The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-06

him as he stepped off the cars "a reg
iStered letter containing $50 for me
has been lost in the mail, and I'm sure
it got to the Office all right.
told you that something of the sort
would happen. I'm sorry for the girl,
but If she took that letter, and I guess
she did, shall have to press the case
against her as a moral example"
But Miss Jordan couldn't have TAX
en- your letter." protested the surpris-
ed and perturbed Inspector.
"Mebbe not. but what about that
fellow who's been hanging around
there for a year, and who has been
known to help open the mail bags
They say he is hard up and"
At the postoff1ce the Inspector found
the postmistress in tears. The whole
village had heard about the missing
letter, and a score of people had come
in to inquire about it Miss Bessie
uttered an exclamation of relief as her
official caller walked in. but the next
instant seemed more embarrassed than
ever. When asked to state the case
she replied:
eff there was an official letter did
not see it"
But if one came you must have
seen it,
"I ought to. of course
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 it had actually passed through
the office at Sandy Hill. which was
must have arrived at Chestnut Grove.
The night of it's arrival was a very
stormy one. and there was no one in
after mail until long after it had been
distributed. Inspector Graham sat
in the office and thought it out and
knew that the letter had arrived and
been taken. He could not bring him
self 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 a
lover for year past and had con-
cealed the fact from him. 1t didn't
occur to him that it 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 postmistress in
he was more of the Official than ne
had ever been.
Miss Jordan he began. "did Hen
ry Williams assist you to distribute the
mail on the evening of the 4th?'
Yves she replied as her face
went white.
ssYou know how strict the regula-
tionS are about that?'
Eyes, but had terrible sore throat
and was in bed, and I let him and
Anna attend to the distribution
ter. You know he did"
TT can't be sure" she said, as she
broke down and sobbed.
"You never told me that you had
lover
'N-no. I didn't-didn't think
EWhy did he take the letter."
"Oh. sir" sobbed the girl, 'he want
ed to go away and find work and earn
money so that we could be-be mar
rted. It was a temptation. He must
have taken it, but Wen pay it all back
cent. I've got thirty dollars
saved up, and he'll get work and send
the rest
spector. with a lump in his throat
HE does. 1 know he does. and If
anything happens to Billy"
When thee Inpector crossed the
street to the inn Squire Davis was still
in his office, hoping to hear that an ar
rest had been made.
'@Wel, will the girl lose her place
and be sent to prison ?'' he asked as
Graham came in.
But why not? She certainly got
"You didn't lose no $50. You lost
only $40. You had that sent to you
hoping it would be taken. 1t was TAX
en-, but not by Miss Jordan. Henry
Williams is the one. and here's your
money back"
''But. sir. demand"
you'd better drop it, Squire. You
have lied about the amount, and the
authorities at Washington know that
you've been itching to be postmaster
here. Just spread the news that you
have got your money and let it go at
that"
And when morning came Inspector
Graham went back to the postoffice to
say:
miss Jordan, that registered letter
is all right Squire Davis has received
it. And now, as I shall ask to be
changed to another route and may not
see you again for years. wish to bid
you goodbye and wish you all the luck
in the -(Copyright, 1909,by
T. c. McC1ure.)
Notice.