The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-03-07
MAakaG0WW XRazMty

PiSSC VI paper that 50 dElldtSu Hill
But you think SO now / suggested.
"The situation has entirely changed.
Ther was nothing to show that this
piece OF paper had ever come through
the mail. There was nothing 70 con-
meet 1t with suicide. Dowd comes in
here with a 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"
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 a III
try Gost-office in either New York or
New Jersey within a month-some
post-oflce the name of which begins
with AR or An There are not many
rural Offices hat will fit in all par
ticulars, In two days or sooner, | can
tell you exactly from what office they
We're mailed"
"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 a connection Of some sort. Did
she know him."
Il 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 a human being over ten
that has not a secret that they keep
from some one. 1t looks to me, though,
as if in all probability there were two
distinct letters. That is what makes
me suspect a plot. 1t conyinces me
that the mails are being used for an
llIpIODtt diId HUH lAdl llhSJy q CIIlu-
inal purpose. This brings the case or
both cases properly in my domain as
a post-office inspector"
And ] can count on your assistance,
after ALL" l said joyfully. when can
you begin work."
Il have begun" he said tersely,
pushing over for my inspection some
thing he had hastily scrawled on a pad
lying on his desk. 1t was an order adj
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
month they have received large guam
titles Of letters In yellow envelopes.
If letters have been discontinued,
when? DAVIS"
Large quantities. | gasped. Were
there more than two ?"'.E.'
"Of, course he snapped, in a way
that showed me he did not wish to be
questioned further. Then he reached
for his hat and coat. and with an alb.
rupt Come along!" led the way to
the elevator.
Where are you going?" I asked as
he rushed me h%urriedly through Park
place to the Sixth Avenue Elevated.
ITO Twenty-third street" he replied,
ito find out what the police have not
In the IL" train l told him in low
tones of Crandall's apparent connec
tinn Will Tho 90 md IF hic c1,6dnr
disappearance. He sat silent, his
whole bearing indicating such abstrac
ton that / doubted If he had heard q
word | was saying, but suddenly, jus,
before we left the train, he startled
me by asking:
DO you know Crandall? What
color are his eyes?'
! regretted that had to say no Il
the first question, and that | did not
to the latter, which query amazed m4
greatly. What. connection the colo
Of a mans eyes could possibly hav,
with two attempts at suicide and a To-
of mysterious yellow letters from !;
rural post-office was entirely beyon,
me. Curious as / was, l hesitated Il
question him on the subject, for ex
p~erience had taught me that he wa
better at asking than answering.
Instead Of going directly to tn
clearinghouse where Elser had kille'
himself, he took the other side of tn
street and turned abruptly into
house, beside the door of which was
doctors plate.
rs Doctor Berner in?" he asked o
the maid. and on being shown into tn
physicians Office. introduced himsel
as Inspector Davis" and began ques
tioning the doctor about the Elser su
eide.
Though the papers had made n
mention of Doctor Berner, the state
ment being that a policeman ha
called an ambulance from Bellevu
Hospital, it now appeared hat tn
landlady had summoned him as 500
as the suicide was discovered. Else
was dead, SO he had withdrawn a
soon as the policeman arrived.
did you ever have Elser as a ps
tient?" asked the inspector.
The doctor reflected.
Il .A - IS. -