Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-12-25
William
Johnston.
MAzal2ll5MN Ra1ney


out Of the room as I had asked the
question about the yellow letter. From
the questions he put to Louise, he
must have been suspecting that Kath-
tarine would try suicide. Why else
had he asked if she had shot herself?
He must have known her motive. He
surely could explain the dark mystery
that burdened her father and herself.
I resolved to seek him at once and,
even If had to have him arrested on
some pretext. or if had to use physi-
cal force, to make him disgorge all he
knew. | felt in my pocket to make
sure that the revolver Davis had Civ
en- me was there, and hurried back to
the Office.
H"'Have you seen anything Of Cook?"
I asked, trying to mask the eagerness
with which sought him. XII
mot since this morning." the land
lord volunteered. II guess you saw
him after did. The coroner told me
you saw him leaving the room during
the inquest"
II seen him." volunteered the clerk.
Where? When" asked excitedly.
About an hour ago, driving past
here lickety-split with the black mare
from Jones livery stable"
which direction did he go?" !
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,"s I said, turning to the landlord.
Don't his actions look to you like
those of a guilty man? The minute he
hears me ask about yellow letter he
disappears from the hotel. There is
no train by which he can escape. So
desperate is he that he hires 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. % /, GaS
what do you suspect him off," he
inquired calmly. why should he
want to escape from you? Have you
got a warrant for him?" ,25N. 70.
i was not yet ready to divulge my
reason for wanting Cranda4e' captured.
Even if we had him, what definite
crime was there Of which l could ac-
cuse him? l was morally certain that
the yellow letter or letters emanated
from him. yet how could prove it? A
new thought came to me.
Where is his baggage?" asked.
"He only had hand-satchel with
him." said Mr.. Williams, "and guess
that Is up in his room"
Suppose We 60 look for It," sug-
gested. %E
"You don't do no such thing as that
in my hotel,"' said the landlord de-
cisively, mot unless you've got a war
rant. He's paid for his room for a
week. in advance, and there amt no
law to prevent his going and coming
as he pleases, 50 long as there amt
no warrant out for him. If he wants
to get out of town behind the fastest
horses In Jones stable I ANT a-going
to try to stop him, and what's more, If
he has left his grip in his room it Is
going to stay there. Maybe or maybe
not there are things in it, but there
amt no prying stranger going to know
what's there unless he can show re
due warrant of law
"You may be defeating the ends Of
justice" I warned him sternly, indig-
nantly resenting his remark, yet see
ing no way in which could success
fully dodge his appellation of 7"prying
stranger without revealing my whole
hand, and this was determined not to
do until Davis arrived and I had had
an opportunity to consult with him.
II may be blocking your plans" said
the landlord gruffiy, "but you'll get no
more help out Of me unless know
what it is you are after. The right
kind of a mystery doesn't hurt the ho-
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
going on" ar.
II wish knew myself" I said men
tally, adding aloud: when ! am
ready to speak you will hear many
things that will astound you. Mean.
WINE, TELL you tudI 1 nave every rea-
son to believe that that man who fed |
from here is great criminal and thatY
If 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 amt"
said the landlord. II saw the lady
myself, and nobody can persuade me
1t was anything but suicide. Why,
cut her down." j..
II am not denying that she commit
ted suicide" l replied with some as
perity, ''but am morally certain that |
If she killed herself she was driven to |
it by the man who has just fed. l |
insist on being allowed to examine his
baggage" ~ a !.
Look here, young man." said Mr.. |
Williams, II 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 lot more
about this case than you are telling. !