Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-03-12
CHAPTER vll.-icen,Inuedl

GIMP Eh Nli.-kIchtlnueu'l
Maybe that's why Rouser has dis
appeared" suggested the constable
Hes been spending cot OF money
lately, Rouser has Maybe he knew
the inspector was coming and was
short in his accounts"
"He couldn't have known e." pro-
tested. "fhe inspector himself didn't
know IN was coming here until late
yesterday afternoon, and there isn't
any war possible that the postmaster
could hive been advised OF his com.
ing"
The ESrival OF the substitute official
divertes the conversation. Miss Cox
an uninaginative unattractive WON
an Of Airty, in a most matter-offact
way entered the building and took
charge
Tho first thing" she said as she
calmly hung up her hat and coat, SIS
for al you men to get out OF here 30
that ? can sort the mail"
Evkn the constable moved toward
the door, impelled by the authority in
her tone and his own respect for gov
eminent property. I determined not
20 b. routed so easily. II seemed to
me chat the occasion afforded me an
excellent opportunity, not to solve the
mybtery Of the missing postmaster,
but TO work out one Of my own pug
Eles-who 1t was that had rented Lock
Box II.
KISS Cox" | said, "as personal
frierd 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, l
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 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-
Bary prseaution. l would suggest that
two Of us, say the constable and nv.
self. be permitted to remain as wit
nessef,"
by ginger, he's right" said the
cOnsts Bile. whose attitude toward me
at once became one Of decided friend
Illness
"Msybe had" said SIS Cox. you
two may stay, but the rest get out"
With u narrow sense of duty she in.
sisted on sorting the mornings mail
before she made any investigation.
Meanwhile the constable and dis.
cussed the case. From him | learned
that Rouser, the postmaster, was a
llkable young fellow Of twenty-five or
six, who had held the office for two or
three years.
The 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 acc umulated much money. Though
he gav6 the boy a good education
Charlie, however. wasn't much good
He was bright and smart enough. hut
he seemad to lack the git-up and git.
TODD for himself. After his father
died he llTed on the little money left
him till 1t vas all gone and then lust
drifted around, getting a meal where
he could and his clothes growing shah.
bier and shanbier. The women-foIks
all liked him aud was always irving 70
a.
work II he had 1t, but he wasn't the
kind of fellow to be teaming or gar.
dening or trucking and It 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
TO the place, They didn't seem able
TO agree on no one. Then somebody
suggested Charlie Rouser, some Of the
women-folks ! guess il was, and first
thing you rknow he had 1t.
1T don't pay much, only six hun.
bred a year, but Charlie don't drink
and don't gamble, so he's been able to
get along on that we'll enough, and he
amt made a bad postmaster. He's a
weak youngstar and easily led, and If
he'd ever got INTO bad company can
see his finish. Lately I've noticed he
seemed to be spending lot of money,
though where It came from, II the
books is all straight, is more than |
can imagine"
Whats he been spending It for?"
Well, / noticed him the other day
wearing a big diamond in his necktie
and be bought himself a gold repeater
watch and he's always hiring horses
At the livery stable and going of for
drives in the evening. One night |
seen him buy round Of drinks that
cost q dollar and ten cents. That's
what call spending"
Maybe he met with an accident on
his drive"
Maybe he did, but l don't believe Il
likely. A fellow that can get along
Wiib women can get along with horses.