The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-10-17
A THIEVING
MYSTERY
BY EDITH Y. ROSS

"Mr. Murtaugh" said Andrews. chief
officer of the postotiice detective bu-
reau, "more thievery has been going
on at Trimmingham. This is the
fourth time stamps have been missed
in that quarter, and ] wish you TO go
there and get on to the thief
"l've been there tN ce already" re-
piled Murtaugh, wit ut finding any
thing wrong. The pc Die of the town
all have the most pert ct confidence in
Miss Griggs. the post istreSS. and her
only clerk is her YOU ser sister, aged
sixteen. Miss Griggs las appeared to
he as much puzzled II any one as to
what becomes of the missing stamps"
I'm afraid. Murtaugh, you're too
gallant to spy on a woman"
There was hidden meaning in the
words, for Andrews was not above
spying on the members of his force
and had learned that Detective Muir
laugh, who had been several times to
Trimmin CHAM to ferret out the source
Of the trouble, had been making love
TO the poStmiStreSS. Indeed. he would
have sent some one else this time but
he suspected Murtaugh of shielding
Miss Griggs. and If he was doing this
he was recreant to his duties as q
postofiice official. Murtaugh made 40
reply to Andrews last remark, and
the latter added:
"Well, try it once more. If you don't
get on to the thief this time I'll try
some one else"
This was spoken in a tone to give
Murtaugh a warning. He was one of
the best men on the force. and Az
drews didn't wish him to get into
trouble by shielding q thief.
Murtaugh had thoroughly convinced
himself of Miss Griggs' honesty. and
her sterling worth was apparent to
every one He knew it would be folly
for him to spy on her, and, acting on
his own judgment, he went openly to
Trimmingham and told her that he
had come to help her find who was
stealing her stamps.
The postofiice was q little one story
frame building, all of which was occu.
pied for mail purposes. One night
Murtaugh stole unobserved into the
postoffice, climbed up under the roof
and bored a peep hole in the ceiling
through which he could look down into
the postotfice. A few stamps had
been left in the postmstress' desk
The detective kept awake all night.
but heard not the slightest sound be
low, saw no light-indeed no sign Of
any one coming to steal stamps But
in the morning the stamps left in the
desk were gone.
Since the thievery was pcrpetrated
at night there was no need to watch
in the daytime. Indeed. no stamps
had ever been missed in the day They
were counted in the morning and at
night How the thief managed to
get into the house after dark without
being detected Murtaugh could not
conceive
When sure that no one was near to
see him he examined every part of
The little building, especially the cellar.
for a sublrlIanean passage. but could
find no f. ~Sable ingress That Miss
Gri"-S or her sister could so far out
wit him as 10 get into the house while
he was there without his knowing it
he felt sure was impossible The
stealing must be committed by some
one elSc--SOme one who managed to
conceal himself or herself in the build
In oil Ia
quite noselessly. Whether the exit
was made in the daytime or not was
like all the rest of it-unknOwn. In
deed. Murtaugh could not find any
possible way any one could get into
the building unless by going down the
chimney. and to do this without be
ING heard would be very difficult
During the time of his operations his
love affair with Miss GrG2s was being
| brought TO n head, and when he re.
turned to his chief the only thing he
had TO report was that he was engag ged
TO the person whom he had been sent
10 spy on This he kept to himself,
though Andrews knew Of his Iovemak
ing. for he had sent detective to spy
on his spy.
Andrews astOuiShed MurtauGh by dis
! charging him. He also transmitted an
order written at his suggestion from
Washington TO Miss GriGgs that she
was required to make good all the
stamps that had been purloincd Since
/ from The first more than 500 worth
was maccounted for and the salary at
! Trimmingham was but S400 a year
! Miss GricGs found herself unable to
/ comply with the order. for she and her
mother and sister needed every cent
| Of her income.
Mnrtauch found another job Miss
| GrigGs was permitted to retain her
! place till an enlargement of the post
I office building which was intended
could be made In taking out side OF
the house the workmen laid bare a
space that was filed with fragments
ot postage stamps. Miss GriGGs' desk
had stood against this wall. Mice had