Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-11-08
ON HIS TRACK.

NOR night, lew minutes past H.
was pacing my beat in Il quiet part OF
C--strcct, when man called from a
sccond-story window;
II say. sir, are you n policeman"
"ics,' | said. What's the mat
terPn
81 heard heavy jar in Mr.. Brad
lcy's house, next door, and he may
have fallen and hurt himself lie Just
came in few minutes ago. II wero
you I'd ring the bell"
My. Bradley was wealthy old bach.
elor who had lived entirely alone for
years in an old-fashioned brick house.
His riches were "A subject for frequent
gossip, and it was said that in his
house. to which no outsider was ever
admitted, he kept q lot Of silverware
and money. rang the bell, but there
was no response.
Are you sure you saw him 60 IMP"
Iaskcd
eyes, sure OF it. He hadn't been In
half a minute before heard heavy
fall ! have heard nothing since"
There must bc something wrong"
i said, after ringing tho bell Soc
ond time and receiving no response.
tried the door, but it was locked.
"lf were you ! would force the
door, suggested tho man at tho win.
dow.
II don't like TO do that Is there any
other cntranccp'
"ics, that alley Just beyond the
steps leads 10 a back yard. but tho gate
is probably locked, as well rs the rear
door"
81 will 90 and sce." said Il and
walking up tho narrow alley | discov-
cred by the dim light of the street-lamp
nearly opposite, that the cato was wide
open. looked in, and perceived that
the rear door was also open. aud faint
light shonc out All was perfectly
quiet. returned to tho street and said
to the man:
The gate and back door are open.
Come down and we'll 20 in"
In half minute he Joined me on tho
sidewalk, when recognized him rs an
acquaintance named Henry Collins.
"Ah. is that youp | didn't know you
lived here" said.
Yes, and | didn't recognize you
when | first addressed you"
"WcIl, there may have been foul
work here" said |; $50 we'll 20 in"
We went into the yard and entered
the house. The rear room had evil
IDENTITY been used for kitchen; and
guided 10y a dim light We passed into
II narrow hall with a stairway. Near
the street door WAS an old table, on
which was lighted candle. that had
burned to within an inch Of the can
dleStick. At the foot of the stairs Ia,
Mr.. Bradley, quite dead. and "A fright
full wound upon his head convinced Inc
that he had been murdered.
At my request Mr.. Collins hurried
away to the police station to notify the
captain, while ! made an examination
of the premises. A number of drawers
in the sccond-story back room had been
broken open and ransacHed, and on
the floor lay half Of fresh looking
newspaper. Knowing that tho old
bachelor was not in the habit OF spend
ing money for newspapers, it struck
me that the robber might have had 1t
in his pocket, and probably used the
other half to wrap up some Of his
plumber, leaving behind him, in his
hurry, what might prove most valu-
able cIew. therefore folded up the
fragment and put it in my pocket. 4
accompanied by several officers and
surgeon.
10 make this part of the story brief,
will state that the usual formalitics
followed, the body being handed over
TO the Coroner, and the case was put
in the hands OF detectives. | at first
intended to give up tho bit Of ncwspa-
per had picked up. but l had some
ambition TO be Il detective myself, and
concluded to keep it, at least II day or
Two, 10 see if | could find clcw from
ii. 1t was lucky did.
On the folio" ing afternoon, while oil
duty, and walking around in ordinary
dress, paused opposite well-known
hotel to watch some painters who were
ut work On II scailold under the caves.
and my eyes happened to light on II
man who sat by Il thirdstory window,
apparently packing valisc. The win
dow was open. aud, as he lifted some
article to store it away, apiece Of news
paper on which it had lain came tlut-
tcrng down into the gutter near my
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 hurry. This cor
responded with the piece I'd found in
the murdered mans house, and |
snatchcd it up and ran into an alley to
compare them. What a leap my heart
gave when | discovered that the two
parts Of the paper lifted cxactly-thcre
was no doubt Of it.
''On his track" | muttcred. "Ilc
must not get oil with that valisc."
Being familiar with the hotel, |
crossed the street, went in, and was
soon rapping on the door Of room
twcnty-onc, from whose window the
paper had just blown.
Come in, said Il voice.
opened the door and recognized.
still seated by the window, tho man l
had seen packing the valise, u task he
had completed. He was muscular
man of forty, with II clean-shaven face
that wore an expression of craftincss.
lie seemed confused when | entered.
and said:
IAN, ! thought it was the porter.
Haven't YOU made mistaken"
Without replying deliberately
locked the door aud put the key in my
pocket, while he stared amazedly.
II SEQ you are getting ready to
leave" remarked sarcastically.
Yes"
Suppose you stay in New York
little longer | said.
"Wny, what do you mean3" he ex-
claimed, rising from his char.
"Oh, nothing Of consequence" | re-
piled, cooly.
"pcrhaps you wouldn't object to my