The Washington herald., 1912-04-21

to the thirteenth, were the same as
those over which we had racked our
brains. The contents now made them
plain enough but still failed 10 see
what deadly import the letter had or
what sinister meaning in It should
drive its recipients 10 desperation and
suicide. Surely on its face it>appeared
to present the harmless whim of an
old mans slightly unbalanced brain.
turned to Davis for an explanation.
An ingenious letter" Davis was
saying. HAnd they fell for i"
A look of pride came into the pris-
oner's face.
Wasn't It great." he exclaimed.
why, they ate It up like hot cakes ]"
Just plain blscknail," said the in
spector.
No, indeed-fancy biaelmail," said
Young indignantly They never had
it dished up to them quite in this way
before. insist, il I've got to 60 to
jail for II, on at least receiving credit
for a new criminal invention"
Il fail to see" ! interrupted, "just
how the letter was a criminal one or
why it should have bothered any one"
I'm afraid you will never make a
ingly. Don't you see how il worked
Young devised this letter. He needed
the cooperation of some one in the
ing suspicion. He tried yellow letters
FIRST on Gen. Parrish to test the terrify-
ing effects Satisfied that his yellow
letter plan would bring results, he re-
called his acquaintance with Rouser,
whom he knew 10 be weak and easily
led. He returned to Ardway-his old
home-and found it child's play to en-
list Rouser's services. 1t was part of
his general scheme for Rouser to send
and receive all the mail through lock
box with a false name. His object in
this was to enable him, in case the pos
tai or police authorities got on his trail,
to have all the documentary evidence
point to Rouser alone. Before his con-
nection with the letters could be estab-
lished he could make his escape with
the money the letters brought in"
Il still don't see," / protested, how
these letters could bring in money.
They read exactly the opposite. They
promise to give away money"
That's the cleverest thing about it."
the inspector said, and Young's malevo-
lent eyes glistened at this tribute Cant
you see how it worked? Young and
Rouser, from tax lists, bank directories,
from telephone books-from a variety
of sourceS-compiled a list of persons
employed in positions of trust and be-
gan sending out these yellow letters
broadcast. II one of these should reach
an honest bank employee or cashier,
the conSpirstors figured that he would
laugh at If and tear it up. But sup
pose one of them fell into the hands Of
man who was guilty of peculations
of some sort. Suppose, for instance,
old Andrew ElSer when his law busi-
ness had failed him, had begun to spec
ulate with the funds belonging to the
boy for whom he was guardian. His
speculations are unfortunate. He
plunges and loses still more. He be-
comes desperate. He sees no way Of
replacing the money he has stolen. It.
seems certain that his crime will be dis
covered and that he will be diSgraced.
He can not sleep nights His brain,
constantly agitated by fear and worry,
will not permit him to rest. His judg-
ment, never acute, or he would not
have become a thief, becomes more and
more unbalanced. Then one day this
yellow letter comes. 1t reads convinc-
ingly. 1t promises immediate aid. 1t
pledges secrecy. At last he sees an
honorable way out. He hastens to send
a reply to Lock Box No. II, Ardway,
N. J., as directed. Can't you imagine
what happens then? Young communi-
Gates with him at once. You used the
telephone, didn't you?"
The prisoner nodded
Sure" he said, ''the telephone every
time. 1t leaves no records behind it and
the Bertillon system can't identify a
voice"