Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-07

oOHeLnlnG ABOUT the writing made IL
as distinctively that Of city man as
his clothes would have distinguished
him from the country boy behind the
desk.
Where will find the post-ofice?"
l asked the clerk. II want to get
special delivery letter off tonight"
Its a couple of blocks up Main
street." he told me, "but you'd better
go in and get supper. The dining
room closes at half-past seven and the
post-office stays open until eight"
I took his advice and, after an ex.
cellent meal, lighted my cigar and
walked in the direction he had indicat.
ed. The streets were lighted after
manner by oil lamps at the corners,
There was no moon and the villagers
for the most part seemed to live in the
rear part Of their homes. Few of the
struggling stores had their windows
lighted, so it was with difficulty I read
the signs on the buildings passed,
yet had little trouble in finding the
post Office. 1t was one-story building
that stood on vacant lot in the mid
die of the block. It evidently had been
built by some local politician for the
purpose, as it 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 Office" and noted with some sur
prise that the windows were without
lights. I drew out my watch and
striking match looked at the time.
1t was only half-past seven. For lack
Of something better to do walked
around the building. To my amaze
ment when I reached the end away
from the street found the rear door
standing wide open. Thinking per-
haps that the postmaster might merely
have gone to supper, relying on the
honesty of his neighbors to leave
things undisturbed, loitered in 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 I'M
certain light permitted. me to see, the
place looked as if the postmaster had
been unexpectedly called away in the
midst of his work. '.- .,.
I recalled that in my bag at the hotel
was one of those storage battery lights
which happened to be there because
often found it useful in the cabin
where went to shoot ducks I de-
cided to get this and Investigate fur
Their. 1t had begun to rain and there
were few people on the street. re-
turned with my light in a very few
minutes and began to explore. I did
not greatly fear interruption, for the
mailboxes on the street side served as
a screen to shut off the shaft Of light
by which 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, revealing
a few bills and some change.
"If the cash-drawer had been rifed,"
I said to myself, II might suspect that
the postmaster had been murdered and
robbed" -5...- ~"
I 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
a slip was pasted with the owners
name. To my great disappointment
box No. II was blank. 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
except No. II. " -as-.. .l-
AS I stood porting over this book,
perplexed by my failure to discover
the owner, I became conscious that
was watched. A sixth sense convin.
ced me that some one else was near.
Quickly pressed the button that
extinguished my, electric lantern.
Noiselessly I turned toward the rear
door by which had entered. I caught
just fleeting glimpse Of mans face
being hastily withdrawn. Undoubted-
ly it was the postmaster who had re-
turned and caught me there. OF
course he must take me for burglar.
It had been too dark for me to recog-
nize the features Of the man and
was certain he couldj not identify me.
stood motionless for minute or two,
listening intently, but could not hear
even a footstep-nothing but the patter
Of the rain. u.s.
Yet undoubtedly whoever had dis.
covered me had gone to summon as
sistance. 1T would never do for me to
be caught there. While felt I was
perfectly justified in my mission, it
would be hard to make satisfactory
explanation. If l was captured there
it certainly would mean an unpleasant
night in a vermin-filled shack, perhaps
in irons. It might take several days
to establish my innocence. decided
to attempt an escape. The sense of
having a revolver in my pocket COM
forted me, though l realized it's pos
session would be most damaging II
should be caught. l moved swiftly to
the door and peered out. There was
no one in sight.
Thursting my lantern in my pocket
and turning up my collar made a
dash around the corner of the building
and looked up and down the street. 1t
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 investigate. With
the best air Of unconcern I could. as
sumo, walked, not over-hastily, back
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