The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1913-01-18

He must have known her motive. He
surely could explain the dark mystery
that burdened her father and herself.
l resolved to seek him at once and.
even if had to have him arrested on
some pretext, or II l had to use physi-
cal force, to make him disgorge all he
knew l felt in my pocket to make
sure that the revolver Davis had CIV
en- me was there. and hurried back to
the Office.
Have you seen anything Of Cook?"
| asked, trying to mask the eagerness
with which | sought him.
mot since this morning." the land
lord volunteered. Il guess you saw
him after | did. The coroner told me
you saw him leaving the room during
the inquest"
+ Il seen him." volunteered the clerk.
Where? When?" l asked excitedly.
| About an hour ago, driving past
here lickety-split with the black mare
from Jones' livery stable"
! Which direction did he go?" l
cried. all excitement at the thought
that Crandall was escaping just at the
very moment when l, for the first
time, had made sure of his identity.
HE must be followed and found at
once" / said. turning to the landlord.
Don't his actions look to you like
those of guilty man? The minute he
hears me ask about yellow letter he
disappears from the hotel. There is
no train by which he can escape. So
desperate Is he that he hires horse
and tries to get away cross country"
had hoped by my eagerness to
stir in the landlord something Of my
own feeling in regard to Crandall's
guilt. but these country yokels are
hard to move.
What do you suspect him Off" he
inquired calmly. why should he
want to escape from you? Have yor
got warrant for him."
l was not yet ready to divulge my
reason for wanting Crandall captured
Even II we had him. what definite
! crime was there of which could &C
, cuse him? was morally certain tina
J the yellow letter or letters emanatet
from him, yet how could prove It?
, new thought came to me.
+ Where is his baggage?" asked.
j "He only had hand-satchel will
him." said Mr.. Williams. land CUES
that is up in his room"
I Suppose we go look for It," sus
: gested.
You don't do no such thing as tina
+ In my hotel" said the landlord de
: cisively, mot unless you've got a wal
/ rant. He's paid for his room for
: week in advance. and there amt n
l law to prevent his going and comm
: as he pleases, 80 long as there ain
! no warrant out for him. II he want
e to get out of town behind the tastes
+ horses in Jones' stable ART a-goin
9 to try to stop him, and what's more.
d he has left his grip in his room ii
/ going to stay there. Maybe or mayb
d not there are things in it, but ther
d amt no prying stranger going to kno'
q what's there unless he can show m
d due warrant of law"
You may be defeating the ends {
e justice" / warned him sternly. indi
y nantly resenting his remark, yet Sc
e ing no way in which could success
fully dodge his appellation Of "pryin
stranger" without revealing my who
hand, and this was determined not
v do until Davis arrived and | had ha
an opportunity to consult with him
t II may be blocking your plans" sal
Ie TIE landlord grufiy. but you'll get 4
d move help out of me unless | kno
m Whit it is you are after. The rigl
e kind Of mystery doesn't hurt the b
" tel business, but there's things TIL
At do. and If you want any help from m
d young nan. I've got to know what
le going op."
is 81 wish I knew myself" l said me
Id tally, adding aloud: when | a
m ready to speak you will hear maj
I'd things that VIII astound you. Mea
5. while, tell you that have every re
or son to believe that that man who A.
ne from here is a great criminal and tn
at if you do not aid In his apprehensi,
nd you will be doing a sserious wrong
en- the community. I'll tell you I'll
hit much. | am convinced that he was
ut sponsible for this woman's death a
be for other deaths"
Maybe he is and maybe he aim
re said the landlord. Il saw the la
myself. and nobody can persuade I
it was anything but suicide. Why
cut her down."
!" 81 am not denying that she comm
a ted suicide" replied with some
as perity. "but am morally certain til
! if she killed herself she was driven
i'm ii by the man who has just fed.
he insist on being allowed to examine
lin baggage"
be- Look here. young man." said \
n" Williams. Il have told you once a
,tk for all that the baggage of no euesf