Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-09-01
UNCLE SAMUEIS
P. 0. DETECTIVES
Urder Guise OF "PaImist" They
Effect an important
Capture.
-------
CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS
POSTMASTER Who Was considered
Above Suspicion, Found to
BE systematically
Pilferins.
CAUGHT WITH THE Q Q
IRON tho Kansas city star.

several firms In X Y n, Kan, had gone
astray; at least the contents, amount
ing TO $4,000, had never reached their
destination. Such an amount Is en-
titled 10 create something Of q sensa-
ton in a small town, and the urgent
appeals and threats that went TO the
postofficc department IN Washington
resulted IN one OF the best men IN the
service being given the case. The peo-
ple,o OF the town did not know this, how
ever, for nearly q month. and when
they found IL out they received the
shock Of their lives.
Inspector Crafty was an artistic iook
Ing chap with q Van Dyke bedrd OF
light color and a pretty pink kin His
appearance ana demeanor were so un-
Ike what would be expected OF a sleutn
that his profession was never sus-
pected except when it WAS revealed az
= trial He went quietly into \ Y 4
with a young assistant. and soon was
installed I'M tWo CONS directly over
the postofffce as Professor Teller
palmistN He fastened 10 have his sign
painted on the door, and mis- assistant
busIly distributed his cards. Crattys
whiskers were something OF a sensation
IN the and they drew him con-
siderable trade. but Crafty was not
there to tell fortunes In general-he
was Interested IN the past, present ana
future of only one person, ana ne
meant to learn bis fortune" before nc
told II to anyone
For this reason II nance that
those who called on Professor Teller
were politely asked by h assistant,
stationed ia the outer room. TO excuse
the professor today as he was busily
engaged at the present. All OF which
was very true, for the Professor
spent All the hours OF the day lying
fat on his stomach with his eyes peer
ing through gimlet holes ne had made
in the floor. He had a full view OF
every corner of the small ~postofice
and his later report proved that every
transaction during his stay In X Y n
came under his observation.
IN the meantime Professor Crafty
had learned the history OF the "
and every one In 1t. Suspicion was
narrowed down TO three people, Post-
master Hanks, Miss Scott, his assist
ant. and Tim Blake, the man who car
ried the mai bags to and from the
trains. The town people thought Blake
might possibly be guilty, the post
master and Miss Scott never. But
Blake had shown no particular signs
OF increased wealth; he was the Same
toviai square man of old. Miss Scott
was preparing TO be married, but her
simple rousseau showed no signs of
Ata VI I AhAAi - 1850 1880 -
count. Postmaster Hanks-why, he
was the poobah Of the village. He was
the pillar OF his own church, and a
contributor 60 the opposition lust TO
be public spirited. He was superin-
tendent Of the Sunday school. the best.
most genial, charitable n thoroughly
good NAN In the town. He had the
sweetest. best loved little wife in the
place and happiness bearned I'm his ev-
cry glance. He was q hard worker.
too. che postofhce door swung open
every morning In answer to his key,
and he was the person who locked 1t
again every night. Crafty inyestigat-
ed them all and found the rumored
good reports to be true. He was up
q stump and had decided that the
people who thought they had lost
money In that postoffice must have
dreamed III. There was no more model
branch of the government In the Unit
Cd States. He had decided TO give IL
up as a bad job and told the assistant
they would pack that night for Wash
ington.
About 3 O'Clock that afternoon the
assistant rushed I'm from the outer Of
flee and exclaimed:
There's q customer TO sec you"
We'll. you know the answer, I'm
busv I don't see why YOU"
rBut it's Mrs. Hanks" the assistant
litA# AUktN,
wI,e postmaster's Wife,
N..ng."
Crafty paused only a moment. Then
he e~id resolutely.
"Sh1N her ia, I'll take 4 last chance
at hi ~ame before leaving this town"
Mrs. ranks was tiTnid about having
her fortune told. even though she
wanted 1t done very much. 1t was a
Now experience for her, but Crafty put
her at ease in n moment as he spun
of a great MANY things he had learned
abort her past during his investigation.
10 I'll Of which she eagerly added:
"Thas's truel How wonderful
Ifs gave her the most magnificent
rea inT eyer delivered from a palmist
ana ~ the end he eyed her keenly as
be eai1s
"But With all his there Is something
wcrsTi@e YOU some secret trouble Is
cafin US YOU thoughts. This trouble
includes some one very close To- YOU.
You cannot soc our way clear. But
YOU must not worry. When the time
cofyes. as ii will come soon. for you
truth Just as you know ii. no matter
wh0m Ii hurts, and everything viii
cesae out all right"
A-- Hanks gave no evidence OF be-
touched on 4 tender spot by
crastv's effort, and after she was gone
tAAFt4 A +OAEccV4 AOtd hrs ar1lrllll lil1t
he WAS truly sorry he had done il.
She's q mighty sweet, and pretty
onan he added. and | ought 10 be
ashamed OF myself, But | am at the
point where IKE got 10 take chances. =
Crafty sat IN study for a long time.
Well. he ruminatea. III her hus-
bond had anything 10 do with that rob
berry and she knows anything about It,
therein surely be developments. She'll
tell him the minute she gets home. III
they're incocent, / guess there's no
particular harm done. II youll use the
observation holes III take a nap. TIM
going 10 SIT Up tonight"
r. WAS 3 O'Clock in the morning when
Crafty. who lad seen lying ON the
floor with his ear next to the auger
hole thought he heard mevements In
- be room b<laps His eye REPLACED his
ear and the reward was an occasional
ray OF iighf that came and wrr Hike
that OF q large freely rrafty knew
there was someone Ia the postofice
with az electric dark lantern. hut he
could NOT distinguish even the outline
or the figure OF a man. After a wait OF
ten minutes. and his eyes had become
used 70 the work. he was rewarded BY
seeing Il hand IN the ray Of light. and
IL hand arid III letter. The hand deft-
III opened the letter. removed money
tt,eTHfr&1s,. AMI sealci The sitter again.
The mar. N1a an expert al &. there