The Forrest City times., 1912-12-06
CHAPTER Vii.-(continued.)

CHAPTER Vli.-(Continued.)
 Maybe that's why Rouser has dis appeared" suggested the constable Hes been spending a lot of money lately. Rouser has. Maybe he knew the inspector was coming and was short in his accounts
 He couldn't have known it." pro- tested. The inspector himself didn't know he was coming here until late yesterday afternoon, and there isn't any way possible that the postmaster could have been advised of his com- ing"
 The arrival of the substitute official diverted the conversation Miss Cox, an unimaginative, unattractive wom- an of thirty, in most matter-of-fact way entered the building and took charge.
 Tho first thing" she said as she calmly hung up her hat and coat, 'is for all .rou men to get out of here so that l can sort the mail"
 Even the constable moved toward the door, impelled by the authority in her tone and his own respect for gov ernment property. I determined not to be routed so easily. It seemed to me that the occasion afforded me an excelle nt opportunity not to solve the mystery of the missing postmaster, but to work out one of my own pug xles-who 1t was that had rented Lock Box IT.
 Miss Cox" l said, "as a personal friend of Post Office Inspector Davis, who 10 to join me here in a few hours In connection with an important mat ter, and for your own sake as well, I would suggest that you should keep at least two of us here as witnesses. This Is government property. The postmas- ter haf disappeared and some of the govern ment's property may be miss ing. If your inspection Is made in the presence of two witnesses there can be no question about your statement of the condition in which you found things. l really think it is a neces. sary precaution. l would suggest that two of us, say the constable and my self. be permitted to remain as wit nesses."
 By ginger. he's right" said the constable, whose attitude toward me at once became one of decided friend liness.
 Maybe mad" said iss Cox. You two may stay, but the rest get out"
 With a narrow sense of duty she in sisted on sorting the mornings mail ha Meanwhile the constable and I dis cussed the case. From him l learned that Rouser. the postmaster. was a likable young fellow of twenty-five or 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 Charlie. 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 shab bier and shabbier. The women.folks all liked him and was always trying to find something for him to do He'd work if he had 1t, but he wasn't the kind of fellow to be teaming or gar. dening or trucking, aud it was the hardest sort of job to find something that would suit him. The old postmas- ter died and the politicians was about equally divided as to who was entitled to the place. They didn't seem able 10 agree on no one Then somebody suggested Charlie Rouser, some of the women-folks I guess it was, and first thing you rknow he had it.
 Tt don't pay much. only six hun dred year. but Charlie don't drink and don't gamble. so he's been able to get along on that well enough. and he ain't made bad postmaster He's a weak youngster and easily led and if he'd ever got into bad company l can see his finish. Lately I've noticed he seemed to Ie spending lot of moncy, though where 1t came from, if the