Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-01-16
CHAPTER xI-(Continued)

Let me see, she continued, 1t was
4 week ago Tuesday it was We'd
aRsday. for I went over to nay sisters
Tuesday and Mr.. Rouser left word
for me, and I found it waiting for me
when / came back He asked me to
come over and take the office for the
day I was surprised when I come
over here to open up to find him here,
for Id understood that he was going
% be gone all day. He explained that
he didn't have TO so till after the mail
was in, and he stayed here and helped
me sort. There was lot of mail
that day, people round here are great
for answering advertisements and get
ting circulars. Besides that, some of
them get-rich-quick concerns have got
hold of our telephone subscribers
book and there's always a lot of min
ing stock letters There was no less
than four gOod-sized bundles Of letters
from New York. Rouser was sorting
the letters and l was handling the
second class and the papers. I got
through with that and picked up the
last bundle of letters. In it was no
less than six letters addressed to Lock
Box II. 'Seyenteen's rented at last
says |, thinking it funny that / didn't
know the name on them, Henry Nal
coin Stewart Who's got it? III take
charge of them, says he. taking the
'atters right out of my hand before I
lad a chanCe to look at the postmarks
or anything. I noticed, too, that he
didn't put them in the box, but damned
them into his pocket along with lot
OF other letters he had I couldn't
say who the other letters was ad
dressed to, for l didn't get chance
70 see them. They might have been
his own. for all / know. But / couldn't
help thinking that the only reason he'd
waited till the mail was distributed
was to get hold Of them Lock Box Il
letters. As soon as he got them he
went away, and he didn't come back
till after closing time"
Have you any idea where he went -
When l come over here that day l
supposed he was going to the city. but
: few minutes after he left the office I
saw him driving past in one of the
livery rigs"
Which direction did he go?" I
asked, feeling more and more sure
hat l had struck the right trail. In
eli probability this young fellow in the
Dost-oftice was merely an innocent tool
II CrandalI He had driven off some
where to meet CrandaIl and give him
he Lock Box It letters, for I was con
vinced that Stewart was merely an
alias Of the villain who had been send
ing out the yellow letters. fl could
earn where the postmaster had gone
IN this visit, | might be able to find
aim now.
Every time Charlie Rouser goes
irving" said Miss Cox. he always
goes that way, indicating the opposite
direction from the station. Il shouldn't
pc surprised in the least if he was
Seeptng company with some farmers
laughter"
a sudden light came into her eyes
and a smile of satisfaction spread over
aer face.
Land alive. never thought Of it
before" she exclaimed, but I'd bet
anything he's gone of to get mar
lied"
Hardly likely" said l. He woaldn't
90 off and leave the Office unguarded
without telling any one. And he
wouldn't leave five thousand dollars
ytg- there in the drawer"
'Tha< Just what he would do. III
eet he haG windfau of some sort
and the minute h. got the money in
MS hands he just couldn't wait 10 SO
nd tell the girl"
Somebody would have known it if
Is got . horse At the livery stable.
would they not2'
Oh, that's neither here nor there.
zIe might have some on his bfcy Gle