“Wall, neow, arter it’s all lost,” replied Seth, “I’ll tell yeou jest heow ‘twas.  Human natur’ is naturally suspectin’.  I tho’t yeou and that ar’ t’other postoffis fellah want’d to git the prize for yeourselfs; an’ I didn’t mean to be beat so.”

A WISH UNEXPECTEDLY GRATIFIED

When the bogus-lottery men were driven out of the large cities by the vigor of the postal authorities, they tried for a while to operate from small country towns by collusion with dishonest postmasters.  As the delinquencies of the offenders were successively brought to light, their heads rolled into the basket at the foot of the official guillotine.  The swindlers, however, succeeded in bribing fresh victims, and for a time cunning and duplicity managed with tolerable success to maintain a foothold against the power of the department.

Among other similar swindles, sealed circulars were at one time scattered broadcast over the more remote states, announcing that on a given date the drawing for a series of magnificent prizes would take place at Livingston Hall, No. 42 Elm Avenue, Wington Junction, Connecticut.  Patrons were urged to remit the purchase-money for tickets promptly, as there would be no postponement of the grand event under any circumstances.  “Fortune,” continued the glittering advertisement, “knocks once at every one’s door, and she is now knocking at yours.”

As usual, multitudes swallowed the bait, but some, instead of sending the greenbacks to Highfalutin & Co., forwarded the circulars to the department.  Thereupon special agent Sharretts was instructed to visit Wington Junction, with the view of learning whether the postmaster was properly discharging his duties.  Taking an early opportunity to perform the mission, he alighted at the station one morning, and proceeded to survey the town, which consisted of four or five houses scattered along the highway for a distance of half a mile.  “Livingston Hall” and “Elm Avenue” were nowhere visible.  It was apparent that “No. 42” on any avenue was a remote contingency not likely to arise in the present generation.

Having previously ascertained that the postmaster was also switch-tender at the junction, and that the cares of the office devolved on his wife, the officer walked up to a keen-looking man in front of the little round switch-house, whose energies were devoted exclusively at that moment to the mastication of a huge quid of tobacco, and who, after a prolonged scrutiny of the stranger, answered his salutation in an attenuated drawl,’ “Meornin’, sir.”

“Will you be kind enough to tell me, sir, where Mr. Morris, the postmaster, can be found?” asked the agent.

“Wall, I guess my name’s Morris.  What kin I do fur yeou?”

“Mr. Morris, I should like a few minutes’ private conversation on business of great importance, which can be so managed as to turn out advantageously to us both.  I do not wish to be overheard or interrupted.  In these times even blank walls have ears, you know.”