Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-10-24

would win out That's the secret,
old chap, Of my success, of every
body's success. Don't tackle things
you can't do, then you never fail"
Davis refusal was a greater blow to
me than I cared to admit Louise ami
in our final conference the night be
fore had decided that there were three
steps that would take US far into the
light.
First, was to try at once to find
Hugh Crandall. I was to ask him to
explain the rupture with Katharine,
the attitude Of General Parrish toward
him. his knowledge Of the yellow let
ter, and why he had called Katharine
on the telephone the afternoon before.
Second, failing to find Crandau,
was to make some pretext for visiting
his rooms. His sudden departure and
his cauti0ning the janitor to admit no
one had a suspicious look. While
neither Louise nor l had discussed
what might be there to explain the
mystery, I was thinking that in all
probability I would find a bundle of
letters from Katharine, some of which
might furnish a clue.
Third, was to ask Inspector Davis
to help me trace the yellow letter
l had anticipated little difficulty in
ascertaining CrandalIs whereabouts.
| A broker of standing does not vanish
| overnight without informing his bust
ness partners. Before coming to the
inspector I had telephoned 10 Gran
daITs office Great was my amazement
| to learn from one of his partners that
they were as much puzzled as I over
his sudden going away. They had
merely received a telegram saying
| that he had been called out of town
| unexpectedly and did not know when
he would return. The telegram had
| been sent from an office near his rooms
| the night before There was no bust
ness affair that would take him away.
so they supposed that it was some
urgent personal matter.
While chatted for a moment with
| Davis over our boyhood days I was
/ thinking what step should take mex.
The problems of learning Crand8l's
whereabouts and gaining access to his
! rooms did not seem so simple as they
/ had the night before. A clerk entered
with a card for Davis, and I rose to
go.
Don't go yet, he said. It's only a
man from police headquarters. His
errand will probably take only min.
ute"
As I resumed my seat Detective
Dowd was ushered into the room. He
was the typical police sleuth, thick OF
head and foot, ready to suspect the
! suspicious and to see the obvious. In
/ appearance, in speech, in manner Of
thought, he and the inspector were al,
most exact opposites. One was a griz
zled, blear-eyed man of fifty whom
even the clumsiest criminal could not
have mistaken for anything but what
he was; the other, young-looking fol
even his thirty years, might have been
readily mistaken for a college tutor OF
an alert reporter. It amused me tC
see with what Difference the man from
headquarters approached him.
Beg your pardon for disturbing yea
Inspector" he said, nervously twist
ing his hat. but I've got little mat
ter here the chief wanted me to put
up to you"
He turned toward me with a sus
picious glance, but Davis fastened tc
assure him that he could speak freely
before me.
It's this" he explained, the ole
man wants to know about"
AS he spoke he drew something from
his inner pocket and laid it on the in
spectoT's desk. AS my eyes followed
his hand gave a sudden start With
difficulty restrained an expression Of
amazement The object about which
he had come to inquire was q tori
yellow envelope.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)