Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-07-24
t3 TOMS0N'S COURT.
An English Detective Story.

! shall never forget the 18Th of De-
cember, 1879. The streets of the great
city of Manchester had grown depress-
inglv deSolate, and a dense black fog
prevailed over AL the town.
Bcnufnbcd with cold, | found to my
great JOY "A cheerful fire blazing in my
room. which. thanks to my comrade,
who had retired for the night, was con
sideratelv prepared for me. | took off
great coat and muller, drew IA chair
close to the fender, and began thinking
over the incidents of a cast | had that
afternoon brought to a successful issue,
when, with suddcnness of night-bird's
startled scream, | heard IL piteous and
prolonged shrek issuing from beneath
he unshuttcred window.
lsprang TO my feet, and gazing in
he direction Of the sound, saw a wild.
white face, with long, dishcvclled hair
hanging over IN ill-clad form, gcsticu-
ating in a b%esceching name close to
he fire-lit panes.
This is very strange ! involuntar-
y exclaimed, land puzzles me not II
title. What can it mean?'
Then striding toward the door. |
ung it wide open; but there was moth
ne before me-only the black, chok-
ne fog and the dead silence of the
trect. Pushing back the door. /
urncd to center the room. when my
eyes caught sight of a piece of white
paper that lay upon the wide sill Of the
window. This is what ii said:
II YOU would stop more crime, perhaps muir
der, come at once To No. IL Tonson's Court.
Am followed. Heaven save me aud my child,
What shall | dos Rescue us and God bless
oil. LIZZIE THnnXtEY.
BE careful. Conceal Yourself. Watch. Top
ON al back.
Thornlcy-Thornley. The name APP
cured familiar to me
| put out the Office lights, for the
bell of St. Peters had Just rtng on. the
hour Of l.. had dccidided whatever
might be the consequences to my I'M
known visitor. to 20 home and sleep
over the matter and then report the cir
cumstances to the Inspector. SO as to
receive his sanction to the step before
putting my plans into execution.
Late in the forenoon of the same day
| returned 70 the Office and duly report
ed my experience of the previous night.
This looks like a serious job for
you, Lomax,' said Inspector Jones. as
soon as | had finished my report. just
turn to the album there and look at :
and Il for Il portrait Of Springer or
'Saxley,' or 'Thorndykc.' He has done
seven years, but has not accounted for
himself for II long time past. Is that
it? All, good. Take it with you, and
if you get n chance of comparing it
with the original and YOU find they
agree. nab him. that's all. Would you
like Schoiicld with you?"
NO" ! answered.
well, in any case be quite prepared
to face rough work, for if vour mar
should tnrn ont 10 be the IN ! SUSPECT.
look sharp. | advise you
After these and other timely hints |
retired 10 the wardrobe adjoining Jones
room. ! went in a clean-shavcn, good
looking man of twcnty-seven, and n
half an hour afterward came ont again
in the character of u middlc-agcd wo-
man. drcsso 9 in a rather seedy suit OF
black.
| must not forget to mention,
though, that took with me y small
wallet OF pins. needles and tape. aadcr
the prctcxt OF having these for sale.
My get-up was perfect. | looked TO
all the world like one who had seen
better days, but was reduced now t 0 a
state of gentecl poverty.
1t was close upon 9 o'clock in the
afternoon when | sailed out Of Albert
street, and u drilling rain was making
matters most uncheerful. | had no
difiicults in finding Tomson's court.
Proceeding along the dark and narrow
yard. | passed into No. ID unseen by
any one. The room was situated at
the end of Il long. dark and winding
lobby. and tho stencil that met me was
almost overpoworing. ] paused Il
moment listening, but not a sound did
| hear. Then | Knocked at the doof,
very feebiy at first, then louder and
louder. and yet there came no response
TO me.
Surely | am the victim of a hoax!'
! thought to myself. .'The room is
evidently tenantless."
STOPPING down, ] pecred through
the keyhole. and by the very dim light
that shone within saw what | thought
was a chair upset. | Knocked again.
so rs TO be certain there was no one i'm
the room. and still received no nswcr
My curiosity was now aroused. ] took
from my pocket a small bunch of skel-
cton kcys-f never went without them
and noiselessly opened the door. As
oon as | entered ! stood aghast at the
sight that met my eyes. In one cor
ncr of the room. stretched upon = heap
of straw, | saw the form of a woman.
half naked and motionlcss, with her