight.
{ 3 O'clock In he morning when
sGra1ty, who had hee lying on the
Aiioor withShis ear next to the augec
hole thought lie heard movements In
room below. His $ replaced his
ear land the rewardNwas an occasional
ray OF light that came and went like
that OF a#largefrefiy. crafty knew
ii sotleone III the postoffice
with d electric dark lantern, but he
could not Distinguish even the outline
thessHgnre d AMMAN. After a waitsof
ten minutes and his eysss had become
work, he Mas rewarded III
asseislg a Hand In this s5f light. ana
@flsa hand soc H 81 letter rsfie F1aTid deff-
zIYX sTled stile1etter. removed money
spl9a md sealed the W again,