The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-02-02
| STRATAGEM Of LETTERS.



family that had once been prominent /
our-town. He himself had been vii
youth, and bis reputation had not in
proved with added years. He lad II
heritel q ANAL property from his n
ther aud was supposed to have sQuar
dered II. The homestead had bee
sold In foreclosure proceedings With
q year. and little had been seen Of Al
len In Stockton since then. | knew
however, that he had once been yer.
attentive 10 Annie Davenport. but hat
been supplanted In her affections, II
indeed. he ever had share In them
by much better man, to whom sh'
was now said by the gossips TO be en-
gagged. This was Stuart Farnsworth
son OF our postmaster and himself ,
hew iedged lawyer not without clients
"on the night OF the robbery" SAID
the detective. ALLEN was seen and pos
itively recognized within fifty yards ol
the postoftice just after the safe va,
blown. and be was running away
That's how sure We are Of him. The
man who saw him had sense enough Il
keep dark about II except TO the post
office authorities. He didn't even tell
the police. for which we're much
obliged"
II was fact that Aliens name had
not been whispered In connection with
the affair.
Now, here's curious clrcum.
stance" continued Baxter. The other
robber was seen. too. but not recog
nlzed. He may have been disguised or
be may be a stranger. At any rate we
have his description. and we know that
be carried large black hand bag.
That bag doubtless contained SS0a
and more Of Uncle Sans money. He
had sense enough not 10 run. and Billy
Stern, the letter carrier, who was the
man that saw him. had no idea that
there was anything wrong with the fel.
low until after he heard that Allen had
been seen running In the other tlirec-
ton empty handed. Then the meaning
Of the man with the big bag flashed
upon Stern's mind. and he told me"
Does the description iit anybody
hereabouts:" asked Graham.
Except for a beard. which might
have been false. OF course" said Bax.
ter, 1T would fit Stuart Farnsworth,
the postmaster's son. fairly well. And
there's point: Young Farnsworth
might have known OF the unusual sum
Of money In the postoffice safe. But he
seems to have fair alIbi. He was
calling that evening on young lady |
named Annie Davenport" And the de. !
tective tapped the envelope with his
hnger.
1T lies in my mind that the robbery |
was past H." said Graham. ''and the |
Foung man would not be staying at
Mss Dayenport's so late"
I'VE learn that be left about H." re-
'ponded Baxter. "but the thieves were
It work in the postoffice by 10 at the
atest II was better than two hours
ob on that safe. And now, Mr.. Ora.
lam, be continued, will you help me
'ead this letter? II Is In cipher. aud
We can't make anything OF II. We
ave reason to assume that Allen has
ent several to Miss Davenport since
he robbery. and we think that we are
justified In trying TO get at the bottom
4 this puzzle. The young lady may be
ntirely innocent. Of course. It's prob
BILE that she knows nothing Of Aliens
onnection with the robbery or that he
suspected. There's doubtless some
rick by which she Is made to hand on
hese letters TO the right party" (
I'D say the same to her IL was
ou." said Graham. "Then you'll be in
be way Of learning the insides Of all
his"
Baxter baked at this suggestion, but
re succeeded in persuading him, and
e set out for the house where Miss
davenport lived with her widowed
Iother. gave him a note Of intro
uction to the young lady and some
ither severe admouitiOns as TO his be-
lviOr, for could see that he vaguely
lspected her Of some perhaps uncon- |
.iousl completely In this affair. lie
as gone about two hours and return
! both pleased and puzzled Our aft
moon edition had gone to press 10y |
lat time. and Graham and | gave :
axter our undivided attention.
This i queer business" said he. !
ri be hanged IL understand II. But
sre's the story: A few days after the |
,bbery Mss Davenport got note .
ON Allen lie told her some sort Of 4
faxed up story about being bothered /
! his debts and the noble resolve that j
, had made to pay them ali. /, was
be wrote, that he should :
secretly with a friend In
is town. Would Miss Davenport re-
i've the letters and simply hold them /,
It'll the friend should come and claim .
emf She need not answer; he would
Ike 1t for granted that she would do /,
Is small service for one whom she /
ID once been gracious enough TO .
unit among her friends. Since then 4
e has received five letters and has
I'd them unopened on the theory that '
ey were not for her. The friend has
4 appeared. | made her understand
ighty clearly that this was part Of :
e postoffice robbery, and naturally
e didn't like the idea. Here are the h