The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
rYELI0W LETTER
A Fascinating Mystery Story
lByWILLLAM JOHNSTON
copyR'om ,s,l-rrt soess-rsRHLl Co
e away with all


the money and stamps"
How many OF them were there?"
Did You see themP
What time was itl"
Questions poured thick and fast on
the youngster, who evidently had told
all he knew and a little more. / took
advantage of the Juror his story had
created to slip around to the rear of
the building, where / found a self-ap-
pointed committee of citizens and the
constable guarding the door.
Has anything been stolenl" | asked
Not as far as we can discover"
said the constable. There amt no dis
order about the place and the safe
hasn't been busted, as far as can see.
! amt made any regular investigation,
being as this is government property
"Has no one any idea where the post
master is?" asked.
That's just what we've been trying
TO hnd out. Jim, here, as soon as we
found Rouser wasn't here, went up to
the Widow Smiths, where he boards.
Thought maybe he'd just oversight or
something like that, or maybe was sick.
But Mrs. Smith went up and looked
in his room and come down and said
he hadn't been home all night"
Yes" interrupted Jim, "and what's
more, she said it was nothing unusual
for him not to come home. There
was lots and lots of nights recently
when he didn't show up. She had no
idea where he spent his nights She's
woman that minds her own business
and don't interfere none with her
boarders goings and comings as long
as they pay their money regular"
What are you going to do about
keeping the Office open?" / asked. much
puzzled over this new mystery. How
lawished for Davisl Mystery seemed
to be piling on mystery with every step
i took. Beyond the one conviction /
had that Hugh Crandall was in some
way to blame for it all. saw nothing
that would help me in my undertaking.
We've arranged about that. We've
:. sent for Jennie Cox to come over and
take charge. She always takes hold
when Charlie Rouser wants to take
day or halliday off She knows the
combination OF the safe and the money
drawer, and has been sworn in as spec
ial assistant She'll know what to do
and who to notify"
TT may interest you to know that
Post-ofice Inspector Davis will be out
here tonight, u told them. II left
him in New York last night, and he
promised to join me here"
Suspicion flashed into the faces of all
my auditors.
maybe that's why Rouser has dis
appeared" suggested the constable.
Hes been spending lot Of money
lately. Rouser has. Maybe he knew
the inspector was coming and was short
in his accounts.
HE couldn't have known it, / pro-
tested. The inspector himself didn't
know he was coming here until late
yesterday afternoon, and there isn't any
way possible that the postmaster could
have been advised of his coming"
The arrival of the substitute official
diverted the conversation. Miss Cox,
an unimaginative, unattractive woman
OF thirty, in most matter-of-fact way
entered the building and took charge.
The first thing" she said as she
calmly hung up her hat and coat, SIS
Tor all you men to get out OF here so
that l can sort the mail"
Even the constable moved toward
the door, impelled by the authority in
her tone and his own respect for gov
eminent property. / determined not
10 De routed so easily. 1t seemed to me
that the occasion afforded me an ex-
AOt W SOlNC IllC
mystery of the missing postmaster, but
to- work out one of my own puzzles
who It was that had rented Lock Box
II.
Miss Cox" said, "as a personal
friend OF Post-office Inspector Davis,
who is to join me here in few hours
IN connection with an important mat.
ter, and for your own sake as well,
would suggest that you should keep al
least two of us here as witnesses. This
is government property The postmas-
ter has disappeared and some of the
governments property may be missing.
If your inspection is made in the pres
ence OF two witnesses there can be no
question about your statement of the
condition in which you found things.
] really think it is a necessary pre-
caution. | would suggest that two Of
us, say the constable and myself, be
permitted to remain as witnesses" .
by ginger he's right" said the con-