Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-08-29

the hotel | crossed the street. went in, and
was soon at the door of Room Twenty y-one,
from whose window the paper had blown.
startIe him too much.
Come in, = said voice within
| opened the door and recognized, still
seated on a chair by the window, the man
he had just completed. He was muscular
man of forty years, with cican-shayen
face that wore an expression Of crattincss.
He seemed somewhat confused wien | en-
tered. and he said
"Ah, | thought it was the porter,
Haven you made a mistakc?'
Without replying deliberately locked the
door and put the key in my pocket, while
he stared amazCdly.
II see you are getting ready to leave
remarked, sarcaStically.
"Ycs, but--but-'
"Sappose You stay in New York little
longer interrupted.
"Why, sir, what do you mcan?" he ex-
claimed, rising from his chair
''Oh, nothing of ANY great consequence"
| replied coolly. "pcrhaps you wouldn't
object to my taking look into that yalisc,
eli ?"
''PcrhapS you'll do me the kindness to
get out of my room, he rctortcd.
lie had taken the valiSe from the floor, and
| quickly snatched it from him. | had
scarcely done 50 when he dealt me blow
near the temple with his fist. sending me
rcc!ing across the room. where | brought up
against the door. lie then snatched up the
valise which had fallen from my hand, threw
it on the bed, and anerily exclaimed:
''Look here, sir, are you drunk or crazy :?
Now hand me tnat key, and get out of my
room, or | will throw you out of the win
dow"
'Not so fast, said drawing my revolver.
81 am an officer, and am here to arrest YOU
Tor the murder you committed last night"
lie stared moment, then a change came
over his countenance, and he sat down again
and fairly roared with laughter.
Come, you can't play that said |.
"This is no laughing matter Where are
the money and silycr-warc yon took from
Bradley's housc?'
Are you really an oniccr?" he asked,
growing serious again.
"Certairly | am. Perhaps You never saw
this bit of paper, sir, said |, displaying the
piece that had blown from his window.
My fricnd," he replied, IL admire the
earncS,ncsS with which you 90 about your
duties as detective, but you have by some
means or other rot ON the wrong scent
am very sorry struck you in moment Of
anger, and hope You will pardon me. am
Charles Nj, Il Boston detective. of whom
you have probably heard. arrived aboat
daylight this morning, and have since been
taking good sleep, before attending to a
little business in Brooklyn. | registered as
j. Brown for reason You will readily COM
prchcnd. Here is nay card, and here are
some sli Ght evidences Of my yocation."
Here he took two pairs Of handouts from
his pocket, and .jiugrl them before my as
toni~!cd gaze. by the way, if that is the
piece of newspaper that fell from my win
dow, and you think it has amy connection
with the affair you speak of, it viii probably
afford you an important clue. found it
here, where it wa probably left by former
lodgcr, and | think there is Il name on the
margin
examined the margin over the tide of
the paper, and to my aStoniShnent found
written in pencil the name and residence OF
Henry Collins. 1t WAS Il weekly paper which
| observed was published in little city he
had formerly lived in, and its date was 50
recent that he mutt have received it on the
very day preceding the murder. | immc-
diatcy took leave of Mr. Nj, saying
that thought knew where the paper had
come from, and begging his pardon for hay
ing treated him so rudcly. and FASTENED
down to the Office Of the hotel, where | cx-
amincd the reg iStcr, finding the name of j.
Brown (hc dctcctiye), with Room Twenty
one assigned. | knew the clerk, and in
quired:
"When did Nh. Brown take Room Twen-
ty-one?'
Fairly this morning when | was not on
duty"
"Did any one occupy the room during the
night?'
">No--or, ycs-let me scc,' he replied,
looking over the preceding page Of the reg
iSter--"hcre is the name of Harvey Elton.
| remember now. lie was without baggage
and paid for the room in advance, saying he
wanted to be called at three O'Clock. The
porter went up at that hour, but the door
was open and the bed had not been slept in.
The other clerk mentioned to me that he
gave the same room, this morning, to Mr..
Brown, because he wanted Il front ROOM
"Do you remember the appearance of
Elton?'
"Yes-rather small man, with full black
beard"
Henry Collins was a small man, but wore
no beard. OF course my suspicious were
fixed on him as soon as | discovered his
name on the margin of the newspaper, yet |
never dreamed that he was capable of COM
mitting crime.
My mind now underwent a series of rapid
changes. Ono moment regarded it as al
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