The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-04-18
CHAPTER Vll.-(Contlnued.)

CHAPTER VlI.-(Contlnued.)
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," I pro
tested. "The inspector himself didn't
know he was coming here until late
yesterday afternoon, and there ISM
my way possible that the postmaster
could have been advised Of his com.
ing"
The arrival Of the substitute official
diverted the conversation. Miss Cox,
IN unimaginative, unattractive won
an Of thirty, in q most m~atter-of-fact
way entered the building and took
charge.
The first thing" She said az she
calmly hung up her hat and coat. lis
Tor all you men to get out OF here so
that 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
10 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-
Eles-who it was that had rented Lock
Box II.
Miss Cox" l said, las 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
OF the condition in which you found
things. l really think it is a neces-
sary pr%ecaution. | would suggest that
two of us, say the constable and my
self. be permitted to remain as wit
n~esses."
by ginger, he's right" said the
constable, whose attitude toward me
at once became one of decided friend
illness.
Maybe I had" said : IS Cox. You
two may stay, but the rest get out"
With a narrow sense of duty she in
sisted on sorting the mornings mall
before she made any investigation.
Meanwhile the constable and l dis
cussed the case. From him | learned
that Rouser, the postmaster, was a
Iikable young fellow Of twenty-five or
six. who had held the office for two or
three years.
THE way he come to be postmaster
raj 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
TODD for himself. After his father
died he lived on the little money left
him till It was all gone and then just
Arifted around, getting a meal where
he could and his clothes growing shah
bier and shabbier. The women-folks
oil liked him and was always trying to
nnd something for him to do He'd
work II he had It, but he wasn't the
Kind Of . fellow to be teaming or gar
Aening or trucking, and 1t was the,
hardest sort Of a 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
70 the place. They didn't seen able
20 agree on no one. Then somebody
Charlie Rouser, some Of the
/ guess It was. and drst
thing you rknow he had II.
1T don't pay much. only six hun
1red : year. but Charlie don't drink
md don't gamble. 20 he's been able to
gef along on that well enough. and he
nin't made . bad postmaster. He's I
weak youngSter and easily led. and II
Nd sver got into bad company I can
- lii finish. Lately I've noticed he
poomod 70 be spending Z lot Of money,
|noueA Nhere It cams from. II the