Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-09-18
Y MM11aG0wM URazugS


to know it, being her own cousin and
knowing as well as | know my own
face that she hasn't had a man friend
for eleven years, since AIeck Thomp-
son died. AS for Charlie Rouser going
away on his bicycle, I don't know
nothing about it. All l know is his
wheel amt here, but he never kept
1t here anyway. He always kept it
down to the post-of1ce."
With that she slammed the door
in my face, but l went away well sat
isied. AS 1 walked down the dusty
! path of the so-called street toward
the hotel l reviewed all I had learned
and was delighted to think how
amazed Davis would be when l pre-
sented my facts gathered in the last
twenty-fOur hours, which were these:
Hugh Crandall was aware that we
were on his trail.
Unable to learn anything from Lou
Use over the telephone, he had dared
to go to the Parrish home.
He had so intimidated Louise that
she had asked me to withdraw at once
from the inquiry.
Acting on her fears, he had persuad-
ed her to accompany him to some
place in New Jersey.
Lock Box II was used for the mail
of some n who had taken the alias
Of Henry Malcolm Stewart.
All the mail that came to that adj
dress was taken care Of by Charlie
Rouser, the postmaster.
Rouser was in the habit OF going
at frequent intervals either on his
bicycle or in a buggy out on the road
that led away from the station.
Rouser, when he disappeared, I'M
doubtedly had gone away on his BIZ
cycle.
Everything, to my mind, pointed to
his having gone to meet Crandall.
How to account for the fact that
Rouser had not returned was still a
poser to me, but as I reviewed Gran
dall's connection with the chain Of
persons who had been driven to death
I found myself believing that it was
not at all out Of the range Of posi-
bility for Cranda1l to have made away
with Rouser for fear Of betrayal. From
all I had learned about the missing
| postmaster, | was convinced that he
was weak rather than vicious, and |
felt that he probably was an innocent
party to the nefarious plot of the yell
low letters. Davis story that it was a
crime Of two persons, after all, was
only a theory. When the mystery was
cleared up l was positive that the only
criminal who would be uncovered
would be Hugh Crandall. I shuddered
as I 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 d-isconcerting thought.
As I approached the hotel / saw a
buggy stop before it, the occupants Of
which were Davis and the constable.
AS Davis dismounted I heard him say
to the constable:
Tonight at eight"
I'll be on hand, you bet" said the
constable as he drove off.
1 Quickened my steps and overlook
Davis just as he started up the stairs
to his room.
'I've got some great news for you"
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 a cigarette. I
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, l was sure that when l told
him my amazing news about Crandall
and my discoveries about the post
master he would be effectually
aroused. I 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" I said by way
of beginning, "and I have found out
how Rouser went when he left the
post Office.
"Yes," he said absent-mindedly.
whats more" | cried impatiently,
Il know who had Lock Box No. II. 1
know what was done with the mail
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 I lost my
temper.
eConfound it, Kent" he said with
considerable asperity, q was SO busy
thinking out something I really didn't
hear what you said. Sit down and
tell me all about it."
Notified by his apology, I sat down
on the foot of the bed and told him the
story Of my day, how I had seer a
man going into the Parrish home and
had recognized him later as Hugh
CrandalI, or at least as the man who