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

letter really contains thin paper cut
to the size of bill. The real money
is distracted and the paper substi-
tuted."
Really; then between the time of
the theft and its discovery week or
ten days elapses?"
Fright you are, Cheney"
"And if the thief wanted to make
"a get away he'd have ample timer"
Eyes, but he doesn't make "a get
away He waits around until things
quiet down and then makes another
haul. Why, Cheney, there's been over
$4,000 taken in this manner. Tb" last
one was for $4,000, put up in five
$1,000 bills"
you've been over the route, Bob?"
Eyes, I've been over it more than
once. I've tried decoy letters, laid
traps, done everything / could, but
can't find him."
Suspect any one, Bob?"
mo, I don't. Every postmaster out
there is a bright young chap who is
growing up with the country. They
all own traders stores and are doing
well. It's puzzler, Jack, it truly is.
"No, it's not" said Cheney. Ordi-
narily he never asserted success until
it was an accomplished fact. But now
he smiled confidently as he looked at
Pughitt.
well, I admire your confidence all
right, Cheney, but don't be too sure,
old man. Don't be too sure" Pughitt
was just bit nettled at Cheney's
manner.
81 tell you what I'll do, Bob. I'll bet
you good dinner I catch your thief
after he makes his next haul, and
won't go out of this Office to get him.
All I want you to do is to let one Of
my men, Guthrie, for instance, be a
post office inspector for short while;
let him go make an inspection of this
route, then one robbery more and you
can go out ond bring in your man."
I'll fix Guthrie out all right, but it
looks devilish queer to me. You're
going to catch the man without leav-
ing this Officer"
That's just what I'm going to do,
Robert-for that dinner, eh?"
Cali right, you're on, Cheney; and
my appetite will not be small, I prom
Use you that"
Have it as big as you like, Bob;
you'll pay for the food"
wait and see," said Pughitt, smil-
ing. Send Guthrie over; I'll fix him
out all right. So long, Cheney"
so long, Bob" Cheney thought for
awhile, smiled considerably over his
plans and then sent for Guthrie.
Sid, you're post Office inspector.
You're to go out and inspect % Offices
in Montana. Pughitt will fix you out
in the proper way, but before you
leave here for the west, see me again;
I've got few particular instructions
to give you
Call right, colonel. Post Office in
specting is new in my line, but will
make stab at it all right"
Guthrie saw Pughitt that afternoon,
and in the evening Cheney and Guth-
rie dined together. Cheney told him
of his wager with Pughitt.
Looks like hard game, Jack" said
Guthrie.
"Not at all, Sid. You just listen to
me and do what 1 say" Then Col
Cheney told his plan. He went over
it very carefully, smiling all the time,
and just before he finished he handed
Guthrie a small black box, and said:
''Now you just do as I say, Guthrie,
and you'll see modern version of the
spider and the fly"
i, Guthrie nearly exploded with laugh
ter. well, of all the simple things I
ever heard of, this beats 'em! Of
course you'll land the thief; can't help
it. The plan is so Internally simple
no one would even think of it. I'll
bet you Bob Pughitt hits the ceiling
when he finds out how the trick is
done"
Don't let any one know anything
about it, Sid. Go out and make your
inspection, do as I have directed and
then come back here and wait for de-
velopments. You won't wait long, I'm
a-thinking."
"All 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 $4,000 and Guthrie's ex-
penses west" replied Cheney, with a
smile.
"The government will pay it if you
run him down."
Hes as good as run down now,
Bob
''Wait and see.'
Making an inspection of stage
route on which there are % offices is
not small undertaking, and Sid
Guthrie was gone almost six weeks.
Cheney heard from him frequently and
knew the work was being well done.
Pughitt became unmerciful in his
twitting of Cheney. He really believed
he had a good one on the great de-
tective.