Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-02

least connection of some sort. Did
she know him." "
II don't think so. Her sister and
were talking of the Elser suicide last
night after we saw the evening papers.
Louise surely would have known 1t II
her sister was acquainted with him."
Perhaps" said Davis doubtfully.
There isn't a human being over ten
that has not a secret that they keep
from some one. 1t looks to me, though,
as If in all probability there were two
distinct letters. That is what makes
me suspect a plot. It convinces me
that the mails are being used for an
improper and more than likely GRIM
inal purpose. This brings the case or
both cases properly in my domain as
a postoffice inspector"
"And can count on your assistance.
after all" said joyfully. when can
you begin work?"
II have begun he said tersely,
pushing over for my inspection some
thing he had hastily scrawled on a
pad lying on his desk. 1t was an order
railway mails, which read:
"Have all railway mail clerks on
New York and New Jersey routes re-
port from what rural office within the
last month they have received large
quantities of letters In yellow en-
velopes. If letters have been discon-
tinued, when?
Davis"
Large quantities!" I gasped.
Were there more than two?"
"Of course he snapped in a way
that showed me he did not wish to, &c
questioned further. Then he reached
for his hat and coat, and with an
abrupt Come along!" led the way 10
the elevator.
"Where are we going" I asked as
he rushed me hurriedly through Park
Place to the Sixth avenue elevated.
. ITO Twenty.third street. he re-
piled, "to find out what the police
have not 49,.
( In the o. train I told him in low
tones of Crandall's apparent connec-
ton with the case and of his sudden
disappearance. He sat silent, his
whole bearing indicating such abstrac-
ton that doubted if he had heard a
word was saying, but suddenly, just
before we left the train, he startled
me by asking:
"Do you know Crandall? What color
are his eyes?"
7 regretted that had to say no to
the first question, and that l did not,
to the latter, which query amazed me
greatly. What connection the color or
2. mans eyes could possibly have with
two attempts at suicide and lot or
mysterious yellow letters from a rural
postoffice was entirely beyond me-
Curious as I was. l hesitated to ques-
ton him on the subject, for experience
had taught me that he was better at
asking than answering.
Instead of going directly to the
clearinghouse where Elser had killed
himself. he took the other side OF the
street and turned abruptly into
house, beside the door of which was
a doctors plate.
"Is Doctor Berner in?' he asked the
maid. and one being shown into the
physicians office, introduced him
self as Inspector Davis" and began
Questioning the doctor about the Elser
suicide.
Though the papers had made no
mention Of Doctor Berner, the state
ment being that policeman had
called an ambulance from Bellevue
hospital. it now appeared that the
landlady had summoned him as soon
as the suicide was discovered. Elser
was dead, so he had withdrawn as
soon as the policeman arrived.
did you ever have Elser as a pa
tient?" asked the inspector.
The doctor reflected.
"Only once-about two years ago.
gave him something for insomnia. He
called here at the office and l wrote
him a prescription. He was to return
in few days for further treatment.
but he did not do so. Another time
The doctor hesitated.
"There was another time I had al
most forgotten, year or two before
that He met me in the street one day
and asked what my office hours were
on Saturday. He explained that he
was the guardian of boy who was
in a boarding-school. The child had
some slight throat trouble and he
wished me to make an examination.
On the following Saturday he brought
the boy here, a bright little chap about
ten" -...
do you know the boys name?
What school did he attend?" The in
spector fired his questions rapidly, but
it was quickly apparent that the doc
tor. had nothing more to tell, SO we
left .g,... -5.
"What a wonderful man you are"
II exclaimed as the dector's door closed
behind us. How did you learn that
Doctor Berner had been called in after
EIser killed himself?"
There is nothing wonderful about
nv knowledge" answered Davis with
a laugh what is the first thing that
people do when anything happens?
They run for the nearest doctor. Doc
tor Berner is the nearest doctor.
Could anything be simp1er?"
The simplicity Of his logic amazed
me. It was like conjuror's trick after
It has been explained or like one Of
those puzzle pictures with hidden
faces You work hours trying to find
them, and after you have found them
n =