The Springdale news., 1912-10-18

then l caught a glimpse Of something yellow half hidden by an overhanging tree. Carefully parted the branches. Sure enough, submerged in six inches of water, were more of the yellow scraps. 1 waded in and, scooping them up carefully in my hands, laid them on the grass to dry, for they were all but falling apart and l hardly dared handle them. Meanwhile l con- i tinued my search for other yellow scraps-this time without avail. If she had carried a torn-up letter with her as she sprang to death, the other pieces had foated away.
 At last, convinced that there was no possibility of recovering more of them, I gave up my search and re. turned to where had spread the re- covered scraps on the grass One by one I studied them They were eyi- dently a part of typewriter letter. but the ink had run so that 1t was impossible to read a single word on them. From their shape, too, 1t ap- peared that they were not consecutive. so there was little hope of learning anything from them.
 Just two of the inky smears seemed to have possible meaning
 On one of them I was almost posi- tive that I could trace the word youth" On another scrap was a word that a little stretch of the imagi nation might deeipher as her"
 Youth" and her"
 They might mean much or nothing. They might have some bearing on the great mystery I was trying to solve They might have none. Per haps they were, after all. merely phrases from letter that had brought disappointment to a loving woman. In all likelihood this suicide had no connection with the others. But why. then, the yellow paper?
 So intent was l on my thoughts that I did not observe the return of the policeman until heard his voice.
 What have you got there?"
 There was suspicion in his tone the natural suspicion of the represen- tative of the law. It was on the tip of my tongue to say: Another yellow letter."
 For once prudence restrained me. I recalled how my too hasty speech at the coroner's inquest had led me into trouble. I could hardly expect twelve hundred dollar policeman to still perplexing Davis.
 Just some scraps of paper" said carelessly. After you had gone I no titced that she was clutching bit of paper in one hand. l searched around the lake to see If could find more. 1 found these. It Is evidently part of letter, but the ink has run so you can make nothing out of them"
 Let's see them"
 1 handed him all of them.
 This" 1 explained, T found in her hand and the others were over there under those bushes"
 One by one the policeman examined them, turning them carefully over and over
 There's nothing to them" he final. ly announced The wagon will be you'll want to be claiming any credit TOT HndlnR the D0dy
 had feared that he would Insist on my accompanying him to testify to its finding. It was quite a relief to hear him take this view of it.
 "Of course not" I answered hastily.
 Then" said he with utmost can. dor. you might as we'll beat 1t. II don't do a cop no good to have other Rr,I you ain't here when the wagon comes. there ain't nobody to say 1t wasn't me that found the body l want to thank you, though, for coming and telling me about It. There's a lot of fools would have gone and telephoned the arsenal anG then I'd been on the car. pet for not covering my post properly"
 was glad indeed of the opportunity to get away. It was nearing ten o'clock. My trousers and shoes were in such condition that I wanted to get to my apartments for change before seeing Louise. I hastened to the park entrance and hailed a taxi By the time I left my rooms and reached the Parrish home it was ten minutes after ten.
 AS my taxi turned into the street 1 saw another one stop before the Far rish door. At first I thought 1t must be the doctor or one of his assistants. but as the front door closed behind the tall figure of man who had been admitted to the house I realized that 1t was some one l had seen before. There was something reminiscent in the broad shoulders. in the walk. It was some one l knew, or ought to have recognized, yet who it was or where l had seen him I could not at the moment recall.
 was not three minutes behind him in reaching the door. Though the other visitor had been admitted at once. there was no immediate response to my ring. 1 waited a while and rang again. It seemed minutes before any one answered, then one of the maids | nnpnnd hn dnnr friH and nnarah