Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-09

hotel business, but there's things tnat
do, and If you want any help from me,
Young man, I've go to know what's 60
ing on"
81 wish l knew myself, said ment-
a]ly. adding aloud: when am ready
| to speak you will hear many things
THAT will astound you. Meanwhile
tell you that have every reason to be-
llieye that that man who fed from here
is a great criminal and that If you do
not aid in his apprehension you will
be doing serious wrong to- the COM
munity. I'll tell you this much, am
convinced that he was responsible for
this woman's death and for other
deaths"
MAYBE he is and maybe he amt"
said the landlord. IT saw the lady
myself, and nobody can persuade me 1t
was anything but suicide. Why, cut
her down."
a am not denying that she commit
ted suicide" I replied with some as
perity, "but am morally certain that
iii she killed herself she was driven
to it by the man who has just fed.
I insist on being allowed to examine
his baggage" :.
81. ook, here, young man." said Mr..
Williams, IT 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 q lot more
about this case than you are telling.
II you are an officer and can show me
warrant I am ready to give you all
the aid and assistance can, but I'M
til you do, I'd advise you to keep your
nose out of things that amt your busl-
ness and to stay out of places you amt
got right to be in.
The suspicion crossed my mind that
| it might be he who had discovered me
in the postoffice the night before. de-
cided quickly that 1t could not have
been, for he was in the hotel when |
arrived. felt sure it must have been
either Crandall or the post master.
Plainly, though, there was nothing
further to be gained by argument with
the obtuse Mr.. Williams. After all,
there ought not be much difficulty in
tracing Crandall by the vehicle In
which he had driven away. That
could wait until Davis arrived. Mean
while pondered on what could do to
throw light on the case. I had 1t. |
would visit the postoffice again and
see what could learn about the holder
of the lock box from which Davis be-
|lieved the yellow letters came.
Abruptly leaving the landlord, stroll
led out into the street, determined to
60 boldly to the post Office and make
inquiries. AS | approached the build
ing saw a little group of villagers
gathered in front Of 1t, the faces of
some of whom had noticed at the in
quest. They seemed to be excitedly
discussing some happening. 1t was
not without some trepidation that |
came closer. If my visit to the post
office had been discovered and there
was any one In the crowd who could
identity me, an awkward situation
might develop. ! put on bold front.
however, and approached closer.
Whats the natter" ! asked, try
ing to make my inquiry seem casual.
sThe postmaster's disappeared. :
some one explained.
"Where?"
Don't know" said my informant
"He didn't come to the office at all
today. When the people came for
their mali after the New York train
got in he wasn't here. Hank Rollins
always brings it UP on the stage, and
as he's passing. throws it off on the
board walk and the postmaster comes
out and gets 1t. Nobody ever goes
for their mail for few minutes after
that, to give him a chance to get It