The Washington herald., 1912-03-24

AhhlbC sdlu MISS Nm lOu
two may stay, but the rest get out"
With a narrow sense Of duty she in
sisted on sorting the mornings mail
before she made any investigation.
Meanwhile the constable and | dis
cussed the case. From him | learned
that Rouser, the postmaster, was a
likable young fellow of twenty-five or
twenty-six, who had held the Office for
two or three years.
THE way he come to be postmaster
was this. His father had represented
this district in Congress for twenty
years or so before he died. The old
man was an able citizen, but never had
accumulated much money, though he
gave the boy a good education Char
lie, however, wasn't much good. He
was bright and smart enough, but he
seemed to lack the git-up and git-to-do
for himself. After his father died he
lived on the little money. left him till
it was all gone and then just drifted
around, getting meal where he could
and his clothes growing shabbier 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 il, but he wasn't the kind Of
a.
or trucking, and il was the hardest
sort OF a Job to find something that
would suit him. The old postmaster
died and the politicians was about
equally divided as to who was entitled
to the place. They didn't seem able to
agree on no one. Then somebody sug-
gested Charlie Rouser, some of the
women-folks ] guess II was, and first
thing you know he had il.
1T don't pay much, only six hundred
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
if he'd ever got into bad company /
can see his finish. Lately I've noticed
he seemed to be spending a lot Of
money, though where il came from, il
the books is all straight, is more than
] can imagine"
whats he been spending It fori"
well, | noticed him the other day
wearing big diamond in his necktie
and he bought himself a gold repeater
watch and he's always hiring horses at
the livery stable and going off for
drives in the evening. One night |
seen him buy round Of drinks that
cost a 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 il
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"
H., al L.
sorted and turned to US with: IF you
two gentlemen want ito see what's in
the safe, now is your chance. I'm 60
ing to open it,"
Everything inside the safe was in the
neatest order. She removed the ledgers
and put them on the desk, inspected
the cash-drawer of the safe and made
a tab of the amount. She also carefully
counted the reserve supply OF stamps,
postal cards, and stamped envelopes,
and added them to her tally.
Now for the daily cash-drawer,"
suggested the constable. Lets see il
he's taken any of the cash"
That's just like man. snapped
Miss Cox. How are you going to
tell till | go over these books and see
how much there ought to be? Wen
open the cash-drawer after I'm through
looking"
There was nothing to do but wait.
and II was perhaps half an hour before
she completed her calculations, being
often interrupted by callers for mail.
If that cash-drawer hasn't been
robbed" she said, well find exactly
sixteen dollars and forty-eight cents
in it,"
In the presence of both of us she
opened the drawer and carefully count
ed out its contents. One fve-dollar
bill, two ttwo's, four ones and three
dollars and forty-eight cents in silver
and pennies were in the drawer.
Right to a T." she exclaimed tri-
umphantly. 81 believe you two are dis
appointed at not finding a shortage.
Charlie Rouser may have his fauirs,
but he's honest
WHATS that there at the back of the
drawerT asked the constable, paying
no attention to her remark.
The drawer, one of those heavy
wooden affairs with a circular pocket