The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-07-20

piciously. pausing suddenly In his
search.
IL was an awkward question. I /
realized that my impetuosity had
placed me In a predlcament. / was
by no means ready TO tell him the
whole story. and yet the fact that |
knew or suspected the color OF the
letter that she was tearing up certain
ly indicated that knew something
about the woman.
II didn't know it,
Well, what'd you ask the question
about II for?" he repeated, his sus.
picion OF me rapidly increasing.
was thinking quickly what could
say that would divert his thoughts. /
noticed with annoyance that the eyes
OF every one in the room were on me
and that they were curiously await
ing an answer. / assumed an air of
mystery and drew the coroner TO one
side.
Il am perfectly willing TO tell You
everything" l said II am out here
on another matter that is something
OF mystery in which a yellow letter
figures. The letter has disappeared. l
never saw or heard OF this old woman
before, but when the witness men,
toned that she was tearing up a let
ter sudden notion came TO me thar
IL might be the one OF which | was I'm
search. A detective who is working
on the case will be out>bere this eve.
ming and then ! can tell you more
about IT,"
/ spoke the last sentence In a whis-
per so low that IL reached only the
coroner's ear. He pondered over my
statement and then abruptly an
nounced that the inquest was ad.
| journed until nine o'clock the next
day ! would have escaped him IL I
could, but ! saw that he was deter.
mined to worm out everything | knew
or suspected. ! decided that activity
would be the best remedy for his
curiosity. Accordingly ! invited the
coroner and the constable to come up
| to my rooms where, without waiting
/ for them to question me, | began fir
ing questions hot-shot at them. sug-
/ costing things for them to do, simple
things that would have been the first
thought OF the police OF New York or
any other large city, but which they
had not thought OF. Had they tele-
phoned description OF the woman TO
the bridgeport police with her name
10 see IL she could be identified as
any one who was missing from that
city? Had they examined her clothing
to see II there was any mark on IL that
might identify her? Had they studied
her writing on the register 70 see IL II
gave any indication OF being assumed
or disguised? Had they examined her
pocketbook TO see II IL contained any
clue to motive? Had they consid-
cred whom she might have come to
this town TO see?
THAT idea OF calling up the Bridge
port police amt such a bad one" said
the coroner. Suppose you do II
now" he said, turning to the con-
stable.
I'D like TO know who's going to pay
for IL II | do" the constable objected.
There amt enough fees in this Of
fee for me to be spending my money
that way"
You go ahead and do it and I'll see
that you get the money back"
If you're going to pay it out OF
your own pocket I'll do 1t, but il you
expect me to wait till you put it
through as a lawful expense | amt
taking no chances"
Their petty wrangling over such a
trifing amount exasperated me not a
little
Here" said ], pulling a five-dollar
bill from my pocket, take this and
pay for 1t and tell them TO telephone
you as soon as they can what they
have found out. This ought to cover
both the message and the answer and
II there is anything left get yourself
some cigars with It,"
The constable needed no second bid
ding. AS soon as he had disappeared
turned 10 the coroner:
did you notice that man Cook ct
the inquest? Who is be2"
IT don't know who you mean," he
replied. The only Cook know hene
in the town is Bob Cook, and he's laid
up with broken leg"
Didn't you notice a tall, smooth
shaven fellow who stood right close
beside where you were sitting? lie
listened closely TO the testimony and
the minute we began looking for the
scraps Of the letter. didn't you see him
slip out OF the room?'
Come 10 think OF IT," said the coro
ner. Il believe | did notice him, but
l can't say as ! seen him going out
Maybe twas one OF the guests OF tho
hotel"
Il think he is. and I'm pretty sure
he's registered In the hotel as Mr.
Cook, too, but I'D like 10 know mor'
about him"
Lets 20 down and ask Mahlon. j
there's anybody In his hotel he don
know about It's something unusual
W. eo,ua Nahlon kNfiliamq I'm TN.