The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-27

nau accumulated much money, though
he gave the boy a good education.
Charlie. however. wasn't much good.
He was bright and smart enough. but
he seemed TO lack the git-up and git
TODD for himself After his father
died he lived on the little money left
him till IL was all gone and then Just
drifted around. getting a meal where
he could and his clothes growing shah
bier and shabbier. The women-folks
all liked him and was always trying TO
find something for him TO do. He'd
work IL he had II, but he wasn't the
kind OF fellow TO be teamIng or gar
dening or trucking, and Il was the
hardest sort OF job 10 find something
that would suit him. The old postmas-
ter died and the politicians was about
equally divided as 10 who was entitled
10 the place. They didn't seem able
10 agree on no one. Then somebody
suggested Charlie Rouser, some OF the
womenfolks i guess IL was, and first
thing you rknow he had Il.
1T don't pay much. only six hum
dred a year, but Charlie don't drink
and don't gamble. so he's been able TO
get along on that well enough, and he
amt made a bad postmaster. He's
weak youngster and easily led, and IL
he'd ever got into bad company can
see his finish. Lately I've noticed he
seemed TO be spending lot OF money,
though where II came from, II the
books is all straight, IS more than
can imagine"
What's he been spending It for?"
We'll, / noticed him the other day
wearing a big diamond in his necktie
and he bought himself a gold repeater
+ watch and he's always hiring horses
\ nc the livery stable and going of for
drives in the evening. One night I
! seen him buy round Of drinks that
cost dollar and ten cents. That's
what ! call spending"
Maybe he met with an accident on
his drive" .---
Maybe he did, but don't believe II
likely. A fellow that can get along
with women can get along with horses,
and while Charlie wasn't athletic or
anything like that, never seen the
horses yet he couldn't drive.
BY this time Miss Cox had her mail
sorted and turned to us with: III you
two gentlemen want TO see what's in
the safe, now is your chance, I'm go
ing to open It,"
Everything inside the safe was in
the neatest order She removed the
ledgers and put them on the desk, in.
spected the cash-drawer of the safe
and made a tab of the amount. She
also carefully counted the reserve sup
ply Of stamps, postal-cards and
stamped envelopes, and added them to
her tally.
Now for the daily cash-drawer,'
suggested the constable Lets see II
he's taken any OF the cash.
That's just like man." snapped
Miss Cox. How are you going to tel
till ] go over these books and see how
much there ought to be? Wen oper
the cash.drawer after I'm through
looking"
There was nothing to do but wait
and 1t was perhaps half an hour be
fore she completed her calculations
being often interrupted by callers fol
mail.
III the cash-drawer hasn't beer
robbed" she said, wen find exactly
sixteen dollars and forty.eight cents
in It."
In the presence of both Of us shs
opened the drawer and carefully count
ed out it's contents. One five-dollal
bill, two two's, four ones and three
dollars and forty.eight cents in silveI
and pennies were in the drawer.
Right 70 a to she exclaimed tri
umphantly. Il believe you two ar,
disappointed at not finding a shortage
Charlie Rouser may have his faults
but he's honest"
whats that there at the back o
the drawer?" asked the constable
paying no attention to her remark.
The drawer, one OF those heav.
wooden affairs with a circular poke
for silver, had been pulled out almos
to its utmost length. Where tn
money compartments fitted into th'
back OF the drawer little space wa
left, barely visible under the overhanl
of the desk. II was at this particula
space that the constable was pointing
Following the line of his finger,
caught a CLINT of yellow, just as the en-
ergetic Miss Cox gave the drawer
hard jerk that brought II out to IL
full length. She reached into the sli
and brought out a neat package o
one-hundred-dollar bills-ffty OF them
The three OF us gazed at each othe
in blank amazement.
What was poor country postmas
ter, on six hundred dollars year dc
ing with FIVE thousand dollars care
lessly concealed thus?
Where did he get Il?
Where was he?
CHAPTER VIII.
: A New Clue.