The Forrest City times., 1912-11-15

midst of his work.
 I recalled that in my bag at the ho- 1 tel was one of those storage battery | lights, which happened to be there be- cause l often found 1t useful in the cabin where I went to shoot ducks. l decided to get this and investigate further. It had begun to rain and 1 there were few people on the street. 1 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 a screen to shut off the shaft of light by which I worked.
 My second inspection convinced me that the postmaster had left in con siderable hurry. A pile of mail half sorted, 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 rifled," l said to myself. 'I might suspect that the postmaster had been murdered and robbed"
 l pushed the cash drawer shut and heard the automatic lock click on it, and then began search for the list of box-owners. At the back of each box slip was pasted with the own CTS name. To my great disappoint- ment Box No. IT was blank. I turned next 70 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. IT.
 As stood boring over this book, Perple.ed by my failure to discover the owner, l became conscious that I 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I turned toward the rear door by which had entered I caught just fleetins glimpse of mans face being hastily withdrawn Undoubted- | ly il was the postmaster who had i turned and caught me there Of course he must take me for burglar It had | features of the man and was certain he could not identify me I stood mo- 1 tionless for a minute or two listening 1 intently. but | could not hear even footstep-nothing but the batter 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 l felt 1 was perfectly justified in my mission, it would be hard to make a satisfactory explanation. If I was captured there it certainly would mean an unpleasant night i'll yermin-fillcd shack, perhaps in irons. It might take several days to establish my innocence I decided to attempt an escape. The sense of having a revolver i'll my pocket com forted me. though I realized it's pos session would be most damaging if should be caught moved swiftly 10 the door and peered out. There was no one in sight.
 Trusting m% lantern in my pocket and turning up my collar l made a dash around the corner of the build ing and looked up and down the street. It was entirely deserted The
 thought struck me that the man who
 had been watching me might still be in hiding on the other side of the building. but did not stop to investi. gate. With the best air of unconcern i could assume. l walked, not over hastily, back to the hotel There was no one in the office but the clerk be- hind the desk and I stood there for a moment beside the big old-fashioned stove drying my clothes. The door opened and a tall smooth-shaven chan came in and approached the desk to get his key As he saw me standing there he gave me a keen glance of scrutiny. had noticed that he had come from the direction of the post. office and he must have seen that my clothing was rainsoaked He half halted as if about to speak to me. but changed his mind. l heard the clerk say:
 Good night. Mir. Cook" as he van. ished upstairs.
 If this was the man who had seen me in the post-office, plainly he was not the postmaster. If not, who was he2 What was he doing there?
 II was long after midnight before my mystified brain woulG let me sleep. Every step had taken seemed only to be leading me deeper and deeper into darkness.
 ]