In regard to this particular case he had already heard from Miss Saunders all she knew of the drowning, and, like the coroner, had been immediately impressed with the fact that the probable publicity attendant on such a case as this appeared to be might be just what he needed to revive a wavering political prestige and might perhaps solve the problem of his future. At any rate he was most intensely interested. So that now, upon sight of Heit, he showed plainly the keen interest he felt in the case.
Well, Colonel Heit?
Well, Orville, Im just back from Big Bittern. It looks to me as though Ive got a case for you now thats going to take quite a little of your time.
Heits large eyes bulged and conveyed hints of much more than was implied by his non-committal opening remark.
You mean that drowning up there? returned the district attorney.
Yes, sir. Just that, replied the coroner.
Youve some reason for thinking theres something wrong up there?
Well, the truth is, Orville, I think theres hardly a doubt that this is a case of murder. Heits heavy eyes glowed somberly. Of course, its best to be on the safe side, and Im only telling you this in confidence, because even yet Im not absolutely positive that that young mans body may not be in the lake. But it looks mighty suspicious to me, Orville. Theres been at least fifteen men up there in row-boats all day yesterday and to-day, dragging the south part of that lake. I had a number of the boys take soundings here and there, and the water aint more than twenty-five feet deep at any point. But so far they havent found any trace of him. They brought her up about one oclock yesterday, after theyd been only dragging a few hours, and a mighty pretty girl she is too, Orville quite young not more than eighteen or twenty, I should say. But there are some very suspicious circumstances about it all that make me think that he aint in there. In fact, I never saw a case that I thought looked more like a devilish crime than this.
As he said this, he began to search in the right-hand pocket of his well-worn and baggy linen suit and finally extracted Robertas letter, which he handed his friend, drawing up a chair and seating himself while the district attorney proceeded to read.
Well, this does look rather suspicious, dont it? he announced, as he finished. You say they havent found him yet. Well, have you communicated with this woman to see what she knows about it?
No, Orville, I havent, replied Heit, slowly and meditatively. And Ill tell you why. The fact is, I decided up there last night that this was something I had better talk over with you before I did anything at all. You know what the political situation here is just now. And how the proper handling of a case like this is likely to affect public opinion this fall. And while I certainly dont think we ought to mix politics in with crime there certainly is no reason why we shouldnt handle this in such a way as to make it count in our favor. And so I thought I had better come and see you first. Of course, if you want me to, Orville, Ill go over there. Only I was thinking that perhaps it would be better for you to go, and find out just who this fellow is and all about him. You know what a case like this might mean from a political point of view, if only we clean it up, and I know youre the one to do it, Orville.
Thanks, Fred, thanks, replied Mason, solemnly, tapping his desk with the letter and squinting at his friend. Im grateful to you for your opinion and youve outlined the very best way to go about it, I think. Youre sure no one outside yourself has seen this letter?
Only the envelope. And no one but Mr. Hubbard, the proprietor of the inn up there, has seen that, and he told me that he found it in her pocket and took charge of it for fear it might disappear or be opened before I got there. He said he had a feeling there might be something wrong the moment he heard of the drowning. The young man had acted so nervous strange-like, he said.
Very good, Fred. Then dont say anything more about it to any one for the present, will you? Ill go right over there, of course. But what else did you find, anything? Mr. Mason was quite alive now, interrogative, dynamic, and a bit dictatorial in his manner, even to his old friend.
Plenty, plenty, replied the coroner, most sagely and solemnly. There were some suspicious cuts or marks under the girls right eye and above the left temple, Orville, and across the lip and nose, as though the poor little thing mighta been hit by something a stone or a stick or one of those oars that they found floating up there. Shes just a child yet, Orville, in looks and size, anyhow a very pretty girl but not as good as she might have been, as Ill show you presently. At this point the coroner paused to extract a large handkerchief and blow into it a very loud blast, brushing his beard afterward in a most orderly way. I didnt have time to get a doctor up there and besides Im going to hold the inquest down here, Monday, if I can. Ive ordered the Lutz boys to go up there to-day and bring her body down. But the most suspicious of all the evidence that has come to light so far, Orville, is the testimony of two men and a boy who live up at Three Mile Bay and who were walking up to Big Bittern on Thursday night to hunt and fish. I had Earl take down their names and subpoena em for the inquest next Monday.
And the coroner proceeded to detail their testimony about their accidental meeting of Clyde.
Well, well! interjected the district attorney, thoroughly interested.
Then, another thing, Orville, continued the coroner, I had Earl telephone the Three Mile Bay people, the owner of the hotel there as well as the postmaster and the town marshal, but the only person who appears to have seen the young man is the captain of that little steamboat that runs from Three Mile Bay to Sharon. You know the man, I guess, Captain Mooney. I left word with Earl to subpoena him too. According to him, about eight-thirty, Friday morning, or just before his boat started for Sharon on its first trip, this same young man, or some one very much like the description furnished, carrying a suitcase and wearing a cap he had on a straw hat when those three men met him came on board and paid his way to Sharon and got off there. Good-looking young chap, the captain says. Very spry and well-dressed, more like a young society man than anything else, and very stand-offish.
Yes, yes, commented Mason.
I also had Earl telephone the people at Sharon whoever he could reach to see if he had been seen there getting off, but up to the time I left last night no one seemed to remember him. But I left word for Earl to telegraph a description of him to all the resort hotels and stations hereabouts so that if hes anywhere around, theyll be on the lookout for him. I thought youd want me to do that. But I think youd better give me a writ for that bag at Gun Lodge station. That may contain something we ought to know. Ill go up and get it myself. Then I want to go to Grass Lake and Three Mile Bay and Sharon yet to-day, if I can, and see what else I can find. But Im afraid, Orville, its a plain case of murder. The way he took that young girl to that hotel up there at Grass Lake and then registered under another name at Big Bittern, and the way he had her leave her bag and took his own with him! He shook his head most solemnly. Those are not the actions of an honest young man, Orville, and you know it. What I cant understand is how her parents could let her go off like that anywhere with a man without knowing about him in the first place.