The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-20
COpXRlGkfT 1911
UM BOBR5,MfRRZL CQHAhY


Del was one OF those storage battery
lights, which happened 10 be there be
cause ! often found IL useful in the
cabin where i went 10 shoot ducks. /
decided 10 get this and investigate
further II had begun TO rain and
there were few people on the street.
! returned with my light in very few
minutes and began TO explore. did
not greatly fear interruption, for the
mail.boxes on the street side served
as a screen 10 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, re-
vealing a few bills and some change.
III the cash-drawer had been rined,"
j said TO myself. Il might suspect that
tho postmaster had been murdered
and robbed"
pushed the cash-drawer ahut and
heard the automatic lock click on &c,
and then began a search for the list
of box-owners. At the back Of each
box a slip was pasted with the own
er's name. To my great disappoint-
ment Box No. IL was blank. | turned
next 10 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 two references given, for ev-
cry box except No. II.
y AS / ttood porting over this book.
perplexed by my failure to discover
lie owner, l became conscious that
was watched. A sixth sense con.
WINGED 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. caught
just fieeting glimpse Of mans face
being hastily withdrawn Undoubted-
lly It was the postmaster who had
turned and caught me there, or course
DO 1ust take me for burglar. II had
beeh too dark for me to recognize the
features OF the man and was certain
could not identify me. / stood mo
tionless for minute or two. listening
intently, but could not hear even {
footstep--nothlng but the patter OF tbs
rain.
Yet undoubtedly whoever had dis
covered me had gone 10 summon as
siatance. 1t would never do for me t
be caught there. While / felt / wal
perfectly justified in my mission, !
would BIO hard TO make a satisfactory
explanation. " / was captured there
s. certainly would mean an unpleasant
liz in a vermin-flled shack, perhaps
irons. II might take several day
stablish my innocence. l decide,
attempt an escape. The sense o
wing a revolver In my pocket com
! rted me, though | realized its pos
i sslon would be most damaging II
should be caught | moved swiftly &
the door and peered out. There wa
no ono IN sight.
Thrusting my lantern I'm my poke
and turning up my collar / made
dash around the corner OF the build
ing and looked up and down tn
street. II was entirely deserted Tn
thought struck me that the man VIII
had been watching me might still b
in hiding on the other side OF IN
building, but ! did not stop TO invest
gate. With the best air OF unconcer
II 4
hastily, back 90 the hotel. There wa
no one in the Office but the clerk b,
hind the desk and stood there for
moment beside the big oldfashione
stove drying my clothes. The doc
opened and a tall smoothshayen cha
came In and approached the desk I
Eet his key. As he saw mo standin
there he gave me a keen glance {
scrutiny. | had noticed that he ha
come from the direction OF the pos
Office and he must have seen that IN
clothing was rain.soaked. He hal
halted as II about to speak 10 me, br
changed his mind. I heard the cler
say:
Good night. Mr.. Cook" as he val
ished upstairs.
IL this was the man who had see
me in the post-ofilce, plainly he wa
not the postmaster II not. who wa
he7 What was he doing there?
IL was long after midnight befor
my mystifed brain would let me slee
Every step had taken seemed onl
20 be leading me deeper and deep,
into darkness.