Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-19

it there with him for safe keeping"
AS recalled Davis parting instruc-
tons to me when had first come out
to Ardway, I was more and more sur
prised that he had not investigated
further at the postoffice. He had SEEM
ed to think that the clue to the whole
mystery would be found there, and he
had particularly charged me to find
out to whom lock box No. II had been
rented. I decided to ask Miss Cox il
she knew anything about it.
| Seventeen has never been rented SO
long as have had anything to do with
t. , office. 1t is away off there in the
corner where 1t is hard to see into.
There's always been more boxes than
there was any call for. Not one of
them in the lower row ever has been
rented, even in summer, when there
a lot Of city folks out here.''
do you ever remember Of seeing
any mail addressed to that box?"
She worked industriously at her
crocheting for minute or two before
replying and then, putting 1t aside, said
thoughtfully:
TITS funny that you should have
asked me that
"Why?" 'e# %so'
81 don't know that I'VE any business
telling YOU" said Miss Cox, as she
debated with herself whether or not
she was talking too much, "but am
as anxious as anybody to find out
what's become of Charlie Rouser, and
from what I've seen of you I guess
you're sight more likely to find him
than Jim Dobbs, the constable If
wasn't sure in my own mind that
Charlie hadn't done nothing out of the
way, l don't know as I'd even be tell
ling you about 1t. But since you've
asked me, I guess will" r..
She hesitated, studying my face as
if trying to read there whether or not
meant harm to the missing postmas-
ter. tried not to exhibit undue inter-
est, though inwardly I felt quite jubi-
liant. was certain that was on the
track of important revelations.
LET me see," she continued, ut was
a week ago Tuesday-no, 1t was We'd
nesday for I went over to my sisters
! Tuesday and Mr.. Rouster left word
for me, and found it waiting for me
when T came back. He asked me to
come over and take the office for the
day. I was surprised when I come
over here to open up to find him here,
for I'd understood that he was going
to be gone all day. He explained that
he didn't have to go till after the mail
was in, and he stayed here and helped
me sort. There was lot of mail that
day, for people round here are great
for answering advertisements and get
ting circulars. Besides that, some of
them get-rich-quick concerns have got
hold of our telephone subscribers
book and there's always lot of min
ing stock letters. There was no less
than four good sized bundles Of letters
from New York. Rouser was sorting
the letters and was handling the sec
ond class and the papers. I got
through with that and picked up the
last bundle of letters. In it was no
less than six letters addressed to lock
box No. L.. 'Seventeen,s rented at
last says I, thinking it. funny that
didn't know the name on them, Henry
Malcolm Stewart. Who's got it? I'll
take charge of them,' says he, taking
the letters right out Of my hand be-
fore had chance to look at the post.
marks or anything. / noticed, too,
that he didn't put them in the box, but
jammed them into his pocket along
with lot Of other letters he had.
couldn't say who the others letters
was addressed to, for l didn't get a
chance to see them. They might have
been his own, for all know. But
couldn't help thinking that the only
reason he'd waited till the mail was
distributed was to get hold of them
lock box No. RI letters. AS soon as
he got them he went away, and he
didn't come back till after closing
time' 49,
"Have you any idea where he went?"
when come over here that day l
supposed he was going to the city, but
few minutes after he left the Office
saw him driving past in one Of the
livery rigs"
(Which direction did he go?" asked
feeling more and more sure that had
struck the right trail. In all probable
ity this young fellow in the postoffice
was merely an innocent tool Of Gran
dali. He had driven off somewhere to
box II letters, for was convinced that
Stewart was merely an alias Of the
villain who had been sending out the
yellow letters. If could learn where
the postmaster had gone on this visit,
I might be able to find him now.
Every time Charlie Rouser goes
driving" said Miss Cox, "he always
goes that way" indicating the opposite
direction from the station. 81 shouldn't
be surprised in the least if he was
keeping company with some farmers
daughter
A sudden light came into her eyes
and a smile of satisfaction spread over
her face.
Land alive, never thought of it
BEFORE" she exclaimed, 'but I'd bet
anything that he's gone off to get mar
RED" .a E..a '..s
Hardly likely" said L. "He would
not go off and leave the office I'M
guarded without telling any one. And
he wouldn't leave five thousand dol
lars lying there in the drawer"
That's just what he would do. I'll
bet he had windfall of some sort and
the minute he got the money in his
hands he just couldn't wait to go and
tell the girl IS
Somebody would have known it il
he got horse at the livery stable,
would they not?'