The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-02-08

with the young woman an unconscious
/ assistant in the ncfarious schemes. My
credulity was hardly equal to the de
mand upon it, and when 1 thought of
what knew about young Farnsworth's
character | rebellcd utterly.
There is one point" Graham was
saying, ALLEN wrote this letter and
lost it. OF course he would write an
other Has it been receved?"
Not yet" said Baxter.
Graham glanced at the clock.
There's one nose delivery today" he
said. It'll be due in few minutes ut
Miss Davcnport's house. Suppose we
go up there"
Baxter accepted the suggestion, and
we set out at once, reaching the house
precisely in the nick of time. Billy
Stern was in the very act of delivering
letter to Miss Davenport at the gate.
Baxter, out of breath with walking.
merely extended his hand for the letter.
and Miss Davenport gave it to him.
The detective tore open the envelope
and drew forth 4 sheet of blank paper.
This is too much for me-" said he.
I'll be hanged if underestimate
He was interrupted by Il sudden and
surprising occurrence. Without the
slightest warning Graham sprang up
on Stern, the carrier. and the two men
came heavily to the ground. Graham
was much the stronger. lie seized
Sterns right wrist and wrenched his
hand open. \ crUmpled paper was dis
closed. BaXter~stooped and seized it.
and saw as he held it up that it bore
letter written in Aliens cipher.
Graham rose, pulled Stern up after
him; then he faced Baxter.
why, man." he cried, "how could We
doubt who was at the bottom of this
business? Did We really believe that
these letters We're opened after Miss
Davenport received them?"
DO you mean that this fellow Stern
has opened them" demanded Baxter.
that they were intended for his eyes,
that the whole plot was between Stern
and Allen?"
Beyond doubt" answered Graham.
"Stern's description of the second rob
Der was an obvious lie intended to
throw dust in your eyes and cast sus-
picion upon an innocent man-young
FarnSworth. Stern saw no robber but
Allen until he came to Il looking glass
and saw himself. He's q trusted man
in the Office. He'd have far better
chance than the pOstmaster's son to
know of the large sum in the safe. Did
We not think Of that?"
Baxter slowly shook his head.
Il guess you're right" he said. Il
remember trying to find Stern on the
evening of the fourth day after the
robbery, and on that same evening Al
len got away from my watchers for
couple Of hours. But l never thought
that there was any connection between
the two occurrences. They must have
met"
And on the next day Miss Dayen-
port got the note from Allen asking her
to receive the letters" said Graham.
1T was clever trick. Allen knew
that he was watched He dared not
mail letters to Stern or even to a bogus
name, for he knew you would trace
thcm-in short they had to be deliv-
cred to somebody. If they had been
destroyed or held in the postoflice you'd
have Known that the other thief must
be there"
He turned suddenly and seized the
pale and trembling postman by the
arm with grip that made him vince.
You'd just opened this last letter.
ehF' said he. and you had the in
closure in your pocket? OF course.
And when you saw Mr. Baxter open
the envelope you were afraid and tried
to crumple the slip in your hand and
toss it over the fence, but nabbed you
in time. Am right?"
Stern tried 10 answer, but his throat
was too dry. His face was a picture of
guilt.
"Well, l guess he's the man. sure
enough said Baxter.
The rest was easy. Before the even
ing was over the two thieves were In
custody and their plumber unearthed
from the hiding place where Stern had
bestowed it.