The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-13
A THIEVING
MYSTERY
BY EDITH V. ROSS

Mr. Murtaugh. said Andrews. chief
officer of the pOstotfice detective bu
reau. more thievery has been going
on at Trimmingiam This is the
fourth time stamps have been missed
in that quarter and wis you TO go
there and get on to the thief.
I've been there twice. already. re
Piled Murtaugh. without finding a'sy
thing wrong The people of t!'s town
all have the most perfect conilue.ise in
Miss Griggs. the poStniiStres>, ana her
only clerk is her Younger sister. aged
sixteen Miss GriggS has appeared 10
be as much puzzled as any one RS To
what becomes of the missing stamps.
I'm afraid, Murtaugh. you're too
gallant TO spy on Il woman
There was a 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
Trimmingham 10 ferret out the source
of the trouble. had been making love
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 a
postoffice official Murtaugh made no
reply to Andrews last remark. and
the latter added
well. try it once more. LIE you don't
get on to the thief this time I'll try
some one else
This was spoken in tone to give
Murtaugh a warning. He was one of
the best men on the force. and An
drews didn't wish him to get into
trouble by shielding 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 postoffice was a 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 postoffice A few stamps had
been left in the postmistreSs' 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 perpetrated
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 9.;, 81.
When sure that no one was near to
| see him he examined every part of
| the little building. especially the cellar.
for a subterranean passage. but could
! find no passable ingress That Miss
/ Griggs or her sister could so far out
wit him as to 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 else-some one who managed to
conceal himself or herself in the build
! ing. This person must be able to work
| quite noiSelessly 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 Griggs was being
| brought to head. and when he re-
| turned TO his chief the only thing be
/ had to report was that he was engaged
! to the person whom he had been sent
| to spy on This he kept to himself.
| though Andrews knew of his lovemak-
! ing. for he had sent detective to spy
| on his spy.
! Andrews astonished Murtaugh by dis
i 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 purloined Since
! from the first more than 500 worth
was unaccounted for and the salary at
| Trimmingham was but $500 a year
| Miss GriggS found herself unable to
/ comply with the order. for she and her
mother and sister needed every cent
/ Of her income.
| Murtaugh found another job Miss
| GriggS was permitted to retain her
| place till an enlargement of the post
| office building which was intended
| could he made. In taking out side Of
| the house the workmen laid bare
! space that was filed with fragments
/ If postage stamps Miss Griggs' desk
| had stood AGAINST this wall Mice bad
/ gna wed q hole from the wall into the
! ba ok If -ha IocE which thou