Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-07-31

etaI FarrlSh is stricken with paralysis.
CHAPTER II-Kent discovers that
CIandall has left town hurriedly. An
drew Elser, an aged banker, commits
suicide about the same time as Katharine
attempted her life.
CHAPTER ITT-A yellow envelope is
found in Elser's room. Postoffice Inspec-
tor Davis, Kent's friend, takes up the
cas-,
CHAPTER Iv-Kent is convinced that
Crandall is at the bottom Of the mystery.
CHAPTER v-Kent mad Davis search
G q and room % and find an address,
goes to Ardway to investigate and be-
comes suspicious Of a Henry Cook"
"All you have said" told him, "only
convinces me that I am right about
Hugh Crandall. An intelligent. edu,.
1 took his advice and, after an ex-
cellolt meal, lighted my cigar and
walked in the direction he had indi-
Gated. The streets were lighted after
manner by oil lamps at the corners.
There was no moon and the villagers
for the most part seemed to live in the
rear part of their homes. Few Of the
struggling stores had their windows
lighted, SO it was with difficulty l read
the signs on the buildings l passed,
yet had little trouble finding the
p0st-office. 1t was a one-story build
ing that stood on a vacant lot in tSe
middle of the block. 1t evidently had
been built by some local politician for
the purpose, as it was not CHARTERED
in the corner of a cigar or grocery
store, as most country offices are.
Peering into the darkness I read the
sign "Post-Ofhce," and noted with
some surprise that the windows were
without lights. I drew out my watch
and striking match looked at the
time. 1t was half-past seven. For
lack of something better to do ]
walked round the building. To my
amazement when 1 reached the end
away from the street I found the rear
door standing wide open. Thinking
perhaps that the postmaster might
merely have gone to supper, relying
on the honesty of his neighbors to
leave things undisturbed, loitered in
the vicinity for full half-hour. At
last, growing impatient, l entered the
rear door and striking another match
looked about me-. AS far as the uncer-
tain light permitted me to see, the
place looked as if the postmaster had
been unexpectedly called away IN the
Cidst of his work.
recalled that in my bag at the ho-
tel was one Of those storage battery
lights, which happened to be there be-
cause I often found it useful in the
cabin where I went to shoot ducks. I
decided to get this and investigate
further. It had begun to rain and
there were few people on the street.
returned with my light in very few
minutes and began to explore. l did
not greatly fear interruption, for the
mail-boXes on the street side served
as a screen to shut off the shaft of
light by which l worked.
My second inspection convinced me
that the postmaster had left in con-
siderable hurry. a pile Of mail half
sorted, a stamp drawer left wide open
and the books standing in an open
safe seemed to bear out this theory.
Even the cash-draWer stood open, re-
vealing few bills and some change.
IF the cash-drawer had been rifed,'
I said to myself, Il might suspect that
the postmaster had been murdered
and robbed"
l pushed the cash-draWer shut and
heard the automatic lock click on 1t,
and then began a search for the list
of box-oWners. At the back Of each
box a slip was pasted with the own
er's name. To my great disappoint-
ment Box No. IL was blank turned
next to the safe and at last found the
book in which the accounts of box
rent were kept. In this were neatly
entered the name Of each box-holder
and the two references given, for ev-
cry box except No. IL.
AS I stood poring over this book,
perplexed by my failure to discover
the owner, I became conscious that I
was watched. A sixth sense con
WINGED me that some one else was
near. Quickly I pressed the button
that extinguished my electric lantern.
Noiselessly I turned toward the rear
door by which I had entered. I caught
just feeting glimpse of a mans face
being hastily withdrawn. Undoubted-
ly it was the postmaster who had
turned and caught me there. Of course
he must take me for burglar. It had
been too dark for me to recognize the
features of the man and was certain
he could not identify me. I stood mo-
tionless for a minute or two, listening
intently, but could not hear even a
footstep-nothing but the patter of the
rain.
Yet undoubtedly whoever had dis
covered me had gone to summon as
sistance. It would never do for me to
be caught there. While I felt I was
perfectly justified in my mission, it
would be hard to make satisfactory