Willmar tribune., 1909-01-06


or man. 1t was Theoretically sealed in
zinc case which was inclosed in an
ordinary round-topped trunk, which in
turn was packed in sawdust within a
pine dry goods box. Considering the fact
tnat the box had remained for three
Years ana half in the freight warehouse,
the body was in a remarkab 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 it
was billed to a fictitious address on South
Jefferson street and was shipped from
oalt 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
promising mystery
Yes, 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, I believe l could
organize detective force which would
make punishment certainty for every
criminal Crime goes unsolved be.
cause the men capable of doing ef-
tective work can make more money
in other lines. I'd rather like to look
into this case. Does your influence
extend to the county morgue?"
Deputy Coroner McNally in charge
there Is one Of my particular friends.
am sure he will favor u.s."
Suppose we call there this after
noon, ii 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
erudite work on oriental mysticism
when there was violent tug at our
door bell. I opened the door and ad.
mitted a handsome, athletic young fel-
low, square of jaw and keen of eye,
but apparently laboring under the
most intense excitement.
Where is Mr.. Clarke? l must see
him at once" he gasped.
Knowing Clarke's rule to see all call.
ers when possible, I Immediately
ushered him into the library.
"Oh. Mr.. Clarke" he began without
awaiting an introduction. II am sure
l have word from her. 1 must have
your help The police will laugh at
me but l feel it is clue. l shall go
mad if it fails. I know she is living.
i have never given her up"
But calm yourself, my dear sir, and
let me have your story connectedly,"
said Clarke. Remember, am ig-
inorant even of your name"
Pardon me, I 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
stantly the disappearance, six months
before, Of Evlyn Mason. The coun-
try had rung with it. The papers had
been filed with it. The best detec.
tives in the country had struggled
with it. Clarke himself, though not
called in by the family had taken
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,
Harvards old crack halfback 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.
Then you have a clue, Mr.. Dud-
ley?" asked Clarke when he had as
sured our caller shat his trouble was
we'll known to us.
II think SO. Here is what re-
ceived this morning. l hurried to you
at once"
And Dudley handed Clarke a slip of
paper.
Clarke read the paper and handed it
over to me. It contained but one
word, "Osette," written in a sprawling
hand.
Where did you get this?" asked
Clarke.
1T was slipped under my door last
night. l have 10 idea by whom. 1
found it there this morning. Oh, Mr..
Clarke, tell me that you have hope
and that we will find her"
What particular importance do you
attach to this paper?"
ooh, can't you see? But l forget,
No one knows it. but myself and her
immediate family. Why, man! that's
Evlyn's middle name! Evlyn Osette
Mason. She never used it. No one
knows It, Don't you see she must
have sent this?" -.
In that case, Mr.. Dudley, you have
indeed most valuable clue; more val.
liable, trust, than you suspect. It
will however take time and labor to
develop it. imagine it may take us
to the Pacific coast. Are you pre-
pared to take such trip?"
AT once, if necessary. Oh! we shall
find her, shan't we; Mr. Clarke?"
'"That l cannot say. Calm yourself
and hope for the BEST The earliest
train we can get leaves at six o'clock
this evening. l hope before then to
know whether the trip will prove ad-
visable. In the meantime, keep to
your room where I can reach you over
the telephone and let your mind be as
nearly at ease as possible. I would
net raise the hopes of Miss Mason's