Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-07-28
The Inspectors
Romance
BY CLAUDE PANARES
Copyright. 1905. by NJ. NJ. Cunningham

once every two months now Il day
or two earlier. and NOW 4 day or TIVE
later Inspector Cranforth had entered
the different postofiic,s ON his route
aud checked up and Strengthened out
affairs There were postmasicrs whc
had seen him grow old and gray since
his appointment They had always
found him Il pleasant spoken and Il just
man. but all stood IN awe of him. IL
no department of the public service Is
l'nclc sam more particular than in the
postal The cash must balance To n
cent with the pustnastcrs. and any
man or woman who attempts TO play
tricks with his letters are certain tc
be pursued with relentless energy.
Inspector Cranforth was generally
regarded as hint hearted man. II was
understood that he was an old bachelor
aud had never known what love was
lie accepted no excuses from pustnas'
trrs and INDUCED in 10 tiirtatiuns while
travelling AZ fifty years Of age he had
gol To be part OF the route, and no one
knew him for lust what he was out
side of his otlicalisn he had Il heart as
warm as any mans. and one reason-
aud perhaps the main one why he had
not married was the fact that he had
always maintained a home for o
mother aud crippled sister. His sal
AIRY could do no more. One day wind
fall came in the shape Of Il legacy. and
II the Inspector had dreams of matri
81. -.
could blame him.
Those who looked upon the man a
hint hearted did not know the ins and
outs of the ease AT the Dover post
office. IN old soldier had been post
master there for years When he died
his widow took his place. When she
died her daughter Mary. who had
known the Inspector since her baby
hood. was left mothcrless fatherlcss
and almost p.nnlless II was the IN
spector vino paid part OF the under
takers bill: IL was the inspector whC
had Uncle Billy Smith appointed; II
was the inspector who got Mary VII
llams IL clerkship that practically made
her pustmlstress aud iinaucially indie
pendent.
Even the girl did not know the ex-
tent of his kludness When he found
himself asking why he did il he found
himself replying that in two or three
years more h. hoped 10 De In "A posi-
ton Ia marry Al present his feelings
toward the girl We're merely paternal
What they might be In the future he
wouldn't discuss with himself
II was said that Inspector Cranforth
took more time for inspection nj the
Dover postotficc than anywhere else
Some of the village gossips said II was
beca use of Mary Williams. who regard
ed him as friend and was always
glad 10 see him come. and others said
he had his eye OH Tillie Langton the
daughter of the village innkeeper. II
was the talk that the two girls were
rivals. and the innkeeper's daughter at
least came 10 believe IL and 10 feel bit
terly toward the girl In The postofiice
The situation OF affairs was just right
when there came an official complaint
against the Dover postotiice
William Pcnfcld. son OF Deacon Pen
field. was IN the habit Of sending hls
old father money from Iowa every
month or two
William was of an economical turn
and did not want TO pay II registry fee
or the premium eXacted for money
order. The bill was simply inclosed IN
q letter The father was inclined To be
garrulous and To look upon IL as Il
smart trick to get ahead of Uncle sam
and so In time every one In and around
Dover came to know what would have
been more prudent to be- kept secret.
A money letter was missing. Old Mr.
Peniield haunted the postoiiice for
week and then wrote TO William. WI.
liam made affidavit that he wrote and
inclosed ten dollar bin OH a certain
date. II was the business OF Uncle
Sam 10 send out II tracer and for one
OF his inspectors to follow IL up In
spcctor Cranforth took his time about
II. hut he finally traced the letter into
the Dover postofiice.
BY that time there was great ado in
tle tOMh. wa VT. Itliutlb udhii hfSi
tated 10 express his opinions that
some one" right In the home postoilice
had cribbed his letter and distracted
the money. aud Of course be referred
to Mary.
She claimed To be- innocent. but there
were those who held To the contrary
aud when Inspector Cranforih arrived
10 carry his Investigation further there
was great excitement To the Intense
Indignation of hundreds of citizens the
investigation was held within closed
doors that is Mary was questioned
only In the presence of a justice of the
peace She was nervous and excited
and shaken She admitted her belief
that such letter had arrived AT about
such a date. but what had become OF
II, II not delivered. she could not say.
The establishment WAS a comblna-
ton grocery and postoilice. \ person
could have sneaked into the postoiiice
part from the grocery, but he would
have had 20 look over all tile general
.l..lIverv mail Ia pat the peulicld lettsr