Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-01-01

of q man. II was Theoretically sealed in
a 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
that the box had remained for three
years and a half in the freight warehouse.
the body was in a remarkable state OF
preservation. due probably to the man
ner Of packing 1t. There is no clue to the
Identity Of the body other than that 1t
was billed to a fictitious address on South
Jenerson street and was shipped from
SAT- 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
q 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 II someone is willing to ex-
pend money, time, and travel? Given
unlimited resources, l believe I could
organize detective force which would
make punishment a certainty for every
criminal. Crime goes unsolved be-
cause the men capable Of doing ef
fective 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.
I am sure he will favor u.s.
Suppose we call there this after
noon, II your engagements will per.
init"
acceded. but shortly after break
fast something arose that put the mat
ter entirely out Of our minds for the
moment. I was busy at my own de-
vices. and Clarke was deep In a very
erudite work on oriental mysticism
when there was a 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. l Immediately
ushered him into the library.
"Oh. Mr.. Clarke" he began without
awaiting an Introduction. 81 am sure
I have a word from her. I must have
your help. The police will laugh at
ne but feel 1t is a clue. / shall go
mad II 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. 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 1t. The papers had
been filled with it The best detec-
tives in the country had struggled
with 1t. Clarke himself. though not
deep interest in the progress of the
case. A mote 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 half-back who, at
the time she SO mysteriously dropped
out of sight, was travelling in the ORR
ent He had hastened home as fast
as steamer and train could carry him
and had taken up the thread where
the police had dropped 1t in despair.
Then you have a clue, Mr.. Dud-
ley?" asked Clarke when he had as
sured our caller that his trouble was
well known to us.
81 think SO. Here is what I re-
ceived this morning. hurried to you
at once"
. And Dudley handed Clarke slip OF
paper.
Clarke read the paper and handed 1t
over to me. 1t 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. ! have no idea by whom. I
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"
"oh, can't you see? But l forget
No one knows 1t but myself and her
immediate family. Why, man, that's
EvIyns middle name. Evlyn Osette
Mason. She never used 1t. No one
knows It. Don't you see she must
have sent this?"
In that case. Mr.. Dudley. you have
I,,a ,I,