The Forrest City times., 1912-11-29
William Johnston


 lie must have known her motive He surely could explain the dark mystery that burdened her father and herself.
 resolved to seek him at once and, even If l had to have him arrested on some preteXt, or if l had to use physi- cal force, 10 make him disgorge all he knew. l felt in my pocket to make sure that the revolver Davis had giv- en me was there, and hurried back to the office.
 Have you seen anything of Cook?" asked, trying to mask the eagerness with which I sought him.
 Not since this morning." the land lord volunteered. "I guess you saw him after did. The coroner told me you saw him leaving the room during the inquest"
 T seen him. volunteered the clerk
 Where? When?" asked excitedly.
 About an hour ago. driving past here licketysplit with the black mare from Jones' livery stable"
 Which direction did he go?" I cried, all excitement at the thought that Crandall was escaping just at the very moment when l, for the first time, had made sure of his identity.
 He must be followed and found at once. 1 said. turning to the landlord Don't his actions look to you like those of guilty man? The minute he hears me ask about yellow letter he disappears from the hotel. There is hV wi ha CA desperate is he that he hires a horse and tries to get away cross country"
 had hoped by my eagerness to stir in the landlord something of my own feeling in regard to Crandall's guilt, but these country yokels are hard to move
 What do you suspect him of?" he inquired calmly. Why should he want to escape from you? Have you got warrant for him ?'
 was not yet ready to divulge my reason for wanting Crandall captured Even if We had him, what definite crime was there of which 1 could ac- cuse him? l was morally certain that 1 the yellow letter or letters emanated from him, yet how could l prove 1t? A ! new thought came to me.
 Where is his baggage?" Iasked.
 He only had a hand-satchel with him. said MT Williams, and l guess that is up in his room"
 Suppose We go look for it." sug- gested
 You don't do no such thing as that in my hotel" said the landlord de eisiYe1y, not unless you've got war rant. He's paid for his room for a i week in advance. and there ain't no law to prevent his going and coming as he pleases, so long as there ain't no warrant out for him. If he wants to get out of town behind the fastest horses in Jones stable l airt a-going to try to stop him, and what's more. if he has left his grip in his room 1t is i going to stay there. Maybe or maybe not there are things in it. but there ain't no prying stranger going 10 know what's there unless he can show me due warrant of law"
 You may be defeating the ends of justice l warned him sternly. indig- nantly resenting his remark. yet see. l ing no way in which I could success. fully dodge his appellation of "prying stranger" without revealing my whole hand, and this l was determined not to l do until Davis arrived and l had had an opportunity to consult with him.
 T may be blocking your plans" said i the landlord grutily, but you'll get no more help out of me unless I know what 1t is you are after The right l kind of mystery doesn't hurt the ho- 1 tel business, but there's things that do, and if you want any help from me. young man. I've got to know what's l going on"
 'sI wish I knew myself, said men. l tally, adding aloud: When am ready to speak you will hear many things that will astound you. Mean. while, tell you that have every req son to believe that that man who fed from here is a great criminal and that 1T you do not aid in his apprehension you will be doing serious wrong to the community. I'll tell you this much, am convinced that he was re- sponsible for this woman's death and for other deaths"
 Maybe he is and maybe he aint." said the landlord. T saw the lady myself, and nobody can persuade me it was anything but a suicide Why. cut her down."
 T am not denying that she commit ted suicide" replied with some as. perity. but i am morally certain that if she killed herself she was driven 10 1t by the man who has just fled insist on being allowed to examine his baggage"
 Look here, young man." said Nr Williams, "I have told you once and for all that the baggage of no guest in this house is going to be examined without due process Of law. And want to say right here that it's evident that you yourself know a lot more about this case than you are telling