Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-15
or two, to see IL l could find a clue
from it. 1t was lucky did.

!
Off duty, and walking around in or
dinary dress, ! paused opposite {
well-known hotel, to watch somt
painters who were at work on {
swinging-ladder under the caves
aud my eyes chanced to light on q
man who sat by third-story win
dow, apparently engaged in pack
ing II valise. The window was open
and as he lifted some article from
the ledge to store it away, piece
Of newspaper on which it had been
lying was carried out over the street
by a draught Of air, and came tlut-
uerng d0wnnito rne gutter, near
my feet.
l might not have noticed this tri-
fling circumstance, but for the man.
ner in which the paper had been
tOrn--that is, not in staight line,
but almost in the form of the letter
V, as though it had been done hur-
riedly. This, L remembered, cores
ponded with the piece l had picked
up in the murdered mans house,
and snatched it up and went into
an adjacent alley to compare them.
What a leap my heart gave, when
l discovered that the two halves of
the paper fitted together exactly.
There was no doubt of it.
"On his track" l muttered.-
"Aha, old fellow, you don't get off
with that valise so easily"
And being familiar with the in
terror of the hotel, l crossed the
street, went in, and was soon at the
door, Of Room Twenty -one, from
whose window the paper had blown.
l raped gently npon the door, so
as not to startle him too much.
"Come in," said voice within.
l opened the door and recognized,
still seated Oh a chair by the win
dow, the man whom I had seen
packing the valise, task he had
Just completed. He was a muscu-
lar man of forty years, with a clean
shaven face that wore an expression
of craftiness. He seemed some
what confused when 1 entered, and
he said
"Ah, l thought it was the porter
Haven't you made Il mistake 7
Without replying l deliberately
locked the door and put the key in
my pocket, while he stared amazed
ly.
III see you are getting ready to
leave," l remarked sarcastically.
eyes, but--but-"
"Supp0se you stay in New York |
little longer" interrupted.
"Why, sir, what do you mean ?"
he exclaimed, rising from his chair.
"Oh, nothing Of any great conse
4uence," replied cody. "Perhaps
you wouldn't object to my taking a
ook into that valise, ehW
"Perhaps you'll do me the kind,
ness to get out of my room," he re.
5orted.
He had taken the valise from the
1oor, and Iquickly snatchcd it from
him. l had scarcely done so when
he dealt me a blow near the tenn
ole with his fist, sending me reeling
across the room, where 1 brought
up against the door. He then
up the valise which had
fallen from my hand, threw it on
;he bed, and angrily exclaimed:
"Look here, sir, are you drunk or
'razy? Now hand me that key,
md get out of my room, or l will
hrow you out of the window !"
"Not so fast" said l drawing my
'evolver. 81 am an officer, and am
lere to arrest you for the murder
,ou committed last night
He started a moment, then a
,hange came over his countenance,
md he sat down again and fairly
cared with laughter.
"Come, you can't play that" said
). "This is no laughing NATTER
Where are the money and silver
ware you took from Bradley's
lousei"
care you really an officer ?" he
sked, growing serious again.
"Certainly I am. Perhaps You
'ever saw this bit of paper, sir"
aid l, displaying the piece that
ad blown from the window.
"My friend" he replied, ~ admire
he earncstness with which you go {
bout your duties as detective, but
on have by some means or other
ot on the wrong scent. am very {
orry struck you in moment of
niger, and hope you will pardon +,
10 an Charles M a Boston l