Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-12-31
ODY Found in Trunk, 4"
SSSD began Clarke. But I'll
ID skip the headlines.

hed yesterday to discover the body
Of a man. 1t was Theoretically sealed In |
a zinc case which was Enclosed in an |
ordinary round-tOpped trunk, which in !
turn was packed in sawdust within a |
pine dry goods box. Considering the fact
that the box had remained for three |
years and half in the freight warehouse, \
the body was in a remarkable state OF
preservation, due probably to the man
ner Of packing it. There is no clue to the
identity of the body other than that II
was billed to a fictitious address on South
Jefferson street and was shipped from
Salt Lake City, having been rebilled
there from EttesO, Wash.
That's the gist of it, but, of course,
after the fashion of you reporters the
story is told from several angles in or
der to fill the column. 1t looks like
a promising mystery"
Eyes, but one that probably is i'm.
possible of solution considering the
length of time" l answered.
I'm not so sure of that Did it ever
occur TO you that any crime can be
solved if someone is willing to eX
pend money, time. and travel? Given
unlimited resources, | believe | could
organize a detective force which would
make punishment certainty for every
criminal. Crime goes unsOlVed be
cause the men capable of doing eff
fective work can make more money
in other lines. Id rather like to looL
into this case. Does your influence
extend to the county mOrgue?"
Deputy Coroner McNany in charge
there is one of my particular friends,
am sure he will favor u.s."
Suppose we call there this after
noon, if your engagements will per-
nit"
l acceded, but shortly after break
fast something arose that put the mat
ter entirely out of our minds for the
moment. | was busy at my own de-
vices, and Clarke was deep in a very
erudit2 work on oriental mysticism
when there was a violent tug at our
door hell. / opened the door and adj
mitted handsome, athletic young fell
low, square of jaw and keen of eye,
but apparently laboringl under the
most intense excitement.
Where is Mr.. Clarke? / must see
him a. once" he gasped.
Knowing Clarke's rule to see all call.
ers when possible, l Immediately
ushered him into the library.
"Cb, Mr.. Clarke" he began without
awaiting an Introduction. Il am sure
have a word from her. / must have
your help. The police will laugh a:
me but feel it is a clue. ! shall go
mad IL it fails. know she is living.
have never given her up"
But calm yourself, my dear sir, and
let me have your story connectedly,"
said Clarke. Remember, am ig-
norant even of your name"
Pardon me, l forgot l am so full
of this new clue. My name is Rich
ard dudley"
He needed to say no more to Clarke
or myself. The name recalled in
stantIy the disappearance, six months
before of Evlyn Mason. The coun-
try had Tung with it. The papers ha1
been filed with it. The best dctec-
tives in the country had struggled
with =. Clarke himself, though not
called in by the family had taken a
deep Interest in the progress Of the
case. A note of romance had been
added to the affair by the recently an
nOunced engagement of the iron mag
mates daughter to Richard Dudley,
Harvard's old crack half-back who, at
the time she so mysteriously dropped
out of sight, was travelling in the orr
ent. He had FASTENED home as fast
as steamer and train could carry him
and had taken up the thread where
the police had dropped it in despair.
"Tken you have clue, Mr.. Dud-
ley?" asked Clarke when he had as
sured our caller that his trouble was
we'll known to US
81 think so. Here is what l re,
ceived this morning. l hurried to you
at once"
And Dudley handed Clarke a slip OF
paper.
Clarke read the paper and handed il
over to me. 1t contained but one
word, "Osette," written in sprawling
hand.
where did you get this?" asked
Clarke.
1T was slipped under my door las
night. / have no idea by whom.
found 1t there this morning Oh, MI
Clarke, tell me that you have hop,
and that we will find her."
What particular Importance do 20,
attach to this paper?"
"Oh, can't you see? But l forget
No one knows it but myself and he
immediate family Why, man! that
Evlyn's middle name! Evlyn Osett
Mason. She never used it. No on
knows it. Don't you see she mus
have sent this?"
In that case, Mr.. Dudley, you hav
Indeed most valuable clue; more va
liable, l trust, than you suspect.
will however take time and labor I
develop 1t. l imagine 1t may take u
TO the Pacific coast. Are you pr,
pared TO take such trip?"
AT once, If necessary. oh! we sha
find her, shan't we, Mr. Clarke?"
THAT l cannot say. Calm yourse
and hope for the best The earlie
train we can get leaves at six o'cloo
this evening. / hope before then
know whether the trip will prove a
yisable. In the meantime, keep 4
your room where can reach you ov,
the telephone and let your mind be |
nearly at ease as possible. | wou
not raise the hopes Of Miss Mason