Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-04-16
CHAPTER xI-fcontInuedl.

CHAPTER XI-(contlnued).
let me see," she continued, at was
p week ago Tuesday-no, It was We'd
nesday. for went over to my sisters
Tuesday and Mr.. Rouser left word
for me, and found It waiting for me
when | came back. He asked me to
come over and take the office for the
day. was surprised when come
over here to open UP to find him here,
for I'd understood that he was going
to be gone all day. He explained that
he didn't have to go till after the mail
was In, and he stayed here and helped
me sort. There was a lot of mail
that day. people round here are great
for answering advertisements and get
ting circulars. Besides that, some Of
them get-ricb-uuick concerns have got
hold of our telephone subscribers
book and there's always 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. l got
through with that and picked up the
last bundle Of letters. In II was no
less than six letters addressed to Lock
Box IT. 'Seventeen's rented at last,
says I, thinking it funny that l didn't
know the name on them, Henry NAL
COIN Stewart. Who's got It? I'll take
charge Of them, says Ne, taking the
letters right out of my hand before
had a chance to look at the postmarks
or anything. l noticed, too, that he
didn't put them in the box, but jammed
them into his pocket along with lot
OF other letters he had. l couldn't
say who the other letters was ad-
dressed to, for didn't get a chance
to 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 II
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 p
when come over here that day I
supposed he was going to the city, but
b few minutes after he left the office l
saw him driving past in one of the
livery rigs"
Which direction did he go?" |
asked, feeling more and more sure
that had struck the right trail. In
all probability this young fellow in the
post-office was merely an innocent tool
of Crandall. He had driven off some
where to meet Crandall and give him
the Lock Box II letters, for was con.
WINGED that Stewart was merely an
alias Of the villain who had been send.
ing out the yellow letters. II could
learn where the postmaster had gone
on this visit, might be able to find
him now.
Every time Charlie Rouser goes
driving" said Miss Cox, he always
goes that way" indicating the opposite
direction from the station. Il shouldn't
be surprised in the least II he was
keeping company with some farmers
daughter"
A sudden light came into her eyes
and a smile Of satisfaction spread ovel
her face
Land alive, never thought Of Il
before" she exclaimed, but I'd bel
anything he's gone OF to get mar
Red"
Hardly likely" said /. He wouldn'
so OF and leave the office unguardaG
without telling any one, And h
wouldn't leave five thousand dollar
lying there in the drawer"
That's Just what he would do, II
bet he had a windfall Of some sor
and the minute he got the money II
his hands he just couldn't wait to q
and tell the girl"
Somebody would have known It I
be got horse at the livery stable
would they not7"
"Oh, that's neither here nor there
He might have gone on his bicycle
He generally keeps 1t over there Il
the corner, and It amt there now"
1T might be up at his boarding
house."
~It might be-" said Miss Cox.
II came TO me that IL Davis ha
thought It worth while to go to tn
Widow Smiths to make inquiries,
might be worth my while, too. Ate
asldng Miss Cox for directions, toll
her I was going to see II Rouser
wheel was missing, and made my wa
up one Of the side streets to th
clearinghouse. Davis visit evident
had rufied the widow. found hC
in anything but q communicate
HOod