The Springdale news., 1912-08-30

i ty.third street. Part of the postmark most of 1t, in fact-had been de l stroyed, as if in the careless opening 1 of the letter with the finger All that was deeipherable was a capital "A" and part of another letter that might have been either an IN" or an "R" In the lower part of the circle was a frag- ment of letter that looked as If 1t might have been an 'N." 1 noticed, too. that the stamp had been stuck on rather carelessly, in a lopsided man. ner.
 My friend. his inspection completed. turned to me apologetically.
 T beg your pardon. Harding Kent" i" he said. you were entirety right. These two bits of paper are key-notes in an important mystery. one that 1t Is we'll worth my while to try to solve"
 What made you change your mind so suddenly" I asked. for though I quite agreed with him, his manner had puzzled me not little.
 He leaned back in his chair and turned 1t so that he faced me. He had sharp. explosive way of speaking. 1 biting of his words almost before he had completely enunciated them.
 Cant you see? One footprint leads nowhere. Two footprints start & path. When you brought that yellow scrap to me you were merely guessing that It might have something to do with the strange happenings in the Parrish home. There was no way in which you could have positive knowledge. nor could 1. You were only guessing. "
 Indeed, I wasn't" I exclaimed in- l dignantIy What drew my attention to it was General Farrish's s exclama- ton of terror at the sight of 1t just be fore he fell, paralyzed.'
 Davis shook his head determinedly.
 That meant much-or nothing It may have been mere senile hysteria superinduced by the great shock. At some time in his life he may have had some unpleasant experience which was associated in his subconscious memory with yellow document. Wrought up as he was by the news of his daughters attempt to kill herself. 1 the brain cells called into action were those that had recorded other disturb ing experiences, perhaps a month ago. perhaps forty years ago. No impress sions in the brain records are ever lost. The sight of the yellow paper probably recalled some other yellow paper. There was then no evidence whatever that 1t was this particular piece of paper that so agitated him"
 But you think so now" suggested.
 The situation has entirely changed. There was nothing to show that this piece of paper had ever come through the mail There was nothing to con- meet 1t with suicide. Dowd comes in here with similar piece of paper that plainly has been mailed. We now have not one footprint. but two-the beginning of path. Once started on the path, we can solve the mystery"
 Then you think there Is some con- nection between the two bits of pa peri"
 II know there is,' said Davis. These bits of yellow paper are of the same quality and texture-to all ap- pearances the same paper. Two per sons in whose possession they were, attempt suicide on the same day. The same person. or at least the same type writer. wrote both the address on the envelope and the contents of the let ter. This envelope came from coun- 1 try post-office in either New York or New Jersey within a month-some post-office the name of which begins with Ar Or An There are not many rural offices that will it in all par ticulars. In two days or sooner. l can tell you exactly from what office they were nailed
 "Letters-you think there were two? Might not this be the envelope In which this paper came?'
 That presupposes an acquaintance between Elser and Miss Parrish. at least connection of some sort. Did she know him?"
 Il don't think so. Her sister and l were talking of the Elser suicide last night after We saw the evening papers. Louise surely would have known il if her sister was acquainted with him."
 Perhaps" said Davis doubtfully. There isn't human being over ten that has not a secret that they keep from some one. It looks to me, though, as if in all probability there were two distinct letters. That is what makes me suspect plot. It conyinces me that the mails are being used for an improper and more than likely a crim- inal purpose. This brings the case or both cases properly in my domain as a post-ofiice inspector
 And l can count on your assistance, after all. T said joyfully. When can 1 you begin work?"
 "I have begun he said tersely, pushing over for my inspection some thing he had hastily scrawled on pad lying on his desk It was an order ad- dressed to the superintendent of the railway mails, which read:
 Have all railway clerks on New York and New Jersey routes report from what rural office within the last ,,,optt tba,, baye ,4,ooIyad la rUa