The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-26

mn appetite win not be small, / prom
ise YHi that"
'itoe II as big az You like, Bob;
You II pay for the food
ing send Guthrie over, IN nix him
out an right. 50 long. Cheney"
so long. Bob" Cheney thought for
awhile, smiled considerably over his
plans ana then sent for Guthrie
sid, you're II %postoftice inspector.
two Offices In Montana. Pnghitt vii!
fix You ont in the proper Way. but be
fore o leave here for the west, see,
me again; I've got a few particular
instructions TO give YOU.
"Ali right. coloncl. Postotiice in
spocting is new in my line, but viii
make Il stab at it al! right"
Guthrie saw PuGhitt that afternoon,
and In the evening cheney and Guth-
RE dined together. Cheney told him
of his wager with Pughitt.
Looks like Il hard game, Jack" said
Guthrie.
Not at all. sid. You lust listen to
me and do what j say" Then Colonei
Cheney told his plan. We went over
it very carefully. smiling all the time.
and just before he finished he handed
Guthrie a small black box and said:
Nov. o just do as | say, Guthrie
and youll see a modern version of the
spider and the fly"
Guthrie nearly exploded with laugh
ter. "Well, OF all the simple things l
Yer heard of, this beats ON. OF course
youll land the thief: can't help it. The
plan is 50 Internally simple no one
would even think OF it. III bet YOU Sob
Pughitt hits the ceiling when he finds
out how the trick Is done"
Don't let anyone know anything
about it, sic. Go out and make your
Inspection. do as l have directed and
then come back here aud wait for de
velopnents. You won't wait long, I'm
a~-thinkine."
AN right, colonel, YOU can count on
me-" And We'll did Cheney know that
fact.
Cheney and Pughitt met frequently
during the next few days and chaffed
each other regarding the case.
What fee are you going to charge
the government for this hypnotic, tele-
pathic demonstration you're going to
give us, jack" asked Pughitt. with a
tinge OF sarcasm in his tone.
About 5000 and Guthrie's expenses
west" replied Cheney with a smile.
The government will pay it if YOU
run him down"
He as good as run down now,
Bob"
Wait and see"
Making an inspection of a stage route
on which there are twenty-five offices
is not a small undertaking., and Sid
was gone about six weeks.
Cheney heard from him frequently and
knew the work was being We'll done
Pughitt became unmerciful in his twit-
ting of Cheney. He really believed he
a good one on the great detective.
Guthrie walked into the colonel's Of
flee one morning and laconically said:
How about a 'hunch' on this case
Sid: got one?"
Mary q hunch, colonel. Every one
of those twenty-five -postnasters is a
wholesouled. decent chap. They all
good business and are prosperous.
l tried to find one who was spending
more money than he earned. OF course
everyone u in that country buys and
sells land and cattle. but TO all intents
and purposes these men are straight as
II WONDER" said Cheney. musingly.
eff any of the stage coach drivers
could have a duplicate key"
Hardly possible. colonel. The
are all pretty heavily loaded on
route and the driver Wouldn't
much chance to do any trickery.
No, sir; it's someone in a %postofice,
but who. Pm DANCED if can tell"
Did you carry out my final instruc-
about the little
Cheney got no further. Sure I did,
colonel" replied Guthrie with a grin,
and that ought to fetch EN-"
u think so. Well, go report to
Pughitt and then be around"
Pughttt came over q little later and
made great sport OF Cheney's failure.
The colonel stood it for awhile. but
said:
Look here. Pughitt. inside of ten
days or two weeks there Will be an
robbery. The report will come
to YOU. When it does, bring all the
%,a,,- oil ~t- go H. .
and in three minutes III name your
robber. Is that clear?"
CLEAR all right, Jack, but I'm afraid
age is creeping on YOU"
Wait and see"
1t was just three weeks to a day
after hat that Pushitt came back.
1T ear off all right. colonel. and
here are the papers in the case Che
ney looked them over and cast all of
aside except the envelope from
which the money had beer extracted.
III be back in a minute, Pughitt."
He returned shortly and said: Who's
he postmaster at Boydston q"
Pug!litt looked up quickly and said
His name is Anderson. Abe Ander-
and a better chap never lived"
That may all be, Bob, but Abe An
ierson was the man who extracted the
money from this envelope-or it may
have been someone in his Office"
NO, II CoLlCil l Dc anyone III the Of
fee, because Anderson handles ell the
mail himself. But, Cheney, why should
hat man steal"!"
Hang it. don't know why he should
but he did it, all right"
What proof have you?"
All that is necessary to convict him
in any court in the world"
That may all be so. but what is it?"
81 can't tell you that now"
But o expect me to arrest this
man on just your say so?"
Cheney's eyes grew cold. Pughitt
was crowding near to the border line
friendship. Look here, Bob. L have
ost some cases in my life, but have
yet arrested the wrong man.
isn't that SOP"
That true, Cheney"
We'll. then, o get Abe Anderson
INTO his Office, and If he isn't the guilty
nan I'll pay all the damages any court
nay assess for false Imprisonment, and
guess I'm able to do that
All right, Cheney, I'll get him here,
you say, but I'm dubious as to the
outcome."
1t vas ten days after that that
9ughitt brought Anderson into Che
ley's office. Anderson was a likely
ooking young chap and hadn't the
90 CT ipIioo+;,~ .. "