Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-10-22

feet
might not have noticed this trifling
circumstance but for the manner in
which the paper had been torn--that is,
not in straight line. but almost in the
form of the letter V, as though it had
been done in a hurry. This correspond
ed with the piece I'd found il the MUIR
dered mans house, and l snatched it
up and ran into an alley to compare
them. What leap my heart gave
when discovered that the two parts of
the paper fitted exactly-there was no
doubt of it.
''On his track" l muttered. HE
must not get off with that valise."
Being familiar with the hotel. l
crossed the street, went in, and was
soon rapping on the door of room
twenty-one, from whose window the
paper had just blown.
Come in." said voice.
l opened the door and recognized.
still seated by the window, the man |
had seen packing the valise, a task he
had completed. He was a muscular
man of forty, with clean-shaven face
that wore an expression of crattiness.
He seemed confused when entered,
and said:
''Ah, l thought it was the porter.
Haven't you made mistaken"
Without replying | deliberately locked
the door and put the key in my pocket,
while he stared amazedly.
Il see you are getting ready to
leave" l remarked sarcast;cally.
Eyes"
Suppose you stay in New York a
little longer" said.
"Why, what do you mean?" he ex-
claimed. rising from his chair.
"Oh, nothing of consequence" l re-
piled. coolly.
perhaps you wouldn't object to my
taking look into that valise, eh?''
"Perhaps you will do me the kind
ness to get out of my roon," he re-
torted.
He had taken the valise from the
floor and quickly snatched it from
him. l had hardly done so when he
dealt me blow near the temple. send
ing ME reelng across the room. where
| brought up against the door. He
then threw the valise on the bed and
angrily exclaimed:
LOOK here, Sir, are you drunk or
crazy? Now hand me that key and get
out of my room, or I'll throw you out
of the window"
"Not so fast" said l, drawing my
revolver. Il am an officer, and here
to arrest you for the murder you COM
mitted last night"
He stared a moment, then a change
came over his countenance, and he sat
down and fairly roared with laughter.
Come, you can't play that" said /.
''This is no laughing matter Where
are the money and silverware you took
from Bradley's house?'
"Are you really an otlicer??" he
asked, growing serious again.
Certainly l am. Perhaps you never
saw this bit of paper. sir, said l, dis
playing the piece that had blown from
the window.
"My friend" he replied, Il admire
the earnestness with which you 90
about your business as detective, bit
you have got on the wrong track. |
am sorry l struck you in a moment of
anger. and | hope you will pardon me.
am Charley Nj, Boston de-
tective, of whom you have probably
heard. ! arrived at daylight this morn
ing, and have been taking 4 good sleep
before attending to some business in
Brooklyn. re gistered as j. Brown,
for a reason you will readily compre-
bend. Here is my card, and here are
some slight evidences of my occupa-
tom Here he took two pairs of hand
cuffs out of his pocket and jingled them
before my astonished gaze. by the
way, if that is the piece of newspaper
that fell from my window, and you
think it has any connection with the
affair you speak of, it will probably af-
ford you an important c!ew. l found
it here. where it was probably left by a
former lodger think you will find a
name on the margin"
l examined the margin over the
title of the paper, and to my astonish-
ment found written in pencil the name
and residence of Henry Collins. 1t was
Il weekly paper, which observed was
published in a city he had formerly
lived in. and its date was SO recent that
he must have received it on the day
preceding the murder. Immediately
took leave of Mr. M, saying l
thought l knew where the paper had
come from, and, begging his pardon for
| having been so rude to him, fastened
down to the Office of the hotel, where 1
examined the register, finding the name
of j. Brown, with room 81 assigned.
l knew the clerk, and inquired:
when did Mr.. Brown take room
21?'
early this morning, when l was not
on duty"
did any one occupy the room dur
ing the evening""
'.No-yes-let me see," he replied,
glancing over the register-''here is the
name Of Harvey Elton. l remember
now. He 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 told Ine
he gave the same room to Mr.. Brown
! because he wanted front room"
do you remember the appearance
w