The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-08-10


tons there. there was nothing definite
enough to warrant selling him as yet.
watched him as far down the ave-
nue. as my eye could follow and then
turned toward the Parrish house. This
time ] was admitted without delay.
Apparently the maid had new instruc-
lions
'I1l tell Miss Louise you are here,
she said as she showed me into the
reception-room.
AS / waited ! tried TO think how
should greet Louise. While there was
much that | might reproach her for.
felt that surely II had not been her
fault | knew she must be acting I'M
der compulsion. was determined,
though, TO let her know that | knew
that Hugh Crandall had been in the
house.
Suddenly heard smothered
scream upstairs and a second later
Louise burst into the room. There
was terror in her face as she ran to
me.
"ob. Harding" she gasped, its
gone-stolen!
What do you mean? What's sto-
LEM" / cried Selling her hands tightly
In my own.
She was trembling all over and her
breath came in quick, short jerks.
She was dressed in an automobile hat
and coat. but even through the thick
folds Of her coat | could feel the PAL
plating OF her heart. The new mys-
terry, whatever Il was, had been too
much for her already overstrained
nerves. She was in n condition close
ly bordering on hysteria.
Tell me about it, what was it,"
said.
The yellow letter-it's gone, sto-
len!"
Where was lt?"
| had taken II with me the morn
ing | went down TO Inspector Davis
office, but after he had compared it
with the Elser fragment he had re-
turned II TO me. | had restored II to
Louise when Davis and called on her
after our visit 10 Mrs. Trask's board
ing-house. / had not seen IL since
then. My last recollection OF II was
placing IL in her hand as Davis and
left the house.
Let me think" she said, trying
hard to regain her composure. When
you and Mr.. Davis were here the other
day you gave II back to me. took
it upstairs and put II In drawer
In a little desk in my room | locked
the desk and hid the key in vase
on the mantel. | went TO the desk
just now to get Il and II was gone"
Was the desk locked?"
She nodded --ss .-
who could have taken lt?" asked.
Even as framed the question there
came TO me the thought Of Crandalls
visit He had been IN the hotel in
Ardway whore the woman committed
suicide after reading a yellow letter
and tearing Il up. The scraps of that
letter had disappeared. More likely
he had come here just 10 get that
scrap of yellow paper lest its evidence
might bring home bis crimes.
Who has been In the house?"
No one but the doctors and nurses
and the servants" said Louise, flush
ing uneasily as she spoke.
! waited, expecting her TO mention
Crandall's visit. but though she hest
tated for a second she said nothing
OF II.
Il wonder who could have taken it?"
she said after an awkward pause.
What motive could any one have?"
i asked, determined 20 direct her
thoughts to Crandall "The only per
son who would have reason for max.
ing away with Il would be some one
who feared that il might be used
against him.
There was silence while we both
pondered the situation.
You remember" said Louise sud.
denly, the agitation my father showed
at sight OF that paper II he were not
lying paralyzed upstairs | think he
would have tried 10 gain possession
OF t."
How is your father, and your sis
ter?" ! asked. suddenly recalling that
Hob hrhtu oANNi HtiAHti VI lltAi,
Katharine is much better" said Lou
ise. "She is entirely conscious. though
very weak, but the doctor says that
she will In all probability recover
quickly. My fathers condition remains
the same, though he seems to have
regained the use OF his right hand
He wrote some brief directions to-day
about his business"
Are you sure Of all the servants ?"
! asked.
"All OF them have been with US for
years; all but one. ever since before
my mothers death. would not think
OF distrusting any OF them"
Are you certain the house has not
been entered In the night7"
was asking these questions with n
view OF convincing her that II was
impossible for any one but Crandall
10 have taken the yellow scrap--for
-.