Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-08

'tOn his track" I muttered. "He
must not get off with that valise."
Being familiar with the hotel, [
crossed the street, went ia, and was
sooR rapping on the door of room 81,
from whose window the paper had
just blown.
Come H." said voice
I opened the door and recognized,
still seated by the window, the man [
mad seen packing the valise, a task he
bad completed. He was a muscular
man of forty, with q clean-shaven face
that wore an expression of craftiness
He seemed confused when I entered,
and said:
"Ah. I thought it was the porter.
Haven't you made a mistaken"
Without replying | deliberately
locked the door and put the key IN
my pocket, while he stared amazed
~.
IT see you are getting ready TO
leave" | remarked sarcastically.
Yes"
Suppose you stay in New York a
little longer" I said.
"Why, what do you mean2" ne ex-
claimed, rising froRn his chair
"Oh, nothing in consequence" re-
piled coolly.
perhaps you wouldn't Object to
my taking 3 look into that valise,
eh2''
perhaps you will do me the kind
ness to get out of my room," he re
torted.
He had taken the valise from the
floor and I quickly snatched it from
him. | had hardly done SO when he
dealGh me a blow near the temple,
sending me reeling across the room,
where [ brought up against the door.
He then threw the valice on the bed
and angrily exclaimed:
''Look here, sir. are you drunk Or
crazy? Now hand nae that key and
get out of nay room, or I'll throw you
out of the window"
mot SO fast" said I. drawing my
revolver. Il am al officer, and here
to arrest you for the murder you com
mitted last night"
He stared moment. then a change
came over his countenance, and he
sat down and fairly roared with laugh
ter.
Come, you can't play that" said I.
"This is no laughing matter. Where
are the money and sllverware you
took from Bradley's house,"
"Are you really an officer?" he ask
ed, growing serious again.
Certainly [ am. Perhaps you
never saw this bit of paper, SIR" said
|, displaying the piece that FAD blown
from the window.
''My friend" he replied, II admire
the earnestness with which you go
about your business as detective, but
you have got on the wrong track [
am sorry I struck you in a moment of
anger, and hope you pardon me. |
am Charley M, a Boston detective,
of whom you have probably heard. |
arrived at daylight this morning, and
have been taking a good sleep before
attending TO some business in Brook
Ign. [ registered as J. Brown, for a
reason you will readily comprehend.
Here is my card, and here are some
slight evidences of my occupation. :"
Here he took two pairs of handouts
out of his pocket and jingled them be
fore my ast0nished 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
afford you an important clue. found
it here, W here it was probably left by
a former ledger. I think you will find
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 a weekly paper. which observ-
ed was published IN a city which he
had formly lived in, and its date was
SO recent that he must have recei ged
it on the day preceding the murder.
| Immediately took leave of Mr.. M,
saying I thought I knew where the
paper had come from, and, begging
his pardon for having been so rude to
him, I fastened down to the Office of
the hotel, where examined the regis
ter, finding the name of J. Brown,
with room 81 assigned. [ knew the
clerk. and inquired
"When did Mr.. Brown take room
twenty-one?'
early this morning when I was not
on duty"
did any one occupy the room dur
ing TIE evenings"
''No-yes-let me see," ne replied,
glancing over the register-''he is
the name of Harvey Elton. I remem-
Der now. He was without baggage
and paid for the room Ia 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 me he gave the same room
to Mr.. Brown because he wanted
front room."
DO you remember the appearance
of Elton?"
"Yes-rather small man, with q
very full black beard"
Henry Collins was a small man,
but had no beard. Of course, my sus-
picions were fixed on him as soon as
l discovered his name on the margin
of the newspaper, yet never dreams
ed that he was capable of committing