Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1912-12-06

L
The situation has entirely changed
There was nothing to show that this
piece of paper had ever come through
the mail. There was nothing to con-
meet 1t with suicide. Dowd comes in
here with similar piece Of paper that
plainly has been mailed. We now
have not one footprint, but two-the
beginning Of path. Once started on
the path, we can solve the mystery"
Then you think there is some con-
nection between the two bits of pa
PERI"
Il know there is said Davis
These bits of yellow paper are of the
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
envelope and the contents of the let
ter. This envelope came from coun-
try post-office in either New York or
New Jersey within month-some
post-office the name of which begins
with Ar or An. There are not many
rural offices that will fit in all par
ticulars. In two days or sooner, | can
tell you exactly from what office they
were mailed"
Might not this be the envelope in
which this paper came?"
That presupposes an acquaintance
between Elser and Miss Parrish, at
least connection Of some sort Did
she know him?
Il don't think so. Her sister and l
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 human being over ten
that has not a secret that they keep
from some one. 1t looks to me, though,
as if in all probability there were two
distinct letters. That is what makes
me suspect plot. 1t convinces me
that the mails are being used for an
improper and more than likely Grim
inal purpose. This brings the case or
both cases properly in my domain as
a pOst-office inspector"
And / can count on your assistance,
after ALL" l said joyfully. when can
you begin work."
Il have begun" he said tersely,
pushing over for my inspection some
thing he had hastily scrawled on a pad
lying on his desk. 1t 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 guam
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 alb
rupt Come along!" led the way to
the elevator.
Where are you going?" | asked as
he rushed me hurriedly through Park
place to the Sixth Avenue Elevated.
ITO Twenty-third street." he replied,
| ito find out what the police have not. I"
In the 81" train / told him in low
tones of Crandall's apparent connec-
ton with the case and of his sudden
| disappearance. He sat silent. his
whole bearing indicating such abstrac-
ton that 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 Crandall? What
color are his eyes?"
/ regretted that | had to say no to
! the first question, and that ! did not,
to the latter, which query amazed me
greatly. What connection the color
of a mans eyes could possibly have
with two attempts at suicide and lot
of mysterious yellow letters from a
rural post-office was entirely beyond
me. Curious as l was, l hesitated to
question him on the subject, for ex-
perience had taught me that he was
better at asking than answering.
Instead of going directly to the
clearinghouse 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 a
doctors plate.
is Doctor Berner in?" he asked of
the maid, and on being shown into the
physicians Office, introduced himself
as inspector Davis" and began ques-
tloning the doctor about the Elser sui
eide.
Though the papers had made no
mention of Doctor Berner, the state
ment being that policeman had
cailed an ambulance from Bellevue
Hospital, 1t now appeared that the
iandlady 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 ma,
tient?" asked the inspector.
The doctor reflected.
Only once-about two years ago. /