The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-02-06
CHAPTER vll.-(contlnusd.)

"tP~eA~Ns DNNoSse~N s0S
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 way possible that the postmaster
could have been advised Of his COM
ing"
The arrival of the substitute oficial
diverted the conversation. Miss Cox
an unimaginative, unattractive wom-
an Of thirty. in a most matter-of-fact
way entered the building and took
charge
THE first thing" she said as she
calmly hung up her hat and coat. "is
for all you men to get out Of here so
that l 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. determined not
to be routed 80 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-
zles-who 1t was that had rented Lock
Box II.
Miss Cox" said, "as a personal
friend Of Post Office Inspector Davis,
who IL to join me here in few hours
in connection with an important mat.
ter. and for your own sake as we'll, I
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. II your inspeetion is made in the
presence Of two witnesses there can
be no question about your statement
OF the condition in which you found
things. I really think it is neces.
sary precaution. would suggest that
two Of US. say the constable and my.
self, be permitted to remain as wit
nesses."
by ginger, he's right" said the
'ohSAfiOiOs "hoSS altlluuc lOWdTO mS
at once became one of decided friend.
illness.
Maybe l had" said 'ss Cox: You
two may stay, but the rest get out"
With a narrow sense Of duty she in
sisted on sorting the mornings mail
before she made any investigation
Meanwhile the constable and l dis
cussed the case. From him I learned
that Rouser. the postmaster, was q
likable young fellow of twenty-five O,
six, who had held he office for two O,
three years.
THE way he come to be postmaster
was this: His father had represented
this district in Congress for twent,
years or so befort he died The ole
man was an abse citizen, but never
had accumulated much money. though
he gave the hoy a good education
Charlie. however. wasn't much good
He was bright and smart enough, bu
he seemed to lack the git-up and git
.o-do for himself. After his fathel
lied lie lived on the little money lef
him till it was all gone and then jus
ddfted around. getting a meal wher,
he could and his clothes growing shah
bier and shabbier. The women-folk
all liked him and was always trying t,
find something for him to do. He,
work II he had it, but he wasn't tn,
kind Of fellow to be teaming or gar
dening or trucking, and 1t was tn.
hardest sort Of Job to find somethin,
that would suit him. The old postmas
ter died and the. politicians was abou
equally divided as to who was eutitle,
TO the place. They didn't seem abl
to agree on 10 one. Then somebod
suggested Charlie Rouser some of tn
women-folks guess it was, and frs
thing you rknow he had It.
1T don't pay much, only six hur
dred a year, but Charlie don't drin,
and don't gamble. so he's been able t
get along on that well enough, and h
amt made bad postmaster. He's
weak youngster and easily led, and
ned ever got into bad company / ca
,.e his finish. Lately I've noticed b
i.emed ), he spending lot of none,
| Ss,uok S<hnNa II cao,a $ror, - ~