The Springdale news., 1912-09-20

letter to bits."
 A letter! It came on me in a flash that here was the clue, that this was the connecting link with the other two cases.
 I pushed my way forward into the room. determined to learn all there was about this new phase of the case. The proceedings stopped abruptly at the hustle my movement made, and everybody, coroner. jurors and spec tators, gaped at me.
 'I am a lawyer" said. May I ask the witness one or two questions?"
 Still the coroner gaped and I wait ed no longer for bis permission.
 Was 1t a yellow letter." I asked.
 Now that you speak of 1t kind of remember that 1t was"
 Has the letter been found?"
 She was tearing 1t in pieces"
 Where are the pieees?" The eyes of everybody present be- gan rowing about the room, as If in answer to my question. The con- stable instituted a hasty search, in which l myself, the coroner and the jurors joined ] felt that If we could only find those pieces, the mystery might be solved. While the room was being ransacked I kept my eye on Cook. As l asked the question about the letters color l noticed that he looked startled. I was amazed now to see him edging toward the door. I was tempted to demand that he be re- oraI sure that if the pieces of the yellow letter were to be found anywhere it would be in his pocket. Yet second thought advised against such rash &C., uon. had no positive proof that Cook was Grandall. Until had, sure. " It would be unwise to accuse him. l remembered that there was no train by which he could leave the town un. tll late in the afternoon, so there was little prospect that he could escape me.
 How did you know it was a yellow letter." the coroner asked me sus- 1 picleusly, pausing suddenly in his search
 It was an awkward question. I realized that my impetuosity had placed me in predicament was by no means ready to tell him the whole story. and yet the fact that 1 Knew or suspected the color of the letter that she was tearing up certain. ly indicated that l knew something | about the woman
 T didn't know It."
 Well. what'd you ask the question about 1t for?" he repeated. his sus. picion of me rapidly increasing.
 was thinking quickly what l could say that would divert his thoughts. noticed with annoyance that the eyes or every one in the room were on me and that they were curiously await Ing an answer. l assumed an air of mystery and drew the coroner to one side
 am perfectly willing to tell you everything" l said. q am out here on another matter that Is something or mystery in which a yellow letter ngures. The letter has disappeared. I never saw or heard of this old woman before. but when the witness men, toned that she was tearing up a let Ter sudden notion came to me that II might be the one of which I was in search. A detective who is working on the case will be out here this eve ming and then l can tell you more about It.
 spoke the last sentence in whis- per so low that 1t reached only the coroner's ear. He pondered over my statement and then abruptly an- nounced that the inquest was ad- burned until nine o'clock the next day. l would have escaped him if I could, but l saw that he was deter mined to worm out everything I knew or suspected. l decided that activity would be the best remedy for his curiosity. Accordingly l invited the coroner and the constable to come up to my rooms where, without waiting TOT them to question me, began fir Ing Questions hot-shot at them.. .sup- gesting 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 tele- phoned a description of the woman to the Bridgeport police with her name to see If 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 it that might identify her? Had they studied her writing on the register to see if it gave any indication of being assumed or disguised? Had they examined her pocketbook to see if 1t contained any clue to a motive2 Had they eonsid- cred whom she might have come to this town to see?
 That idea of calling up the Bridge port police ain't such 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 pay for 1t if do." the constable objected.
 There ain't enough fees in this of