The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-09-05

not at al cut Of the range Of pcssi-
bility for Crandall to have made away
with Rouser for fear of betrayal. From
all l had learned about the missing
postmaster, l was convinced that he
was weak rather than vicious, and I
felt that he probably was an innocent
party to the nefarious plot of the gel
low letters. Davis story that it was a
crime of two persons, after all, was
only theory. When the mystery was
cleared up was positive that the only
criminal who would be uncovered
would be Hugh Crandall l shuddered
as | recalled that Louise even now was
somewhere with him, not exactly
alone, to be sure, for the car was
driven by her chauffeur, but still it
was a most disconcerting thought.
AS l approached the hotel l saw
buggy stop before It, the occupants of
which We're Davis and the constable.
AS Davis dismounted heard him say
to the constable:
Tonight at eight"
III be on hand, you bet" said the
constable as he drove off.
l quickensd my steps and overlook
Davis just as he started up the stairs
to his room.
I've got some great news fo- you"
l whispered and went on up with him.
The minute he got into the room he
flung himself on the bed, as If utterly
worn out, and lighted cigarette. l
had expected that he would be eager
to question me but this did not seem
to be the case. He lay there with eyes
half closed as If unaware Of my pres
ence.
Annoyed as | was at his seeming in
difference, was sure that when told
him my amazing news about Crandall
and my discoveries about the post
master he would be effectually
aroused. l took it for granted that his
mood was due to dependency over
his failure to find either Of them.
Il have seen Hugh Crandall twice,
no, three times, today" said by way
Of beginning, 'and l have found out
how Rouser went when he left the
post Office"
Yes he said Extraordinarily.
What's more l cried impatiently,
Il know who had Lock Box No. II. I
know what was done with the mali
that came to that address,"
Davis, without answering me,
reached for another cigarette, light
ing it from the butt he had been smok-
ing. His nonchalant Indifference
grated on my nerves and l lost my
temper.
"Confound it, Kent" he said with
considerable asperity, 81 was so busy
thinking out something l really didn't
hear what you said. Sit down and
tell me all about it."
Modified by his apology, I sat down
on the foot of the bed and told him the
story Of my day, how l had seen a
man going into the Parrish home and
had recognized him later as Hugh
Crandall, or at least as the man who
had registered at the hotel as Cook;
how | had been barred from the house;
INV L l4i4 NlSNONtltA dLlOtllti NtIlON-
letter suicide in the park; how, when
l returned to the Parrish home after
Crandall had left, Louise had told me
Of the theft of the scrap of yellow pa
per from her desk; how she had left
me to go off in her automobile after
insisting that l drop the investigation;
how l had seen her again, crossing
the ferry with Crandall in the ma
chine; how l had returned to Ard
way and had learned that Lock Box II
was held in the name Of Henry NAL
colin Stewart; how the missing post
master himself had been in the habit
of putting the mail that came to that
address into his own pocket and 60
ing off with it, and finally, how Miss
Cox and l had determined that when