The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-08-01
The Inspectors
Romance
Bu CLAUDE PANARES
Copyright. 1903. by M. M. Cunningham

Once every two months-now day
or two earlier, and now a day or two
later-Inspector Cranforth had entered
the different postoffices on his route
and checked up and Strengthened out
affairs. There were postmasters who
had seen him grow old and gray since
his appointment. They had always
found him a pleasant spoken and just
man, but all stood in awe Of him. In
no department of the public service is
Uncle Sam more particular than in the
postal. The cash must balance to a
cent with the postmasters, and any
man or woman who attempts to play
tricks with his letters are certain to
be pursued with relentless energy.
Inspector Cranforth was generally
regarded as a flint hearted man. 1t was
understood that he was an old bachelor
and had never known what love was.
He accepted no excuses from postmas-
tiers and INDUCED in no flirtations while
travelling. AT fifty years Of age he had
got to be part of the route, and no one
knew him for just what he was. Out
side of his officialism he had q heart as
warm as any mans, and one reason
and perhaps the main one-why he had
not married was the fact that he had
always maintained a home for a
mother and a crippled sister. His sal
airy could do no more. One day a wind
fall came in the shape Of legacy, and
if the inspector had dreams Of matri-
mony and a fireside all his own, no one
could blame him.
Those who looked upon the man as
flint hearted did not know the ms and
outs of the case at the Dover post
office. An 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 motherless, fatherless
and almost penniless. 1t was the in
spector who paid a part of the under
takers bill; it was the inspector who
had Uncle Billy Smith appointed; 1t
was the inspector who got Mary Will
liams a clerkship that practically made
her postmistress and financially indie
pendent.
Even the girl did not know the ex-
tent of his kindness. When he found
himself asking why he did 1t he found
himself replying that in two or three
years more he hoped to be in a posi-
ton to marry. At present his feelings
toward the girl were merely paternal.
What they might be in the future he
wouldn't discuss with himself.
1t was said that Inspector Cranforth
took more time for inspection at the
Dover postoffice than anywhere else.
Some of the village gossips said It was
because of Mary Williams, who regard
ed him as a friend and was always
glad to see him come, and others said
he had his eye on Tillie Langton, the
daughter Of the village innkeeper. It
was the talk that the two girls were
rivals, and the innkeeper's daughter at
least came to believe 1t and to feel bit
terly toward the girl in the postofflce.
The situation of affairs was just right
when there came an official complaint
against the Dover postoffice.
William Penfield, son Of Deacon Pen
field, was In the habit Of sending his
old father money from Iowa every
month or two.
William was Of an economical turn
and did not want to pay a registry fee
or the premium exacted for a money
order. The bill was simply inclosed In
a letter. The father was inclined to be
garrulous and to look upon 1t as a
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..
haunted the postoff1ce for q
week and then wrote to William. Will
liam made affidavit that he wrote and
lnclosed a ten dollar bill on a certain
date. 1t was the business Of Uncle
Sam to send out a tracer and for one
Of his inspectors to follow 1t up. In
spector Cranforth took his time about
1t, but he finally traced the letter into
the Dover postoffice.
By that time there was great ado In
the town. Old Mr.. Penfield hadn't hest
tated to express his opinions that
'some one" right In the home postofflce
had cribbed his letter and distracted
the money, and of course he referred
to Mary.
She claimed to be innocent, but there
were those who held to the contrary,
and when Inspector Cranforth arrived
to carry his investigation further there
was great excitement. To the intense
Indignation of hundreds Of citizens the
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 a letter had arrived at about
such a date, but what had become Of
It, If not delivered, she could not say.
The establishment was a combina-
ton grocery and postofflce. A person
could have sneaked into the postof1ce
part from the grocery, but he would
have had to look over all the general
delivery mail to get the Penfield letter.
He would have also had to hit the
exact date of its arrival.
Every incident Of the day was re-
called, but suspicion could not be d.
rected aRajnst anYhodv. The letter had
arrived, but what had become Of Il
was a puzzle. Two hours talk was
leaving the investigation just where 1t
had begun, when the outsiders demand
ed that the girls trunk at her boarding
place be searched. She went pale In an
instant, and as the inspector noticed 1t
l suspicion lodged in his heart When
asked II she were willing she hesitated
md finally declined. Even the good old
Justice, who was her friend, looked at
ler with pity In his face. The inspector
stared into vacancy a moment, and
hen his mind was made up.
MARY, have you a ten-dollar bill In
your trunk p he asked.
"I-I"-she stammered.
"Have you or have you not?' T.
"Yes, but-but'-
Then you took the letter."
"Oh, 1 couldn't have done It'll never
lid it!' she walled.
''Then where did the bill come fromF'
II can't tell you. Please don't ask me