The Huttig news. (Huttig, Ark.) 1907-1955, 1912-08-24

ter sudden notion came to me that
II might be the one of which was in
search. A detective who is WORKING.
on the case will be out here this eve
p1ng and then | can tell YOU more
about It"
spoke the last sentenAa in q whisz
per so low that it reached only the
coropern ear. He pondered oyer my
statement and then abruptly an
nouneed that the inquest was ad
lourned until nine O'Clock the nexH
day. J would have escaped him if /
could, hut | saw that he was deter
mined TO worm out everything | knew
or suspected. | decided that activity
would be the best remedy for his
curiosity. Accordingly invited the
coroner and the constable to come IN
to my rooms where, without WAITING.
Tor them 10 question ne, i began fir.
ing questions hot-shot at them. sug
costing things FOR them to do. simple
Things that would have been the first
thought Of the police of New York or
any other large city, but which they
had not thought of. Had they fele-
phoned description of the woman to
the Bridgeport police with her name
to see il she could be identified as
any one who was missing from that
city? Had they examined her clothing
to see if there was any mark on II that
might identify her? Had thew studied
her writing on the register to see if il
gave any indication of being assumed
or disguised? Had they examined her
pocketbook to see if it contained any
clue to motive? Had they censid
cred whom she might have come to
this town to see?
That idea of calling up the Bridge.
port police amt such a bad one. said
the coroner. Suppose you do it
now he said. turning to the con
stable.
I'd like to know who's going to pa Y
for 1t if | do" the constable objected
There amt enough fees in this of.
flee for me to be spending my money
that way"
You go ahead and do It and III see
that you get the money back"
IF you're going to pay 1t out of
your own pocket III do it, but if YOU
expect ME 10 wait till you put II
through as lawful expense I amt
taking no chances
Their petty WranGling over such r.
triflng amount eXasperated me not a
little
Here said |, pulling a fve-dollar
bill from my pocket. take this and
pay for It and tell them to telephone
YOU as soon as they can what they
have found out. This ought TO cover
both the message and the answer and
if there is anything left get yourself
some cigars with it,
The constable needed no second bid
ding. As soon as he had disappeared
| turned to the coroner;
did You notice that man Cook al
the inquest? Who is he?"
81 don't know who you mean he
replied The only Cook | know here
in the town is Bob Cook, and he's laid
up with a broken leg"
Didn't you notice tall. smooth
shaven fellow who stood right close
listened closely to the testimony and
the minute we began looking for the
scraps of the letter, didn't you see him
slip out of the ROOM"
Come to think of It" said the coro-
ner, Il believe | did notice him, but
I can't say as I seen him going out.
Maybe twas one of the guests of the
hotel"
Il think he Is. and I'm pretty sure
he's registered in the hotel as Mr..
Cook, too, but I'd like to know more
about him.
Lets go down and ask Mahlon. II
there's anybody in his hotel he don't
know about it's something unusual"
We found Mahlon Williams in the
little boxed-off corner behind the no.
tel desk that was labeled Private Of
fee" The curious crowd was still
gaming at the door of the room where
the suicide had taken place, at least
such OF them as had not adjourned to
the bar to talk it over, so that we
were alone in the office.
Mr.. Williams" | said, what do you
know about this man Cook, who is
stopping here in the hotel?"
No more than | know about You. .
said he. and not as much, in fact, for
he didn't ask no peculiar questions at
the inquest. Speaking about that let
ter
How long has this man Cook been
in the house?' | interrupted, deter
mined not to let either him or the
coroner annoy me with questions.
The hotelkeeper. plainly provoked
at my attitude, stared thoughtfully at
me for minute and finally decided to
answer my question as the only hope
of getting me to answer his.
He came just the night before you
did-got in on the seyen-two train"
His answer settled everything in my
mind. Cook was Crandall The ar
rival of Cook in the village conceded