The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-30
William
Johnston

sAo~ 0O ooAoO II 80O u8O 30Ot u81USsA
He must have known her motive. He
surely could explain the dark mystery
that burdened her father and herself
resolved to ssek him at once and,
even II l had to have hin arrested on
some pnstext. or II had to use physi-
cal force. to make him disgorgs all he
knew. felt in my pocket to make
sure that the revolver Davis had CIV
en- me was there, and hurried back to
the once.
Have you seen anything Of Cook!"
l 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?" asked excitedly.
About an hour ago. driving past
here lickety-split with the black mare
from Jones' livery stable"
Which direction did he go?" I
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" l 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 10 he that he hires a horse
and tries to get away cross country"
l 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 Oft" he
inquired calmly. why should he
want to escape from you! Have you
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 1 could &C.
cuse him? l was morally certain that
the yellow letter or letters emanated
from him, yet how could prove it? A
new thought came to me.
Where 10 his baggage?" l asked.
He only had hapd-satchel with
him." said Mr.. Williams, "and I guess
that 10 up in his room"
Suppose We 60 look for It," I sug-
gested.
You don't do no such thing as that
in my hotel" said the landlord de-
cisively, mot unless you've got q war
rant. He's paid for his room for a
week in advance. and there ain't no
law to prevent his going and coming
as he pleases, so long as there amt
no warrant out for him. II he wants
to get out Of town behind the fastest
horses in Jones stable l amt a-soinR
to try to stop him, and what's more, II
he has left his grip in his room 1t IL
going to stay there. Maybe or maybe
not there are things in it, but there
amt no prying stranger going to know
what's there unless he can show me
due warrant Of law"
you may be defeating tho ends of
justice" l warned him sternly, indig.
nantly resenting his remark, yet See
ing no way in which could success.
fully dodge his appellation Of "pryins
stranger" without revealing my whole
hand, and this was determined not to
do until Davis arrived and I had had
an opportunity to consult with him.
Il may be blocking your plans" said
the landlord gruffiy. but you'll get no
more help out Of me unless l know
what 1t Is you are after. The right
kind Of mystery doesn't hurt the ho-
tel business. but there's things that
do. and If you want any help from me.
young man. I've got to know what's
going on
Il wish knew myself" 1 said men
tally. adding aloud: When l am
ready to speak you will hear many
things that will astound you. Mean.
while. tell you that have every res
son to believe that that man who aed
from here is great criminal ans that
II you do not aid in his apprehension
you will be cc.a,uy 4 serious wrong to
the Community. I'll tell you this
much, am convinced that he was rs-
sponsible for this woman's death and
for other deaths"
Maybe he il and maybe he amt,
said the landlord. II saw the lady
myself. and nobody can persuade me
It was anything but 4 suicide. Why, !
cut her DOWN."
II am not denying that she commit.
ted suicide" replied with some az.
perity. but am morally certain that
II she killed herself she was driven to
it BY the man who has Just fed, /
insist on being allowed to examine hts
baggage"
Look here. young man." said Mr.
Williams. II have told you once and
for all that the baggage Of no guest in
this house IL going to be examined
without due process Of law. And !
want to say right here that its evident
that you yoursslf know . lot mors
about this case than you are tsIline,