The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1874-09-17


tho fragment, and put il in my pock-
ct. A moment after Mr.. Collins re
turned, accompanied l by several off
GERS and'a surgeon.
To make this part OF the story
brief, 1 will state that the usual form
alities followed, the body being hands
ed over to the coroner. and the case
was placed in the hands of the de
tectives. ] ut first intended to give
them the bit of newspaper I had
picked up, but had some ambition
to he detective myself, and con-
cluded to keep it, at least day or
two, TO see if could find clue from
it II was lucky did
On the following afternoon. whilo
off duty, and walking around in or.
binary dress, l paused opposite a
well-known hotel, to watch some
painters who were at work on n man
swinging, ladder under the caves,
and my eyes chanced to alight on a
who sat by n third.story window,
apparently engaged in packing Va
lise The window was open. and as
he lifted some article from the lc lge
to store it way. piece of newspa
per on which it had been lying was
carried out over the street by a
draught of air, and came futtering
down into the gutter near my feet.
might not have noticed this tri.
fling circumstance. but for the man
ner in which the paper had been torn
that is, not in straight line. but
almost in the form of the letter V. rs
though it had been dono hurricdly.
This, remembered, correspondcd
with the piece ] had picked up in the
murdered man house, and Snatch
ed it up and went to an adjacent nj.
Icy to compare them. What leap
my heart gave. when ] discovered
that the two halves of the paper fit
ted together exactly. There was no
doubt OF it.
"On his track" | muttered. "Aha,
old fellow, you don't get of with
that valise 30 easily.
And being familiar with tho intcri.
or Of the hotel, | crossed the street,
went in, and was soon at the door of
room Twenty one, from whose win
d, W the plper had blown. raped
gently upon the door, 40 "a not to
startle him too much.
Come in, said voice within.
opened the door and recognized.
still seated on n chair by the window
the man whom | hal seen packing
the valisc, n task he had just com
pleted. He was muscular man of
forty years, with clean shaven face
that wore IN expression of craftincss.
He seemed somewhat confused when
| entered, and he said:
"Ah, | thought it was the porter {!
Haven't you made mistake p
Without replying | deliberately
locked the door and put the key in
my pocket, while he stared amazed
.ly,
IL see you are getting ready t.
leave, Il remarked, sarcastically.
"Yes, but-but-'
suppose you stay in New York q
little longer | interrupted.
"Why, sir, what do you mean ?
he exclaimed rising from his chair
"Oh, nothing of great conse
quence,' replied coolly. Per
haps you wouldn't object to my TAX
ing look into that valise, eh =
Perhaps you'll do me tho kind
ness to get out of my ROOM" he re-
torted.
lie had taken the valise from the
floor, and / quickly snatched it from
him. | had scarcely done so when
he dealt me n blow near the temple
with his fist, sending me reelinG
across the room where brought up
against the door. He then snatched
up the valise which had fallen from
my hand, threw it on the bed, and
angrily exclaimed:
Look here, sir, are you drunk OF
crazy! Now hand me that key, and
get out of my room, or | will throw
you out of the window a"
Not 30 fast, said / drawing my
revolver. II am an officer, and am
here to arrestyou for the murder you
committed last night
lie stared a moment, then n change
camo over his countenance. and h'
sat down again and fairly roared will
, laughter.
"Come, you can't play that said l
"This is no laughing matter Where
are the money aud silvor-ware yor
took from Bradley's house :
"Are you really an officer! ? ht
, asked, growing serious again.
"Certainly l am. Perhaps yor
never saw this bit ofpaper, sir" sait
I, displaying the piece that hao
blown from his window
"My friend" he replied, 81 admire
the earnestness with which you &c
: about your duties as detective, bu
Won have by some means or other go
! on the wrong scent. ] am very sor
. ry I struck you in moment OF an
, ger, and hope you will pardon me.
) am Charles Ma Boston detec
tive, Of whom You have probably
heard. / arrived about daylight thii
) morning, and have since been taking
a good sleep, before attending to
, little business in Brooklyn. l regis
tered IA j. Brown for reason yo,
q will readily comprehend. Here is m.
! card, and here are some slight eu
dapcoo of NV vocation -"