The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-09-06

mand upon 1t. and when thought Of
what knew about young Farnsworth's
character ] rebelled utterly.
There Is one point" Graham was
saying. "Allen wrote this letter and
lost 1t. OF course he would write an
other. Has it been received?"
mot yet" said Baxter.
Graham glanced ut the clock.
There's one more delivery today" he
said. "Itll be due in few minutes at
Miss Davenport's house. Suppose we
60 up there"
Baxter accepted the suggestion, and
we set out at once, reaching the house
precisely in the nick Of time. Billy
Stern was in the very act Of delivering
4 letter to Miss Davenport at the gate.
Baxter, out Of breath with walking,
merely extended his hand for the letter,
and Miss Davenport gave it to him.
The detective tore open the envelope
and drew forth sheet Of blank paper.
This is too much for me-" said he.
"Ill be hanged IL understand"
He was interrupted by sudden and
surprising occurrence. Without the
slightest warning Graham sprang upon
Stern, the carrier, and the two men
came heavily to the ground. Graham
was much the stronger. He seized
Stern's right wrist and wrenched his
hand open. A crumpled paper was dis
closed. Baxter stopped and seized It,
and saw as he held it up that It bore
letter written In Aliens cipher.
| Graham rose, pulled Stern up after
him; then he faced Baxter.
"Why, man." he cried, "how could "
doubt who was ut the bottom Of this
business? Did ye really believe that
these letters were opened after Miss
i Davenport received them"
/ do you mean that this fellow Stern
has opened them," demanded Baxter,
"that they were intended for his eyes
that the whole plot was between Stern
and Allen?"
Beyond doubt" answered Graham
"Stern's description Of the second rob
Der was an obvious lie intended tt
throw dust In your eyes and cast sus
picion upon an innocent man-younl
Farnsworth Stern saw no robber bul
Allen until he came to looking glass
and saw himself. He's trusted mar
in the Office. He'd have far better
chance than the postmaster's son t
know of the large SUM IN the SAFE DIX
4 We not think of that?'
4 Baxter slowly shook his head.
II guess you're right" he said. :"
remember trying to find Stern on th,
evening Of the fourth day after th,
robbery. and on that same evening Al
len got away from my watchers for ,
couple Of hours. But never though
that there was any connection betweel
the two occurrences. They must hav
met"
"And on the next day Miss Daven
port got the note from Allen asking he
tC receive the letters" said Graham
1T was clever trick. Allen kney
that he was watched. He dared nc
mail letters to Stern or even to bOgu
name, for he knew you would trac
them-in short, they had to be deliy
cred to somebody. II they had bee
/ destroyed or held In the postodice you
have known that the other thief. mus
be there
He turned suddenly and seized th
3 pale and trembling p0stman BY th
|, arm with grip that made him winc'
) YOU'D just opened this last lette
!! chi" said he. "And you had the 4
, closure in your pocket7 OF cours
) And when you saw Mr.. Baxter ope
) the envelope you were afraid and trie
e to crumple the slip In your hand an
), toss 1t over the fence. but nabbed 70
= In time. Am rightg
+ Stern tried to answer. but his throl
e. was too dry. His face was . pictul
e of guilt.
",vell, guess he's the man. SUI
: enough" said Baxter.
8 The rest was easy. Before the eve
8 ing was over the two thieves were
rustody and their plunder unearths
i from the hiding place where Stern n
l,oStnwnd II