The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-12-12
CHAPTER VlI.-(continued.)


Maybe that's why Rouser has dis
appeared" suggested the constable
He's 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 Imaginative, unattractive wom-
an Of thirty, in a most matter-of-fact
way entered the building and took
charge.
The first thing she said as she
calmly hung up her hat and coat, is
for all you 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
eminent property. l determined not
to be routed so easily. 1t seemed to
me that the occasion afforded me an
excellent opportunity, not to solve the
mystery of the missing postmaster,
but to work out one of my own puz-
zles-who 1t was that had rented Lock
Box IL.
Miss Cox" / said, "as a personal
friend of Post Office Inspector Davis,
who is to join me here in a few hours
in connection with an important mat
ter, and for your own sake as WELL
would suggest that you should keep at
least two of US here as witnesses. This
is government property. The postmas-
ter has disappeared and some of the
governments 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. / really think it is a neces-
sary precaution. would suggest that
two of us, say the constable and N.Y.
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
Illness.
Maybe l had said ISIS Cox. "You
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 1 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 good education.
Charlie, however, wasn't much good
He was bright and smart enough. but
lie seemed to lack the git-up and git
TODD for himself. After his father
died he lived on the little money left
him till it was all gone and then inst
drifted around, getting a meal where
he could and his clothes growing shah
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 it, but he wasn't the
kind Of a fellow to be teaming or gar
dening or trucking. and 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
TO agree on no one. Then somebody
suggested Charlie Rouser, some of the
women-folks / guess it was, and first
thing you rknow he had it.
1T don't pay much, only six hun
dred year. but Charlie don't drink
and don't gamble, SO he's been able to
ger along on that well enough, and he
amt made bad postmaster. He's a
weak youngster and easily led, and if
he'd ever got into bad company i can
see his finish. Lately I've noticed he
seemed to be spending a lot of money,
though where it came from, if the
books is all straight, is more than
can imagine"
Whats he been spending it for?"
We'll, / noticed him the other day
wearing a big diamond in his necktie
and he bought himself 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 a round of drinks that
cost 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 it
likely. A fellow hat can get along
with women can get along with horses,