Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-07-03

showed it TO him. Imagine, then, my
disappointment at his absolute refusal
to take up the matter at ALL
Don't you see how important it is ?"
I cried. "This little scrap is the key
to the whole mystery"
He was sitting with his back to the
lfght-a trick most business men have
these days, SO that they can see your
face in full light, while you have diff
Guilty in reading theirs-yet from his
tone I felt that he was inwardly
amused at my anxiety.
''I'm afraid you overrate my detect
i've ability and my powers as a post
Office inspector" he said. 'While am
inclined to agree with you that this bit
Of paper may have some bearing on
the case, there is nothing to show from
what post-office it came, through whose
hands II passed, or by whom it was re
ceived. 1t may not have come through
the mail at all. More than likely some
messenger brought it. Before I could
undertake an investigation I would
have to know, first, that it had come
through the mail; second, that there
was some evidence that the mails were
being used for an unlawful purpose;
and third, I would want to be certain
before began the investigation, that
would win out. That's the secret,
old chap, of my success, of every
body's success. Don't tackle things
you can't do, then you never fail"
Davis refusal was greater blow to
me than cared to admit. Louise and
in our final conference the night be-
fore had decided that there were three
steps that would take us far into the
light.
First, l was to try at once to find
Hugh Crandall. I was to ask him to
explain the rupture with Katharine,
the attitude of General Parrish toward
him. his knowledge of the yellow let
ter, and why he had called Katharine
on the telephone the afternoon before.
Second, failing to find Crandall, l
was to make some pretext for visiting
his rooms. His sudden departure and
his cautioning the janitor to admit no
one had a suspicious look. While
neither Louise nor had discussed
what might be there to explain the
mystery, 1 was thinking that in all
probability l would find a bundle Of
letters from Katharine, some of which
might furnish g. clue.
Third, was to ask Inspector Davis
to help me trace the yellow letter
l had anticipated little difficulty in
ascertaining Crandall's whereabouts.
A broker of standing does not vanish
overnight without informing his bust
ness partners. Before coming to the
inspector 1 had telephoned to Gran
dalls office. Great was my amazement
to learn from one Of his partners that
they were as much puzzled as l over
his sudden going away. They had
merely received a telegram saying
that he mad been called out of town
Unexpectedly and Did not know when
he would return. The telegram had
been sent from an office near his rooms
the night before. There was no bust
ness affair that would take him away,
so they supposed that it was some
urgent personal matter.
While l chatted for a moment with
Davis over our boyhood days | was
thinking what step I should take next.
The problems of learning Crandalls
whereabouts and gaining access to his
rooms did not seem so simple as they
had the night before. A clerk entered
with a card for Davis, and I rose to
go.
Don't go yet" he said. ''It's only a
man from police headquarters. His
errand will probably take only a min
ute."
AS I resumed my seat Detective
Dowd was ushered into the room. He
was the typical police sleuth, thick of
head and foot, ready to suspect the
suspicious and to see the obvious. In
appearance, in speech, in manner of
thought, he and the inspector were al
most exact opposites. One was griz-
zled, blear-eyed man Of fifty whom
even the c1umsiest criminal could not
have mistaken for anything but what
he was; the other, young-looking for
even his thirty years, might have been
readily mistaken for college tutor or
an alert reporter. It amused me to
see with what Difference the man from
headquarters approached him.
BEG your pardon for disturbing you,
Inspector" he said, nervously twist
ing his hat, "but I've got little mat
ter here the chief wanted me to put
up to you"
He turned toward me with a sus-
picious glance, but Davis fastened to
assure him that he could speak freely
before me.
tits this" he explained, "the old
man wants to know about"
AS he spoke he drew something from
his inner pocket and laid it on the in
spector's desk. AS my eyes followed
his hand / gave sudden start. With
difficulty l restrained an expression OF
amazement. The object about which
he had come to inquire was a torn
yellow envelope.
l glanced quickly at Davis. fully