Lower coast gazette., 1913-02-08

Iallea TO see Wnat ueauly import IN
letter mad or what sinister meanin
In it should drive its recipients I
desperation and suicide. Surely o
It's facessit appeared to present tn
harmless whim of an old mans Sigh,
ly unbalanced brain. turned I
Daytsso an explanation.
AN ingenious letter." Davis wa
saying. "And they fell for IT."
4 look of pride came into the pria
oner's face.
Wasn't 1t great" he exclaimed
"Why. they ate it up like hot cakes!
lust plain blackmail." said the In
spector.
"No, indecd-faucy blackmail," sale
Young Indignantly. "They never hat
1t dished up to them quite in this way
before. insist, If I've got to go tt
Jail for 1t, on at least receiving credit
for a new criminal invention"
Il fail to see," I interrupted, "just
how the letter was a criminal one OF
why IT. should have bothered any
one"
I'm afraid you will never make q
good detective" said the inspector
pitytngly. Don't you SEQ how It
worked? Young devised this letter.
He needed the cooperation of some
n in the post Office to send II out
without arousing suspicion. He tried
yellow letters FIRST on General Far.
IRISH to test the terrifying effects.
Satisfied that his yellow letter plan
would bring results. he recalled his
acquaintance with Rouser, whom he
knew to be weak and easily led. He
returned to Ardway-his old home
and found 1t child's play to enlist
Rouser's services. 1t was part Of his
general scheme for Rouser to send
and receive all the mail through a
lock box with G false name. His OBJ
5ect in this was to enable him, in
case the postal or police authorities
got on his trail, to have all the docu.
mentary evidence point to Rouser
alone. Before his connection with the
could be established he could
make his escape with the money the
brought In"
II stfll don't see," I protested, chow
lhese letters could bring in money.
They read exactly the opposite. They
promise to give away money"
That's the cleverest thing about
t." the Inspector said. and Young's
nalcyolept eyes glistened at this
ribute. Cant you see how 1t work.
ID? Young and I%,ouscr, from tax
lists. bank directories, from telephone
o variety OF sources
ompiled q list Of persons employed
n positions Of trust and began send.
ng out these yellow letters broad
ast. II one Of these should reach
n honest bank employe or cashier,
ne conspirators figured that he would
aush at It and tear IL up. MT snn.
ose n Of them fell into the hands
t a man who was guilty of pecu. !
atoms oil some sort. Suppose, for in.
lance. old Andrew Elser, when his
Nv business had failed him, had be- !.
70 speculate with the funds be. ,
'nging to the boy for whom he was
lardlan. His s%pcculations are IN.
'rtunatc. He plunges and loses still
'ore. He becomes desperate. He
ses no way Of replacing the money
2 has stolen. It seems certain that
s crime will be discovered and that
will be disgraced. He can not
cep nights. His brain. constantly
by fear and worry, will not
'rmit him to rest. His judgment,
'ver acute. or he would not have be.
me a thief, becomes more and moro
balanced. Then one day this yell
" letter comes. 1t reads conyinc.
ely. 1t promises immediate aid. II
edges secrecy. At last hs sees IN
norable way out. He hastens to
nd o reply to Lock Box No. II. I
N. j., as directed. Can't you {
asine what happens then? Young !
with him at once. You !
ed the telephone, didn't you?" !
The prisoner nodded. I
Sure" no said. "ths telephone ev. .
time. 1t leaves no records behind ]
and the Bertillon system can't
nifty a voice"
Now" the Inspector went on. {
hat does Young say over the tels- =
,ne TO Elssr? Something like this '
IN old thief. I've got the !
You are stealing somebody's I
ney. Steal some more and give.
10 me or I'll tell Unfortunately, &
nd Elser's case there was no more b
ney left to steal, 30 he killed him.
J. Am I right. Young" Il
gain the prisoner nodded. and Il
in he demanded another dose Of 8,
His muscles were again p
ting beyond his control. AS Davis Il
d the hypodermic, I asked: "But B
gro does the old maid from Con. u
ticut come in? Surely she wasn't II
lefaulter."
I suspect 1t was the brother with n,
I'm she made her home" said the 81
~
Damn her." said Young bitterly, at Ii
she who queered the whole game. to
tackled her brother for Ave hun.
] and It came so, easily we de. ;,
d to make another try. The weak :.
ID old thief, in bis terror of us.
his sister all about It. She In. ~
I'd on coming down here. Sha !.
Rolser and tried to find the sign.
the letter: Rouser denied know.
him. she was s'wise old creature
pointed out that as postmaster he
go: tNts y +! H. ~