The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-24


gent and able head of the borough constabu-
larry, are on the track, and express themselves
confident of success.
''To further the ends of justice, we may
here append description of the appearance
of Travers He is of the middle height or
thereabouts, with sandy hair and whiskers,
the latter meeting under his chin, in what is
frequently facetiously styled a Newgate
frill. His eyes are brown, and there is a cast
in one of them. His nose, which is little
on one side, has a tendency to the aquiline.
When last seen he wore velveteen coat and
cord trousers with low-crowned felt hat. F"
PART H.-MYsTERY.
TIE Narratioe Of Thomas Mole, Commercial
Traveller.
81 have the honor to represent the cele-
brated and uniformly solvent firm of Tether-
bridge, Coulson, and Pobgee, of st. Mary
Axe, in hardware. am known at the chief
hotels on my circuit, and among my friends
in town, as Tommy Mole, my precise and
proper Christian name being Thomas. My
residence is Hackney, my principles are Con-
servative, and my family three in number.
Having placed the public al cOurant with
my name, position Commercial and domes-
tic), and place of abode, will at once pro-
ceed to explain how it is I come to pen this
narrative.
q
studious and meditative turn. ] have read
may almost go so far as to say devoured-
the thrilling creations of Mr. Kilkee Wollins,
the distinguished novelist, and of his yet
more distinguished master and teacher, Mr..
Edgar Allen, poet and romancst. / never
travel without carrying their works in my
portmanteau when on the rail, and in the
box-seat of the gig when on the road.
My mind, may state without vanity, is
of the same order as those of the great writer's
above named. / have the same delight in
threading the mazes of intricate and difficult
mysteries; and / may state in all modesty
that for the last ten years no murder of any
Importance has occurred with regard to which
1 have not placed myself in communication
with the authorities by forwarding a minute
report, at once analytic and synthetic, of the
circumstances of the case, with my deductions
as to the real culprit. l may add, that in the
majority of instances | have been more or
less right, more particularly in those in which
the real culprit has hitherto escaped detec-
ton, chiefly in consequence of the failure of
the police to follow up my suggestions,
which would have led to the arrest of parties
who / felt sure were guilty.
while staying at Puddledock received
instructions from the firm which l have the
honor to Representatives. instructions neces-
stating my staying in that part of the coun-
try for at least a fortnight. My ordinary
business in Puddledock and the neighbor-
hood was speedily completed, and was there
fore left with considerable amount of un-
employed time on my hands.
''It so chanced that while / was meditating
how to turn this brief holiday to the best ac-
count, took up the Mudcl0d-cum- C2ay Er-
press. and read the particulars of mysterious
murder which had been committed in the
neighborhood of that town.
''Here, / felt, was presented to me an
opportunity for putting into practice myself
those theories as to the detection of crime
of the soundness of which | had failed to
impress that peculiarly obstinate body, the
London police.
81 determined to give my mind-and not
only my mind, but my Christmas holiday and
my personal energies-to the discovery of
this remarkable crime. 7 devoted the morn
ing to a rapid glance at the writings of my
two great literary guides philosophers, and
friends, and having thus refreshed myself at
the springs of their wisdom and acumen, /
turned my attention to the case under con-
sideration.
''At a first glance I could see many
salient points on which evidence would hang.
First, that there was murder; second, that
there was strong reason for supposing some
one to be the murderer; third, that there was
strong reason for supposing that that mur-
derer was Travers. So far all was clear
enough. Then came this important question:
--Travers had disappeared-where had he
gone? 1t did not take me moment to de.
eide. The recent perusal of ''The Purloined
Letter, and of a story curiously resembling
it, from the pen of Mr.. Wollins, enabled me
to argue the matter out, thus: --Travers had
declared he was going to London in order to
fly from justice. Therefore Travers was still
concealed in the neighborhood of his crime
because he would Immediately argue that thai
was the last place where the police would lool
| for him.
Il at once made up my mind what to do
| placed myself in communication with the
obliging and accommodating manager of the
Theatre Royal at Puddledock, and hiret
from him, professedly for an entertainment
which was to give for a charity at a neigh
| boring town, a selection of such theatrica
costumes as / thought might prove useful tC
me as DISCUSSES. Armed with these, | pro-
ceeded to the railway station to book myself
for Mudclod- Clay.
my reading of the works of the two writers
have named prepared me for one thing
| the extreme probability of accident revealing
important clues to the solution of the mys
terry. j was not, therefore, surprised when
on reaching the Railway Station, l happened
to discover something that induced me at one
to alter my plan of action.
| ut was cold day, and as the down plat
form was open and unprotected, waited ol
the up platform, which afforded the shelte
of the booking Office and waiting-room, unit
my train should be signalled.
| |''While seated in the latter apartment
heard voices on tsde the window. Some
thing was said VIII ich attracted my attention
cautiously opened the window, found tw
persons outside talking in low voice. I lis