Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-10-13


Guthrie ON matters general when the
above remark was made.
That's all true enough Col. Che
ney, but you know plenty OF cases
whore intuition and perspicuity have
helped you and me wonderfully"
True enough, sid; both these quail
ties help up TO a certain point, but
you1l ind out bull luck IS the decid-
ing factor"
"'scuse me. kunnel,' said the ever
faithful JEFF, poking his head IN the
door, but Mistah Pushitt Is out heah.
an pow'ful anxious 70 see yo.'
Seems to me, JEFF, every one in-
presses you as being pow'ful anxious
to see me- But PughItts all right;
show him IN
'Yas, sab, said JEFF, bowling out.
Bob Pughitt was inspector IN charge
Of the postonlce department At CHI
cago and MAS one OF the best and
brightest inspectors IN the business
He and Cheney had been together In
government work and were fast
friends. Cheney knew Pughitts visit
at this time could only mean one
thlng--"a case"--and he was not sor-
~. because things had been some
what slack lately. Cheney's blood was
Just a trifle sluggish and he needed a
bracer. In jocular way Guthrle had
told Cheney to get married but the
colonel was still heart whole ana
fancy free" -
Hello. Bob" said the colonel as his
visitor came In. "What brings you
round this time OF day."
Pretty serious case Jack, and ! re-
celved an order this morning from
Wickery. chief inspector. 10 AXE the
matter up with you. I'm rot sorry TO
10 IT, either"
Must be pretty serious, Bob, II you
can't fnthom H. This was not SAID
IN a flattering way, Cheney meant
every word OF II. on more than one
occasion Cheney had said: 'Soo
pughitt Is the best natural deteetive
IN the business and ia sooner havs
any other sleuth than he after me IL
I'd committed IA crime" But even nat
,,ral detectives sometimes get up
against il. and Pughitt was no excep-
ton. -
oWell. Bob, III help you all J can
though I don't promise any results
smiled Cheney. 80,
You never DO promise results, Jack,
hut you generally get some OIL tne"''
inst the same
puehitt lighted cigar and cheney
waited. Guthrie, Of course, mao leit
lie knew II cheney wanted MN w
would let him know in snort orue,;
col Cheney waited for Pugnitt, wen
knowing he would get all the details III
sequence. ,,,v eota
pnghltt. "You know there are q good
many mail routes out west, where tnes
mail Is carried only on stages. "
cnnrse the Northern, Central and south-
arm Pacific roads are through but they
run straight across states and as YET
have no tributary lines amounting 70
5yes [ know that Bob" said Cheney.
"'rhere's stage line out In Montana
and Dakota which runs through suod
territory. There are number OF me
ranches and several booming towns IN
The fect'on. There are no banks "
roeak OF. and most OF their business mas
~ he done bv registered mail ST.
paul IS Inc first point whore banking
Facilities arc carried on but even thar
city Is not much used, the ranchers ahd
traders preferringNto do their business
IN Chicago OF New York
Cheney began 10 see the trouble, but
waited for Pughitt 20 continue.
ron this line Of which ! speak there
arc 20 postOfnces. all doing registry
business. Now, Cheney TO get down 10
business. our registered letters on mat
line are being tempered with and money
extracted therefrom That's the glst OF
the story, Jack. Go ahead WIN youi
questions" ~.
thought for a moment and then said!
"These robberlcs come at seemingly
stated times?"
mo not at all one Will take place
and OF course we are active thereafter
and the crook lays low, until we LEI
IN a little. We can't watch one place
only. as YOU well know Last week
there was lin dandy OF a robbery out
there, and the chief went IN the AR
about 1t. So did !, and his Instructions
for me 10 put you on the case were
gladly received
Eyes. / see How long between the
last robbery and the one prevlous?
Two months"
you say. Pughltt, there are % post
offices on this route? Does each post.
master have access 20 the registered
"Yes, he does. You see. Cheney. only
one registered pouch is carried, and at
each once Il IL opened, new matter
added to It, sealed UP again and passed
ON
Just 20; ana these robberes how
are they discoyered?'
well a firm IN New York receives
a registered letter supposed to contain,
say. $1,000 IN currency. The letter or
that hi
really contains thin paper cut to the
size OF a bill. The real money Is alb
stracted and the paper substituted"
Really; then between the time OF the
theft and It's discovery a week or 10
days elapses2'
Right you are, Cheney
p And If the thief wanted 90 make "a
get away he'd have ample timer
Eyes, hut he doesn't make a get
away. He waits around until things
quiet down ana then makes another
haul Why, Cheney, there's been over
$4,000 taken in this manner. The last
one was for $4,000, put up In five $1,000
bills"
you've been over The route. Bob?'
Eyes. rye been over Il more than
once I've tried decoy letters. laid traps,
done everything l could, but | can't
find him"
Suspect any one, Bob?'
mo, | don't Every postmaster ont
there Is a bright young chap who IS
growing UP with the country. They
All own traders stores and are doing
we'll It's a puzzler, Jack Il truly Is
mo. it's not" said Cheney, Ordi-
narly he never asserted success until
Il was an accomplished fact. But now
he smiled confidently as he looked at
Pughitt
well | admire your confidence all
right Cheney but don't be too sure
old man. Don't be too sure Pughltt
was just bit nettled at Cheneys man
nor.