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

retrogression by a white slip of paper
on the door frame. had supposed
that here, too, my friend would intro
duce himself as Inspector Davis" on
account of the prestige 1t would give
him in searching the rooms, but to the
slattern maid who came to the door
wiping her hands he merely said:
TELL your mistress couple OF
gentlemen are inquiring about room
and board"
; Mrs. Trask was the old-school
boarding house mistress fast disap-
pearing before the inroads Of the fam
| lily apartment hotel Better days" was
written all over her, though some
what obscured by years in boarding
house grease. Eying us sharply
through her spectacles, she inquired
how much we we're willing to pay,
meanwhile debating with herself
whether it was necessary to ask for
references.
Davis mot nSre than twelve dollars
week EACH apparently convinced
her that references We're unnecessary,
for che at once led the way to what
she described as the second floor
front, the room in which Elser had
killed himself only the day before.
Probably she had no intention of tell
ing us this, but garrulity overcame
her caution. She had been expat1atlng
on the advantages Of the room
Heaven knows it needed an eloquent
advocate! when suddenly she low
cred her voice to mysterious whis-
per.
zone gentleman has occupied this
for fourteen years-ever since I've
had the house, and fine old gentle
man he was, too I wouldn't have the
room vacant but what happened to
him yesterday" She let her voice sink
still lower III it was b couple Of ladies
looking at the room, wouldn't be
telling it, but know you gentlemen
won't mind. It was in this room yes
terday Mr.. Elser killed himself. not
on the bed, but right here on the floor.
It was poison he took-cyanide Of mer-
curry, the doctor said"
"You don't say!" exclaimed the in
spector, as if he had heard the news
for the first time. why did he do
| it?" ~
"It's more than can say" said
Mrs. Trask, evidently we'll pleased to
talk about the tragedy. II did every
thing could to keep him comfortable
and happy. He spent all his time here
since he gave up his office downtown.
He read the papers every morning in
the parlor. Every afternoon he took a
walk He was always on time to his
meals and there never was COM
plant out Of him. On Saturdays he
used to go to Westminster to see boy
that he was guardian for. Every Sat.
urday night regular he paid his board.
that is, up to last week-that's still
owing. -. #a4.
"Did he have any visitors?'
'sNo. I don't recollect that there was
ever any one here to see him, though
occasionally he used to bring the boy
down here to lunch on Saturday or
Sunday. He hasn't had him here,
though, for the last three years.
did he receive any mail?"
"Ain't it queer, now. that you speak
of that! The first letter he had in
months came only last week The
police found part Of the envelope on
the floor beside him. Them and me
both looked through all his things, but
never trace Of the letter could we
find. can't for the life Of me think
what he could have done with it.
know the letter must have had some
sort Of good news for him, for after
he received it, for several days he was
as bright and clipper as could be
more like himself than he had been
for years Then yesterday somebody
telephoned to him-I don't know who
| it was, for was out marketing land
he never had had any phone calls be
| fore that know Of Right after lunch
he went out and was gone until after
three. Soon after he came in he killed
himself in this very room"
! To my mind things were beginning
l to look blacker and blacker for Gran