Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-05
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question about the yellow letter. From
the questions he put to Louise, he
must have been suspecting that Kath-
arine would try suicide. Why else
had he asked if she had shot herself?
He must have known her motive. He
surely could explain the dark mystery
that burdened her father and herself
I resolved to seek him at once and,
even Il I had to have him arrested on
some preteXt, or if I had to use physi-
cal force, to make him disgorge all he
knew. / felt in my pocket to make
sure that the revolver Davis had Civ
en- me was there, and hurried back to
the Office.
Have you seen anything Of Cooke"
] asked, trying TO mask the eagerness
with which l sought him.
Not since this morning" the land
lord volunteered. 4 guess you saw
him after l did. The coroner told me
gu saw him leaving the room during
lie inquest"
Il seen him" volunteered the clerk.
Where? When?" I asked excitedly.
About an hour ago, driving past
here lickety-spIit with the black mare
from Jones livery stable"
Which direction did he 500"
cried, all excitement at the thought
that CrandaIl was escaping just at the
very moment when I, for the first
time, had made sure of his identity
He must be followed and found at
once I said, turning to the landlord
Don't his actions look to you like
those of guilty man? The minute he
hears me ask about a yellow letter he
disappears from the hotel There is
go train by which he can escape. So
desperate is he that he hires a horse
and tries to get away cross country"
l had hoped by my eagerness to
stir in the landlord something of my
own feeling in regard to CraDdaU's
guilt, but these country yokels are
hard to move
What do you suspect him of ?" he
inquired calmly. ''Why should he
want to escape from you? Have you
got warrant for him? ?"
was not yet ready to divuIge my
reason for wanting Crandau captured.
Even if We had him, what definite
crime was there of which could ac-
cuse him? l was morally certain that
the yellow letter OR letters emanated
from him, yet how could I prove it? A
new thought came to me.
Where is his baggag e?' I asked.
141FTr hg T. I,
him." said Mr. Williams, and l guess
that is up in his room"
Suppose We so look for it." l sug
gested.
You don't DO no such thing as that
in my hotef," said the landlord de
cisively, rot unless you've got a war
1 rant. He's paid for his room for a
week in advance, and there amt nc
law to prevent his going and coming
as he pleases, so long as there amt
! no warrant out for him. If he wants
to get out of town behind the fastest
horses in Jones stable l ART a-g0ing
/ TO try to stop him, and what's more, il
he has left his grip in his room it is
going 10 stay there. Maybe or may5e
not there are things in it, but there
amt no prying stranger going to know
what's there unless he can show me
/ due warrant Of law"
You may be defeating the ends OF
/ justice" I warned him sternly, indig
uantly resenting his remark. vet see
/ ing no way in which l could success
/ fully dodge his appellation Of "prying
I stranger" without revealing my whole
| hand. and this l was determined not tC
/ do until Davis arrived and ! had had
an opportunity TO consult with him.
81 may be blocking your plans, said
the landlord grufiy, but you'll get nc
more help out Of me unless [ know
what it is you are after. The right
| kind Of a mystery doesn't hurt the no
( tel business, but there's things thai
do, and if you want any help from me
young man, I've got to know what's
going on"
Il wish l knew myself, I said men
tally adding aloud: when l an
ready to speak you will hear MANY
things that will astound you. Mean
while, I tell you that I have every rea
son TO believe that that man who fec
from here is great criminal and tha
if YOU do not aid in his apprehension
you will be doing a serious wrong t.
the community. I'll tell you this
much, I am convinced that he was re
sponsible for this womans death anC
for other deaths"
Maybe he is and maybe he amt
said the landlord. I saw the LADY
/ myself, and nobody can persuade mt
it was anything but a suicide. Why,
cut her down."
Il am not denying that she commit
ted suicide" l replied with some as
perity, but I am morally certain thai
if she killed herself she was driven t.
it by the man who has just fled.
insist on being allowed to examine his
/ baggage
Look here. young man." said Mr.
Williams, 4 have told you once anc
for all that the baggage of no guest il
this house is going to be examined
without due process of law. And
/ want TO say right here that it's evident
that YOU yourself know a lot more
about this case than you are telling