The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-01-25
CHAPTER vII-(contlnued.)

maste- - missing
CHAPTER VIl.-(Continued.)
Maybe that's why Rouser has dis
appeared" suggested the constable
Hes 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 nay possible that the postmaster
could have been advised of his COM
ing
The arrival Of the substitute Official
diverted the conversation. Miss Cox,
IN unimaginatiye, unattractive wom-
IN Of thirty. in most matter-of-fact
way entered the building and took
charge
The first thing" she said as she
calmlr hung up her hat and coat, lis
for all Fou men to get out Of here SO
that I can sort the mall,
Even the constable moved toward
the door. fmpelled by the authority in
her tone and his own respect for gov
eminent property. determined not
to be routed so easily. 1t seemed to
me thar 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-
EIes-vho 1t was that had rented Lock
Box IL.
~Mims Cox" / said, "as a personal
friend Of Post Office Inspector Davis,
who IN to join me here in few hours
In connection with an important mat
Der, asli for your own sake as well.
would suggest that you should keep at
least two Of us here as witnesses. This
d government property. The postmas-
ter has disappeared and some Of the
governments property may be miss
ing. II 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 l really think 1t is a neces-
sary prsscaution. would suggest that
two of us, say the constable and my
self. he permitted to remain as wit
hessea-"
by ginger, hes right said the
constable, whose attitude toward me
ut once became one of decided friend
liness.
Maybe mad" said 'ss Cox "You
two may stay, but the rest get out"
WITH a narrow sense of duty she in
sisted en- sorting the mornings mail
before she made any investigation.
Meanwhile the constable and l dis
cussed the case. From him 1 learned
that Houser, the postmaster, was a
likablc young fellow of twenty-five or
six. who had held the Office for two or
three years.
Tho 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 gavs the boy 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 far himself. After his father
died hA lived on the little money left
him TIL 1t was all gone and then lust
drifted around. getting a meal where
he could and his clothes growing shah.
bier ana shabbier. The women-foIks
all liked him and was always trying to
md something for him to do. He'd
work II he had it. but he wasn't the
kind OK fellow to be teaming or gar
dening CIR trucking. and 1t 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 1t was. and first
thing you rknow he had it,
1T don't pay much. only six hum
bred year. but Charlie don't drink
and don't gamble, so he's been able to
get along on that well enough, and he
ain't made had postmaster. He's a
weak youngster and easily led. and II
he'd ever got into bad company can
see his finish. Lately I've noticed he
seemed to lie spending lot Of money,
sa~,,~h wh~rn II cama from n the