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Kansas University Weekly.
and he was also sure that the assistant at G—— was honest.
The inspector determined to make another trip to G—— and learn the methods employed in that office of handling incoming mail, especially registered matter. On his arrival at the post-office he carefully watched the manner of receipting for and recording registered letters, but found nothing to which he could make any objection. Then he turned his attention to the manner of opening the newly arrived mail pouches. He noticed one morning that the assistant postmaster did not carefully look into each pouch after the mail had been thrown out to see if anything had been left inside. This was a violation of one of the most important of the postal regulations and at once gave the inspector a clue to work upon. He supposed the pouch containing the letter had been examined in this careless manner and that it had gone out of the office with the letter remaining in it. He believed the register had been received by some person, who, seeing an error had been made, took the opportunity to steal the letter and its contents. But where could he find the thief? Any one of about sixteen "star route" postoffices could have received it as well as any one of a dozen or more railway postal clerks. To make a personal visit to each of the possible guilty persons could not be done and to send out decoy letters would be unsatisfactory. It seemed that he must give up the case, with the responsibility for the loss still resting upon Mr. Watson; for, although the carelessness of the assistant at G—— must have caused it, there was no proof to that effect. He pointed out to the assistant how he might be at fault and after instructing him further at so his duties went to St. Louis where he made a full report of the case. It was then dismissed and Mr. Watson was permitted to resume his duties after paying the amount claimed by the addressee of the letter.
This was a very unsatisfactory termination of the case, both to the inspector and to Mr. Watson who had by this time become intimate friends. Each promised the other he would be
on the alert for anything that might furnish a solution of the mystery. They both felt sure that it could not remain unsolved.
In the southwest part of the county in which the postoffice of G is located is the country postoffice of L. The postmaster at this place, Mr. Scott, was a man who had gone to Oklahoma when the country was opened for settlement. He had not left a very good reputation for honesty in the little Missouri town that he came from, but no one in this new country knew his past history. When a postoffice was established on his claim he had no difficulty in being appointed postmaster.
One morning when Mr. Scott opened his mail from G he noticed a registered letter that was not meant for his office, unaccompanied by a receipt card. He quickly saw that it had been left in the pouch by mistake and that here was a chance to steal a registered letter without being detected. He had been strictly honest since he took charge of the office, but now temptation was too strong for him. He debated the matter for some time but finally yielded. He tore off the package envelope containing the letter and threw it into the stove intending thus to destroy all evidences of his guilt. The money was taken out and the letter itself destroyed. Mr. Scott thought this would be the last of the matter and that he would never be called to account for it.
The inspector who investigated the missing register never fully gave up the case. He requested his chief to send him whenever anyone was needed to go in the vicinity of G—— on any official errand. After this he was often in that part of the country and in course of time had visited nearly all the "star route" offices that receive mail from G——.
One day about a year after his attention was first called to the missing register he stopped at L—— while on his way to another country postoffice. He had no special object in visiting the place, but ran in to get acquainted with the postmaster as was his custom wherever possible. His great knowledge of human nature enabled him to decide in a very few