The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-07-18

grease. Eyi:g us Sharply through ner
spectacles, she inquired how much we
were willing TO pay, meanwhile debat-
ing with herself whether it was neces-
sary to ask for references.
Davis mot more than twelve dol
lars a week each" apparently con-
WINGED her that references were I'M
necessary. for she 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 expatiat-
ing on the advantages of the room
Heaven knows it needed an eloquent
advocate, when suddenly she low
cred her voice to a mysterious whis-
per
One gentleman has occupied this
room for fourteen years-ever since
I've had the house, and a fine old gem
tleman he was, too | wouldn't have
the room vacant but what happened
to him yesterday" She let her voice
sink still lower "If it was a couple
of ladies looking at the room, l
wouldn't be telling it. but l know you
gentlemen won't mind. 1t was in this
room yesterday Mr.. Elser killed him
self, not on the bed, but right here on
the floor. 1t was poison he took-cya-
hide of mercury, the doctor said"
You don't say!" exclaimed the in
spector, as II he had heard the news
for the first time. Why did he do it?"
ITS more than can say" said Mrs
Trask, evidently well pleased to talk
about the tragedy. 81 did everything
l could to keep him comfortable and
happy. He spent all his time here
since he gave up his office down
town. He read the papers every
morning in the parlor. Every after.
noon he took walk. He was always
on time to his meals and there never
was a complaint out of him. On Sat
urdays he used to 60 up to Westches-
ter to see boy that he was guardian
for. Every Saturday night regular he
paid his board, that Is, up to last week
that's still owing"
Did he have any yisitors?"
NO, 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?'
Amt 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. ! cant for the life of me think
what he could have done with it. l
know the letter must have had some
sort OF good news for him, for after
he received 1t, 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 don't know who
it was, for l was out marketing-and
he never had any phone calls before
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
to look blacker and blacker for Gran
dali. The parallel between the cases
of Katharine and Elser was entirely
too strong for it to have been mere
coincidence. We knew il was Gran
dali who had telephoned Katharine. 1t
must have been he who had called
Elser There was much to be ex-
planned. What it was that had driv-
en- them both to seek death was still
a mystery to me. My mind reverted
to my original theory that there was
child, whose existence had been
kept from the world, that was in some
way connected with the Parrish fam
lily. Old Elser was the guardian of
boy. Suppose this boy was the child.
1t would establish a possible connec-
ton between the two suicides. 1t
would explain why Katharine might
have known old Elser yet never have
mentioned the man to Louise
I took it for granted that Davis
would ask the landlady further about
the child OF course, he would want
to know the boys name and the
name Of the school where Elser
kept him, but he made no further
inquiries Telling the landlady he
would let her know in a day or
two about the room, he turned to me
with
Come on. Kent, it is time We had
some luncheon"
I'VE must find Crandall," l said as
we left the house
We must find who wrote the yell
low letters" Davis responded.
1T must have been Crandall," I as
serted with conviction.
ut may have been Crandall," the
inspector replied. Was Crandall left
handed?"