The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-01
The INSPECTORS
ROMANCE
Its Ending and the Event
That Led Up to II.
BY CLAUDE PAMARES.

later-Inspector Cranforth had entered
the different pOstofiices on his route
and checked up and Strengthened out
affairs. There were postmasters who
had seen him grow old and gray since
bis appointment They had always
found him pleasant spoken and just
man. but all stood In awe of him. In
no department Of the public service Is
Uncle Sam more particular than In the
cent with the pOstmasters. and any
man or woman who attempts to play
tricks with his letters are certain to be
pursued with relentless energy.
Inspector Crnnforth was generally re-
garded as n flint hearted man. II was
, understood that he was an old bachelor
and had never known what love was
lie accepted no excuses from postmas
tiers and INDUCED in no iirtntions while
travelling. At fifty years Of age he had
got to be part Of the route. and no one
knew him for just what he was. Out.
side of his ofiicialism he had heart as
warm AZ any mans. and one reason
anu ptt tbC hC Huu
not married was the fact that he had
always maintained home for moth
err and crippled sister. His salary
could do no more. One day n windfall
came In the shape of n legacy. and IL
the inspector had dreams Of matrimOny
and fireslde all his own no one could
blame him.
Those who looked upon the man as
Hint hearted did not know the ins and
outs Of the case nt the. Dover post
| office. An old soldier had been post.
master there for years. When he died
his widow took his place. When she
died her daughter, Mary. who had
known the inspector since her baby,
hood. was left mOtherlcss, fatherless
and almost pennIless. 1t was the In
spector who paid part Of the under.
| takers bill; It was the inspector who
had Uncle Billy Smith appointed: II
was the inspector who got Mary vii.
llams a clerkship that practically made
her postmstress and financially inde
| pendent.
Even the girl did not know the ex.
tent Of his kindness. When he found
himself asking why hc did It he found
himself replying that In two or three
years more he hoped to be In n posi-
ton to marry. Al present his feelings
toward the girl were merely paternal.
What they might be In the future he
wouldn't discuss with himself.
| u was said that Inspector Cranf0rth
| took more time for inspection ut the
Dover postOfiice than anywhere else
Some OF the village gossips said 1t was
because OF Mary williams. who regard
ed him as n friend and was always
glad to see him come, and others said
he had his eye on TITLE T.angtOn. the
daughter OF the village innkeeper. II
was the talk that the two girls were
rivals. and the innkeeper's daughter al
least came to believe 1t and to feel bit
ter toward the girl In the pOstofiice
The situation Of affairs was just righ,
when there came an official complaint
against the Dover postoffice.
william Penfield. son OF Deacon Pen
field. was In the habit Of sending hi
old father money from Iowa every
month or two,
william was of an economical turr
and did not want to pay registry fe'
or the premium exacted for none,
order. The bill was simply inclosed Il
n letter. The father was Inclined to b,
garrulOus ana to look upon II as I
smart trick to get ahead Of Uncle Sum
and sO In time every one In and arOunt
Dover came to know what would hav,
been more prudent to be- kept secret.
A money letter was missing Old Mr.
Penheld haunted the pOstOtiice Tor I
week and then wrote to william. Vil
liam made affidavit that he wrote an'
incloscd a ten dollar bill on a certain
date. ID was the business Of Uncl'
Sam to send ont tracer nnd for ont
Of his insectOrs to follow 1t up. In
spector Cranforth took his time abOu
| Il, but he finally traced the letter Int
the Dover postofiice. by that TIM
there was great ado In tho town. on
Mr.. Pcnaeld hadn't hesltated TO ex
press his opinions that ''some one
right In the home IOstotiice had cribbet
his letter and distracted the money
aud of course he referred to Mary.
She claimed to be Innocent. but Their
were those who held to the contrary
and when Inspector Cranforth arrive,
to carry his investigation further Their
was great excitement. To the intens
Indignation Of hundreds Of citizens tn
investigation was held within close,
doOrs-thnt In. Mary was Questionet
only In the presence Of Justice Of tn
peace. She WAS nervous and excite,
md shaken. She admitted her belle
that such letter had arrived at abou
sncb dute, hut what had become .
u. " not delivered. she could not say.
The establishment was u c0n,bina
tion grocery and postoiiice. A perso
could have Sneaked into the postoific
part from the grocery. but he w0ul,
have had 10 look over all the genera
delivery mnil 10 get the Pendeld letter
, lie would nave also had to hit tn
exact dnte Of Its arrival,
Every incident OF the day was n
called. but suspicion could not be d