The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-06

snatched II from my hand. Putting II
on his desk beside the torn envelope.
he picked up a reading-glass and
studied both pieces carefully. His in
spection lasted for several minutes,
and meanwhile. ], too. studied the torn
envelope.
Both in color and texture the paper
so closely resembled the scrap that ]
was positive that they were OF the
san lot. The envelope bore the ad-
dress OF Andrew Elser. in West Twen-
ty-third street, Part OF the postmark
most OF IL. In fact-had been de-
stroyed, as II In the careless opening
OF the letter with the finger. All that
was decipherable was capital "A"
and part OF another letter that might
have been either an IN" or an "R." In
the lower part OF the circle was a frag-
ment or letter that looked as II It
might have been an IN" ! noticed.
too. that the stamp had been stuck on
rather carelessly, in lopsided man
ner.
My friend. his inspection completed,
turned TO me apologetically.
Il beg your pardon, Harding Kent"
he said. you were entirely right.
These two bits OF paper are key-notes
in an important mystery, one that II is
we'll worth my while TO try TO solve"
What made you change your mind
so suddenly" l asked. for though l
quite agreed with him, his manner
had puzzled me not little.
He leaned back in his chair and
turned 1t so that he faced me. He had
a sharp, explosive way OF speaking,
biting of his words almost before he
had completely enunciated them.
Cant you see? One footprint leads
nowhere. Two footprints start path.
When you brought that yellow scrap
TO me you were merely guessing that
II might have something 10 do with
the strange happenings in the Parrish
home. There was no way In which
you could have positive knowledge.
nor could ]. You were only guessing"
Indeed, wasn't" exclaimed in
What drew my attention
to II was General Farrishs exclama-
ton OF terror at the sight OF II Just be-
fore he fell. paralyzed."
Davis shook his head determInedly.
That meant much--or nothing Il
may have been mere senile hysteria
by the great shock. AT
some time in his life he may have had
some unpleasant experience which
was associated in his subconscious
memory with a yellow document
Wrought up as he was by the news OF
ais daughters attempt 20 kill herself,
he brain cells called into action were
hose that had recorded other disturb
ms experiences. perhaps a month ago,
perhaps forty years ago. No impress
5ions in the brain records are ever
ost. The sight Of the yellow paper
recalled some other yellow
paper. There was then no evidence
whatever that Il was this particular
'iece OF paper that so agitated him"
But you think so now" suggested.
The situation has entirely changed.
There was nothing to show that this
'iece of paper had ever come through
he mail. There was nothing TO con-
lect II with suicide. Dowd comes in
iere with a similar piece of paper that
,lainly has been mailed We now
ave not one footprint, but two-the
BEGINNING Of a path. Once started on
he path, we can solve the mystery"
Then you think there is some con-
lection between the two bits OF pa
err"
Il know there is" said Davis.
These bits of yellow paper are OF the
anne quality and texture--to all APP
the same paper. Two per-
ons in whose possession they were,
tempt suicide on the same day. The
anne person. or at least the same type
ritter, wrote both the address on the
nvelope and the contents OF the let
err. This envelope came from a coun-
ry post-ofiice in either New York or
lew Jersey within a month-some
ost-oiice the name of which begins
nth Ar or An There are not many
lral Offices that will 1T In all par
culars. In two days or sooner. can
III you exactly from what Office they
ere mailed"
"Letters--you think there were two?
light not this be the envelope in
hich this paper camel"
THAT presupposes an acquaintance
etween Elser and Miss Parrish, at
asst a connection of some sort. Did
10 know him?"
Il don't think so. Her sister and /
ere talking OF the Elser suicide last
ght after we saw the evening papers.
pulse surely would have known Il IL
n sister was acquainted with him"
Perhaps" said Davis doubtfully.
there isn't human being over ten
at has not secret that they keep
ON some one. II looks TO me, though,
IL In all probability there were two
stinct letters That is what makes
suspect a plot. II convinces me
ut the mails are being used for an
proper and more than likely a Grim