The Springdale news., 1912-09-13

rear part Of their homes. Few of the struggling stores had their windows lighted. so 1t was with difficulty read the signs on the buildings l passed. yet l had little trouble finding the post-office. It was one-story build ing that stood on a vacant lot in the middle Of the block It evidently had been built by some local politician for the purpose, as 1t was not quartered in the corner of cigar or grocery store, as most country offices are Peering into the darkness I read the sign "post-Offiee." and noted with some surprise that the windows were without lights. drew out my watch and striking a match looked at the time. It was halfpast seven. For lzsk of something better to do I walked round the building. To my amazement when I reached the end away from the street 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
 
 the vicinity for a full half-hour At last. growing impatient, I 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 midst of his work.
 I tel was one of those storage battery lights, which happened to be there be- cause 1 often found 1t useful In the cabin where l went to shoot ducks. decided to get this and investigate further. It had begun to rain and there were few people on the street. l returned with my light in a very few minutes and began to explore. l did not greatly fear interruption, for the mail-boxes on the street side served as 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 a few bills and some change.
 If the cash-drawer had been rifled. " l said to myself, "I might suspect that the postmaster had been murdered and robbed"
 pushed the cash-drawer shut and heard the automatic lock click on f., und then began a search for the list of box-owners. At the back of each box a slip was pasted with the own CTS name To my great disappoint- ment Box No. IT was blank. 1 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. r.
 As I stood boring over this book. perplexed by my failure to discover the owner. l became conscious that I was watched. A sixth sense con- vinced 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 had entered. caught just fieeting glimpse of 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 I was certain he could not identify me. I stood mo- tionless for a minute or two, listening intently, but l could not hear even a footstep-nothing but the batter of the rain.
 Yet undoubtedly whoever had dis covered me had gone to summon as distance. It would never do for ne to