The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-03-08

Its chance, tell you, more chance
than anything else that works these
so-called intricate cases to 2 success
full conclusion"
Col. Cheney was talking with Sid
Guthrie on matters general when the
above remark was made.
That's all true enough, Col. Che
ney, but you know plenty of cases
where intuition and perspicuity have
helped you and me wonderfully.
''True enough, Sid; both these quail
ties help up to certain point, but
you'll find out bull luck is the decid-
ing factor"
"'Scuse me, kunnel" said the ever
faithful jeff, poking his head in the
door, "but Mistah Pughitt is out heah,
an pow'ful anxious to see yo."
Seems to me, jeff, every one i'm
presses you as being 'pow'ful anxious
to see me. But Pughitt's all right;
show him in"
"YaS, sah," said jeff, bowling out.
Bob Pughitt was inspector in charge
of the post Office department at Chi
cago and was 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 Pughitt's visit
at this time could only mean one
thing-"a case"-and he was not sor-
ry, because things had been some
what slack lately. Cheney's blood was
just trife sluggish and he needed a
bracer. In jocular way Guthrie had
told Cheney to "get married. but the
colonel was still heart whole and
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-
ceived an order this morning from
Wickery, chief inspector, to take the
matter up with you. I'm not sorry to
do it, either"
Must be pretty serious, Bob, if you
can't fathom. it." This was not said
in fiattering way. Cheney meant
every word of it. On more than one
occasion Cheney had said: Bob
Pughitt is the best natural detective
in the business, and I'd sooner have
any other sleuth than he after me if
I'd committed a crime" But even nat
ural detectives sometimes get up
against it, and Pughitt was no eXcep-
ton.
"Well, Bob, I'll help you all can,
though 1 don't promise any results"
smiled Cheney :
"You never do promise results, Jack,
but you generally get some of them,
Just the same"
Pughitt lighted cigar and Cheney
waited. Guthrie, of course, had left.
He knew if Cheney wanted him he
would let him know in short order.
Col. Cheney waited for Pughitt, we'll
knowing he would get all the details
In sequence.
Its peculiar case, jack" said
Pughitt. "You know there are a good
many mail routes out west, where the
mail is carried only on stages. Of
course the Northern, Central and
Southern Pacific roads are through,
but they run straight across states and
as yet have no tributary lines amount
ing to anything"
Eyes, know that, Bob" said Che
ney.
There's a stage line out in Mon
tana and Dakota which runs through
good territory. There are a number
of fine ranches and several booming
towns in the section. There are no
banks to speak of, and most of their
business has to be done by registered
mail. st. Paul is the first point where
banking facilities are carried on, but
even that city is not much used, the
ranchers and traders preferring to do
their business in Chicago or New
York"
Cheney began to see the trouble,
but waited for Pughitt to continue.
ION this line of which I speak there
are % post offices, all doing registry
business. Now, Cheney, to get down
to business. Our registered letters on
that line are being tempered with and
money extracted therefrom. That's
the gist of the story, Jack. Go ahead
with your questions"
Thank you, Bob, only few" He
thought for moment and then said:
''These robberies come at seeming
ly stated times?"
"No, not at all. One will take place
and of course we are active thereafter
and the crook lays low, until we let
up little. We can't watch one place
only, as you we'll know. Last week
there was Jim dandy of a robbery
out there, and the chief went in the
air about it. So did I, and his instruc-
tons for me to put you on the case
were gladly received"
Eyes, see. How long between the
last robbery and the one previous?"
1.-TWO months"
"You say, Pughitt, there are % post
Offices on this route? Does each post
master have access to the registered
pouch?"
"Yes, he does. You see, Cheney,
only one registered pouch is carried,
and at each Office it is opened, new
matter added to it, sealed up again |
and passed on"
"Just so; and these robberies, how