The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-08-17


lying there in the drawer"
That's just what he would do. I'll
bet he had a windfail OF some sort
and the minute he got the money In
his hands he just couldn't wait to 60
and tell the girl"
Somebody would have known il II
he got a horse at the livery stable,
would they not?"
"Oh, that's neither here nor there.
He might have gone on his bicycle
He generally keeps II over there IN
the corner, and II amt there now"
1T might be up at his boarding.
house"
1T might be-" said Miss Cox.
IL came TO me that II Davis had
thought it worth while to go 10 the
Widow Smiths TO make inquiries, IL
might be worth my while, too After
asking Miss Cox for directions, told
her ! was going to see IL Rouser's
wheel was missing, and made my way
up one OF the side streets to the
clearinghouse Davis visit evidently
mad rufiied the widow / found her
In anything but communicative
mood. L'tsa-iso .t.f.Ass s.s.
IF you're another OF those detec-
tive men coming prying around here"
she said. you might just as well get
out I've said all I'm going to say.
and that's all there is 70 It."
Please don't mistake me for de-
tective." said as pleasantly as /
cNfald wv fY.fa rP ~.
down 10 the post-ofilce and we were
wondering whether Charlie had taken
his bicycle when he went away, and
Miss Cox thought you might know"
III you're friend OF Jennie Cox"
said Mrs. Smith. Il guess I'd be likely
to know 1t, being her own cousin and
knowing as well as know my own
face that she hasn't had man friend
for eleven years, since Aleck Thomp-
son died. AS for Charlie Rouser going
away on his bicycle, | don't know
nothing about II. All | know Is his
wheel amt here, but he never kept
II here anyway. He always kept Il
down to the post-ofIice"
With that she slammed the door
In my face, but went away well sat.
isfied. AS | walked down the dusty
path OF the so.called street toward
The hotel reviewed all had learned
and was delighted TO think how
amazed Davis would be when | pre-
sented my facts gathered in the last
twenty-four hours, which were these:
Hugh Crandall was aware that we
were on his trail
bic 20 learn anything from Lou
IL ever the telephone, he had dared
4" ) to the Parrish home.
had so inundated Louise that
s had asked me TO withdraw az once
fx "A the inquiry
hcting on her fears. he had persuad-
ed her TO accompany him 10 some
place in New Jersey.
Lock Box ~ was used for the mail
OF some one who had taken the alias
OF Henry Malcolm stewart
All the mail that came TO that ad-
dress was taken care OF by Charlie
Rouser. the postmaster
Rouser was in the habit Of going
at frequent intervals either on his
bicycle or in buggy out on the road
that led away from the station
Rouser, when he disappeared, un-
doubtedly had gone away on his bi.
cycle.
Everything, 10 my mind, pointed TO
his having gone 10 meet Crandall
How TO account for the fact that
Rouser had not returned was still a
poser to me. but as reviewed Gran
dall's connection with the chain OF
persons who had been driven TO death
found myself believing that Il was
not at all out OF the range OF posi-
bility for Crandall to have made away
with Rouser for fear of betrayal. From
all / had learned about the missing
postmaster, | was convinced that he
was weak rather than vicious. and
felt that he probably was an innocent
party TO the nefarious plot OF the yell
low letters. Davis story that II was a
crime OF two persons, after all, was
only theory. When the mystery was
cleared UP ! was positive that the only
criminal who would be uncovered
would be Hugh Crandall shuddered
az Irecalled that Louise even now was
somewhere with him, not exactly
alone, 10 be sure, for the car was
driven by her chauffeur, but still II
was q most dlsconcerting thought.
As ! approached the hotel | saw a
buggy stop before IL, the occupants OF
which were Davis and the constable.
As Davis dIsmounted heard him say
TO the constable:
Tonight at eight
Eli be on hand, you bet" said the
constable as he drove of.
l quickened my steps and overlook
Davis Just ns he started up the stairs
10 his room
I've got some great news for you.
WI nercd and went on UP with him.
~inute he got into the room he
fNr self on the bed, as II utterly
Nsw and lighted A ri0nrpfta