The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-05
Tobacco
Smoke Is
Again a
Factor in
Mystery

And still"
Ny dear Mr. Grafton. ssfd Bur
leigh, rather impatiently. we are none
OF US infallible. that 1 know. 1 may
be entirely wrong in the theory I have
advanced. but Il 1 am, where's the
iiaw?"
Yes" sighed Grafton Il suppose
that were bound to assume that tns
papers are downstairs. but who the
dickens coule the chief have been2
A man with a quick wit and a taste
for Turkish cigarettes: probably one
who knew all the details OF your
papers. Can you 1T a name 10 that
scanty description
Certainly. Il answers none OF my
business associates"
Nor any one employed about your
house, who might possibly have heard
you discussing the natter
This particular matter has not been
much discussed at home, and II IL had
been there was no one to overhesr.
NO, l can't help you there, Burlelgh."
Well, I hardly know that the fell
lows identity concerns US just now.
any way Burleigh chewed his cigar.
and his brow wrinkled in thought.
You see, Mr. Grafton, this isn't ex-
acty the ordinary kind Of thief chase.
II we had the man right here before
Us in the ofrice II would be entirely
beyond him to return your documents
until the letter carrier brought the en-
Velope 10 hinn-some time this after
noon. We're not 80 much on the tran
OF man as we are on the trail Of
that white streak you saw when COM
Ing up the stairs"
But, Burleigh. since We know that
they're down there IN the box
''Yes?"
Wen, there's some way OF getting
at them said Grafton. sharply.
There must be some means by which
We can lay hands on them
Is there?' BurleIgh half smiled.
'HowT'
Why. We can wait here-or rather
downstairs by the box"
Until morning.
Yes. until the mail collector comes
along on his first trip That is in the
neighborhood Of seven"
And then2n
Inen. OF course. Well explain nat
tiers to him I'll tel him that I mailed
a letter by mistake last night. and
ask him 20 hand II back. In ali prob
ability IL is The only letter down there.
and even more than that, my name ana
address are printed on the corne-. az
the envelope"
Exactly. And what Will the man
say9"
7 trust that he'll be decent and
hand Il Overland let that settle the
whole business"
Then you're wrong. sir. for he'd
never in this world dare 70 90 Il, He
would no more take II upon himself
to hand over that letter, or any
other, than he'd ny"
But. confound IT. He'd know me
i must count for something in this
town" cried Grafton. and the very
rarely evidenced sense Of his own per
sonal Importance IN KenyonvfIle
showed fc4Th. Il believe, honestly.
that he wouIE hand the thing over to
me-"
Them beg Your pardon-but you're
wrong again. The Government mail
service is no respector o. presons.
Once a stamp has been AFFIXED 10 an
envelope directed and mailed. the
thing is a sacred trust OF the United
States until It IS delivered, and all the
millionaires IN the State wouldn't be
able TO alter it
"I-weH, hang 1t! 7 suppose I do
know that" ssid Grafton, helplessly."
He walked TO the window and stared
down upon the deserted streets with
their twinkling arc lights at the cor
ners-the arc lights that had belonged
good part to him, little earlier IN the
evening
One of the infrequent cars came
sailing down from the suburbs. and he
watched it's tiny yellow bead OF light
approach and pass out OF sight below.
Gould we waylay that man. Bur
leigh?" he asked. desperately.
''WhaI7'
BE there in the corridor when he
arrives. and rush him away from the
box, after he's opened it-or crowd him
away and snatch the letter before he
gets wind Of what's happeningT"
You have never paid that particu-
lar attention to your mail collectors
said the detective, rather tartly.
"Why2"
Because each OF them carries his
pass key on a very short, very stout
CliAlus anu 6DUul liNn bClUlGS AILeE
our particular man felt a tug on that
chain. there would be trouble brewing
for Mr.. Grafton, the millionaire, and
for Mr.. Burleigh, the detective
81 suppose So" sighed Grafton.
"Oh. that notion is altogether too
absurd, you know. 1t wouldn't better
matters in the least and It might make
things decidedly nasty for botn OF us"
Il know, but It was only a sugges-
ton. We've got TO think out some
plan between now and the tine that
collector arrives. thought
I'm trying my best now, SIR
'Suppose-well, suppose that ] went
to DobbsT'
''The Kenyonville head postmaster IS
Yes I might catch him at his
house. first thing IN the morning-say
IN the neighborhood of S o'clock-antf
:sll him the story"