The Forrest City times., 1912-10-25

2 l piece of paper had ever come through | the mall. There was nothing 10 con- nect Il with suicide. Dowd comes in here with a similar piece of paper that | plainly has been mailed We now have not one footprint. but two-the beginning of path. Once started on 1 the path, we can solve the mystery" Then you think there is some con- nection between the two bits of pa per-"
 l "I know there is," said Davis. These bits of yellow paper are of the I same quality and texture-to all ap- pearances the same paper. Two per | sons in whose possession they were, | attempt suicide on the same day. The | same person. or at least the same type writer. wrote both the address on the l envelope and the contents of the let 1 ter. This envelope came from a coun- 1 try post-office in either New York or 1 New Jersey within a month-some l post-office the name of which begins l with Ar or An There are not many rural offices that will fl in all par l ticulars. In two days or sooner, I can tell you exactly from what office they were mailed"
 Letters-you think there were two? Might not this be the envelope in which this paper came?a
 That presupposes an acquaintance | between Elser and Miss Parrish, at least connection of some sort Did l she know him? ?"
 Il don't think so. Her sister and were talking of the Elser suicide last night after We saw the evening papers Louise surely would have known it if her sister was acquainted with him."
 Perhaps" said Davis doubtfully. There isn't a human being over ten that has not a secret that they keep from some one. It looks 10 me, though. as if in all probability there were two distinct letters. That is what makes me suspect a plot. It convinces me that the mails are being used for an improper and more than likely a crim- inal purpose. This brings the case or both cases properly in my domain ss a post-office inspector"
 And l can count on your assistance after all, said joyfully. When can you begin work?"
 "I have begun" he said tersely. pushing over for my inspection some thing he had hastily scrawled on a pad lying on his desk. It was an order ad- dressed to the superintendent of the railway mails, which read:
 Have all railway clerks on New York and New Jersey routes report from what rural office within the last month they have received large quan- titles of letters in yellow envelopes. If letters have been discontinued, when? DAVIS"
 Large quantities." gasped. Were there more than two?"
 of course, he snapped, in a way that showed me he did not wish to be questioned further. Then he reached for his hat and coat, and with an ab- rupt Come along" led the way 10 the elevator.
 Where are you going" I asked as he rushed me hurriedly through Park place 10 the Sixth Avenue Elevated.
 ITO Twenty-third street" he replied. ito find out what the police have not"
 In the "L" train I told him in low tones of Crandall's apparent connec- tion with the case and of his sudden disappearance. He sat silent, his whole bearing indicating such abstrac- ton that l doubted if he had heard a word l was saying. but suddenly, just before We left the train. he startled me by asking:
 Do you know CrandaH? What color are his eyes?"
 regretted that had to say no to the first question. and that did not 10 the latter. which query amazed me greatly. What connection the color of mans eyes could possibly have with two attempts at suicide and 6 lot of mysterious yellow letters from a rural post-ofilce was entirely beyond me Curious as was. 1 hesitated to question him on the subject for ex- perienee had taught me tEat he was better al asking than answering.
 Instead of going directly 10 the boardinghouse where Elser had killed himself, he took the other side of the street and turned abruptly into a house, beside the door of which was doctors plate.
 Is Doctor Berner ing' he asked of the maid, and on being shown into the physicians office. introduced himself as Inspector Davis and began ques- tioning the doctor about the Elser sui eide
 Though the papers had made no mention of Doctor Berner. the state ment being that policeman had called an ambulance from Bellevue Hospital, il now appeared that the landlady had summoned him as soon as the suicide was discovered. Elser was dead, so he had withdrawn as soon as the policeman arrived.
 Did you ever have Elser as a pa- tfent?" asked the inspector.
 The doctor reflected.