The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-13
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him In searching the rooms, but to tn,
slattern maid who came to the doc
wiping her hands he merely said:
Tell your mistress a couple OF gen
tlemen are inquiring about room ant
board"
Mrs. Trask was the old-school board
ing-house mistress fast disappearing
before the inroads OF the family apart
ment hotel. Better days" was writ
ten all over her though somewhat OBJ
scured by years In boarding house
grease. Eying us sharply through her
spectacles. she inquired how much we
were willing TO pay, meanwhile debat-
ing with herself whether It was neces-
sary 10 ask for references.
Davis mot more than twelve dol
lars a week each" apparently con-
vinced her that references were un-
necessary. for she at once led the way
to what she described as the second
floor front, the room In which Elser
had killed himself only the day before.
Probably she had no intention OF tell
Ing US this. but garrulity overcame
her caution. She had been expatiat-
ing on the advantages OF the room
Heaven knows 1t needed an eloquent
advocate! when suddenly she low
cred her voice to a mysterious whis-
per.
"onc gentleman has occupied this
room for fourteen years-ever since
I've had the house, and fine old gen.
ueman he was. too | wouldn't have
the room vacant but what happened
to him yesterday" She let her voice
sink still lower. IF II was couple
OF ladies looking at the room
wouldn't be telling II. but / know you
gentlemen won't mind 1t was in this
room yesterday Mr.. Elser killed him.
self, not on the bed. but right here on
the floor. II was poison he took-cya.
hide of mercury, the doctor said"
You don't sayl" exclaimed the in |
spector, as II he had heard the news
Tor the first time. why did he do II ?"
It's more than / can say" said Mrs.
Trask, evidently well pleased to talk
about the tragedy II did everything
l could to keep him comfortable and
happy. He spent all his time here
since he gave up his office down
town. He read the papers every
morning in the parlor. Every after /
noon he took walk He was always
ON time to his meals and there never
was complaint out OF him. On Sat-
urdays he used to go up TO Westches-
ter TO see boy that he was guardian
Tor Every Saturday night regular he
paid his board. that is, up to last week
that's still owing"
Did he have any visitors?"
NO, don't recollect that there was
aver any one here TO see him. though
occasionally he used TO bring the boy
Town here to lunch on Saturday or
sunday. He hasn't had him here.
hough, for the last three years"
Did he receive any mall?"
Amt II queer. now, that Won ,
peak OF that! The first letter he had
n months came only last week. The
'olice found part Of the envelope on !
he hoor beside him Them and me
10Th looked through all his things. but /,
lever trace Of the letter could we
md. can't for the life OF me think
'hat he could have done with t.
now the letter must have had some I,
ort OF good news for him, for after !
e received It, for several DAYS he {
'as as bright and clipper as could be. 7
lore Ike himself than he had been
DIT years. Then yesterday somebody
aiephoned to him don't know who
was, FOR ! was out marketing-and =
g never had any phone calls before =
nat l know OF. Right after lunch he :
'ent out and was gone until after = =
lree, Soon after he came In he
He'd himself In this Very room" =
10 my mind things were beginning !.
look blacker and blacker for Gran. {
all. The parallel between the cases =
Katharine and Elser was entirely =,
20 strong for II to have been mere :,
We knew Il was Gran. =.
All who had telephoned Katharine. II
ust have been he who had called =,
lser. There was much 10 be ex. -
aimed. What II was that had driv. =,
them both TO seek death was still :,
mystery to me. My mind reverted :,
my original theory that there was :,
child. whose existence had been =,
'pt from the world, that was I'm some :,
ny connected with the Parrish fam =,
Z. Old Elser was the guardian OF a :,
". Suppose this boy was the child. o.
would establish a possible connec. la
On between the two suicides. IL ~
build explain why Katharine might y,
we known old Elser yet never have =
entioned the man to Louise. i,
! took II for granted that Davis - :.
ould ask the landlady further about -,
Q child. or course. he would want ~
know the boys name and the 80
me OF the school where Elser =, ~
pit him. but he made no further -,
luiries. Telling the landlady he 80
'uld let her know In a day or -,
o about the room. he turned to me =. =.
fhs %