The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-12-14
Johnston.
Nh1aAM5MNRaznes


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 it 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 a 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"
Il know there is" said Davis.
These bits of yellow paper are Of the
same quality and texture7to' 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-
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 fit in all par
ticulars. In two days or sooner, / can
tell you exactly from what office they
were mailed"
'Letters-you think there were two?
Might not this be the envelope in
which this paper Gamer"
THAT presupposes an acquaintance
between EIser and Miss Parrish. at
least a connection Of some sort Did
she know him."
II don't think so. Her sister and !
were talking of the Elser suicide last
night after we saw the evening papers.
Louise surely would have known it II
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. 1t looks to me, though,
as Il in all probability there were two
distinct letters. That Is what makes
me suspect plot. 1t convinces me
that the mails are being used for an
improper and more than likely Grim
inal purpose. This brings the case OF
both cases properly in my domain q
a post-office inspector"
And / can count on your assistance
after ALL" said joyfully. when car
. you begin work."
/ Il have begun" he said tersely
{ pushing over for my inspection some
J, thing he had hastily scrawled on PAD
I lying on his desk. 1t was an order ad
: dressed to the superintendent Of th'
!, railway mails, which read:
d Have all railway clerks on New
York and New Jersey routes repor
r from what rural office within the las
I month they have received large guam
Q titles Of letters In yellow envelopes
/ II letters have been discontinued
i when? DAVIS.
< Large quantities." gasped. Wen
; there more than two?"
g "Of course" he snapped. In q wa
t that showed me he did not wish to b
/" questioned further. Then he reache
It for his hat and coat, and with an al
n rupt Come along!" led the way
s the elevator.
It Where are you going?" / asked a
I. he rushed me hurriedly through Par
n place to the Sixth Avenue Elevated.
\ ITO Twenty-third street." he replies
ito find out what the police have not
4, In the IL" train I told him in To-
tones of Crandall's apparent come
)" ton with the case and of his sudde
I. disappearance. He sat silent, h
Is whole bearing indicating such abstra
Is ton that doubted if he had heard
word l was saying. but suddenly, Jul
ID before we left the train, he startle
l me by asking:
sr do you know Crandall? VIII
color are his eyes?"
i'd regretted that I had to say no
ID the first question. and that ! did nc
g. to the latter, which query amazed n
le greatly. What connection the col
Of a mans eyes could possibly ha'
Is with two attempts at suicide and L
h. Of mysterious yellow letters from
lp rural post-ofice was entirely beyol
at me. Curious as l was, | hesitated
tn question him on the subject, for e
III perience had taught me that he W
III better at asking than answering.
e. Instead Of going directly to q
:" clearinghouse where Elser had kill
n himself, he took the other side of 4
IN street and turned abruptly into
- house, beside the door Of which was
- Doctors plate.
at, n,c<or poruor In 1o ba oeked
y. the maid, and on being shown into t
II physicians Office, introduced hims'
ia as Inspector Davis" and began qu'
At tioning the doctor about the Elser s
ad eide.
ch Though the papers had made
80 ~-z-k;1- nD,for pornor tho 40