Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-07-26
A Postal Romance.
az N. QUAD.

Inspector Graham OF the postal serv-
tee happened to be at Chestnut Grove at
the time the postmistress died, and he
took charge of the Office and did what
he could in other directions. The de-
ceased had left two daughters. one
twelve and one eighteen. Squire Davis
and two or three others scarcely wait
ed the burial of the widow before plan
ming for the postmastership and invok.
ing the aid of the inspector. This they
did not receive, however. He promptly
recommended Bessie, the eldest daugh-
ter, for the place, and she was shortly
appointed.
For the next year the postofice at
Chestnut Grove was the best conduct.
ed of any on the inspectors route. Not
the slightest fault could be found in
any direction. Had the inspector Wis
tied the Office four times in the year he
would have covered his instructions.
but his calls were made much oftener.
Before the year was up Miss Bessie
had to admit to herself that the In.
spector was showing something be.
sides official interest. and the knowl.
edge embarrassed and panied her. She
had learned that he was free to marry.
And why all these visits If he was not
In love with her? The girl had a Sc
cret 1t was a secret from the in.
spector only, and she trembled every
time he came for fear that he would
discover it, A dozen different village
gossips could have betrayed that Sc
cret, but they had not been encour.
aged to talk. Squire Davis had often
had it at his tongues end, but had
checked himself and said:
mot a word from me. | said there
would be a scandal, and there viii be-"
The girl postmistress had entered
upon her second official year, and In.
spector Graham had arrived to paw
one of his semi-social calls, when he
was met by a storm of excitement. He
had been doing a great deal of think
ing during the past three months. He
had satisfied himself that he was real
ly and truly in love with Bessie and
wanted her for a wife, and he believed
that he had found favor in her eyes.
On this occasion he meant to tell his
love and know his fate.
This is what has happened" said
Squire Davis, who was the first to
meet him as he stepped off the cars.
"a registered letter containing $50 for
me has been lost in the mail"
But Miss Jordon couldn't have
taken your letter." protested the sur
prised and perturbed inspector.
"Mebbe not, but what about that fel.
Ter who's been hanging around there
for year?'
The inspector was an official now In.
stead of a friend. He at once got to
work on the trail of the missing letter,
and before night he assured himself
that 1t had actually passed through
the Office at Sand Hill, which was next
on the east This being so, it must
have arrived at Chestnut Grove. The
night of its arrival was a very stormy
one, and there was no one in after
mail until long after it had been dis
tributed. Inspector Graham sat in the
office and thought 1t out and knew that
the letter had arrived and been taken.
He could not bring himself to believe
that Miss Bessie was the thief, and
yet it hurt him to think that it might
have been taken by another-by the
young man to whom Squire Davis had
alluded. The girl had had a lover for
year past and had concealed the fact
from him. 1t didn't occur to him that
1t was her right and that he had really
no business to know, but he felt that
an injury had been done him. There
was but one way out of the business,
and he took it. AS he called the post
mistress in he was more of the official
than he had ever been.
Miss Jordon," he began, did Henry
Williams assist you to distribute the
mail on the evening OF the 4th?"
Yves" she replied as her face went
white.
And Henry Williams took the let
ter. You know he did"
II can't be sure" she said as she
broke down and sobbed.
You never told me that you had a
lover"
No. l didnt-didn't think"
Why did he take the letterp
"oh, sir" sobbed the girl. The want
cd to go away and find work and earn
money SO that we could be-be mar
ned. 1t was a temptation. He must
nave taken it, but Wen pay 1t all back"
And he loves you" asked the In
spector, with lump In his throat.
He does. 1 know he does. and IL
anything was to happen to Billy
When the. inspector crossed the street
70 the inn Squire Davis was still in bis
once, hoping to hear that an arrest
mad been made.
Wei, viii the girl lose her place
end be sent IS Rrison?' he asked as
Sraham came la
"No"
But why not? She certainly got my
" $50"
You didn't lose $50. You lost only
$40. You had that sent to You hoping
would be taken. 1t was taken, but
aOt by Miss Jordon. Henry Williams
the one, and there's your money