Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-02

dali. The parallel between the cases
of Katharine and Elser was entirely
too strong for it to have been mere
coincidence. We knew it was Crandall
who had telephoned Katharine. It
must have been he who had called
Eiser. There was much to be ex-
planned. What it was that had driven
them both to seek death was still q
mystery. My mind reverted to nv
original theory that there was child.
whose existence had been kept from
the world, that was in some way con-
nected with the Parrish family Old
Elser was the guardian of a boy. SIM.
pose this boy was the child. It would
esta blish a possible connection be-
tween the two suicides. It would ex.
plain why Katharine might have
known old Elser, yet never have men.
/ toned the man to Louise.
took it for granted that Davis
would ask the landlady further about
the child. OF course, he would want to
Know the boys name and the name OF
the school where Elser kept him. but
he made no further inquiries. Telling
the landlady he would let her know
IN day or two about the room. he
turned to me with:
Come on, Kent, it is time we had
some luncheon"
I'VE must find Crandall," said al
we left the house.
I'VE must find who wrote the vel.
low letters Davis responded.
1T must have been Crandall," / az.
serted with conviction.
1T may have been Crandall," the
inspector replied. WAS CrandaIl left.
handed?"
CHAPTER w.
II l had been alone I would have
gone directly to the Parrish home. I
was anxious about Louise. I had not
seen her since the night before.
though had telephoned her early in
the morning. greatly regretted hav-
ing to leave her so much by herself
In such distressful circumstances.
thought it wiser now to prepare her
before hand for the inspectors COM
ing. l wanted him to see the Parrish
home. felt that If he met Louise and
realized the luxury and comfort in
which the family lived he would better
appreciate the mystery and my deter.
! mination to solve It,
I suggested luncheon at Martins
and Davis assented As soon as we
had obtained table l excused my
self and FASTENED to the telephone.
Louise told me that the condition of
both her father and Katharine was
practically unchanged. I briefly sum-
married my mornings work and asked
| II might bring the inspector after
luncheon.
by all means" said Louise, "bring
| him right over. I want to meet him
and there may be some things can
tell him which will aid him."
When I returned to the cafe on the
Broadway side. where had left the
| Inspector. l found him abstractedly
rolling little pellets of bread and
placing them in various positions on
the cloth. So absorbed was he in his
occupation that he hardly seemed to
note my return. His flying fingers
would hastily mold three or four pei
lets in as many seconds. Placing them
| in row, he would eye them 1ntently.
Occasionally he would swoop down on
some unoffending pellet and sweep it
| to the floor. Two or three times I
tried to interrupt him to learn what
| he wished to eat, but each time he
waved me impatiently away Finally.
not desiring to delay too long over
luncheon, I gave the waiter the order
without consulting him. Mechanically
he ate what was put before him, all
the while keeping up his game with
bread balls.
! ITO Be Continued.)