The daily Alaskan., 1909-07-30
A Postal Romance.
By M. QUAD.

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 Inspector Graham of the postal sery- Ice 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 walt cd 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 postotflce 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 vis- 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 pained 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 se- cret. It was a secret from the in- spector only, and she trembled every time he came for fear that he would discover 1t. A dozen different village goSsips could have betrayed that se- cret. but they had not been encour- aged to talk. Squire Davis had often had 1t at his tongues end, but had checked himself and said:
 Not q word from me. said thero would be a scandal, and there will be-"
 The girl postmistress had entered upon her second official year, and h. spector Graham had arrived to pay one of his semi-soclal calls, when he was met by storm of excitement. He had been doing great deal of think ing during the past three months. He had satisfied himself that be was real ly and truly In love with Bessie and wanted her for 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 of the cars. "A registered letter containing $50 for me has been lost In the mall"
 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 h. stead of 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. 1t must have arrived at Chestnut Grove. Tho night of Its arrival was very stormy one. and there was no one in after mail until long after 1t had been dis- trIbuted. Inspector Graham sat in the office and thought It 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 1t hurt him to think that 1t might have been taken by another-by the young man to whom Squire Davis had alluded. The girl had had lover for a year past and had concealed the fact from him. It 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 be was more of the official