Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-12

1
 I'm very sorry" answered Gorby, meekly ''lll knock next time"
 "Oh, no you won't,n said the landlady, l tossing her head "me not 'avin' knocker. an your and a-scratchin' the paint off the door, which it ain't been done over six months by my sister-in-law's cousin, which e is a painter, with shop in Fitzroy, an won derful heye to color.n 'Does MT. Fitzgerald live hereg" asked Mir Gorby quietly.
 ''He do," replied Mrs Sampson, ssbut ,e's gone out, an won't be back till tho arter- noon, which any messidge 'ull be delivered to i'm punctual on is arrival 'sl'm glad he's not in," said MT. Gorby "Would you allow me to have a few mo- ments' conversation?"
 ''What is it?" asked the cricket, her curi- osity being reused.
 "rll tell you when we get inside,n an- swered MT. Gorby.
 The cricket looked at him with her sharp little eyes, and seeing nothing disreputable in hlm, led the way upstairs, cracking loudly the whole time. This so astonished Mr. Gorby that he cast about in his own mind for an explanation of the phenomena
 ''Wants oiling about the ioints," was his conclusion, "but never heard anything like it, and she looks as if she'd snap in two, she's that brittle"
 Mrs. Sampson took Gorby into Brians sit ting, and, having closed the door, sat down and prepared to hear what he had to say for himself
 II 'ope it ain't bills," she said 'tMr. Fitz- gerald 'avin' money in the hank, and every- thin respectable like gentleman as e is, tho, to be sure your bill might come down on him unbeknown, e not 'avin' kept it in mind, which it ain't everybody as ave sich good memory as my aunt on my mothers side, she 'avin' bin famous for Ger dates like istory, not to speak of CT multiplication tables and the numbers of peoples 'ouses.n
 "I am an insurance agent" he said rapidly, so as to prevent any interruption by the cricket; ''and MT. Fitzgerald wants to insure his life in our company. Before doing so 1 want to find out if he is good life to insure: does he live temperately? keep early hoursg and, in fact, all about him."
 II shall be 'appy to answer any inquiries which may be of use to you, sir" replied Mrs. Sampson; ':knowin' as do low good a insurance is to family should the lead of it be taken off unexpected, leavin' a widder, which, as l know, Mir. Fitzgerald is a goin' to be married soon, an 'opes 'e'll be appy, tho thro' it loses 8 lodgeF as las allays paid regler, an he'aved like gentleman"
 "Does he keep good hoursp' said MT. Gorby.
 "Allays in afore the clock strikes twelve,n answered the landlady; 'tho' to be sure, uses it as fgger of speech, none of the clocks in the 'ouse strikin' but one, which is bein' mnsntisd, 'avin' broke through over Windin."
 "Is he always in before 12g" asked MT, Gorby, keenly disappointed at this answer.
 Mrs Sampson eyed him waggishly, and a smile crept over her wrinkled little face
 "Young men, not bein' old men" she re- piled, cautiously, land sinners not bein' saints, it's not natural as latch keys should be made for ornament instead of use, and Mr. Fitzgerald bein' one of the 'andsomest men in Melbourne, it ain't to be expected as @ should let $ latch key git rusty, tho, 'avin' good moral character, e uses it with moder- Rtion.M
 "But suppose you are generally asleep when he comes in latea" said the detective; "so you can't tell what hour he comes homeg'
 "Not as rule" assented Mira Sampson; ehein' 'eavy sleeper, and much disposed for bed, but lave 'eard i'm come in arter 12, the last time bein' Thursday week"
 "Ahp MT. Gorby drew long breath, for Thursday week was the night when the mur- der was committed.
 ,"Bein' troubled with my 'ead," said Mrs Sampson, ''thro' 'avin' been out in the sun all day a-washin, ! did not feel so partial to my bed that night as in general, so went down to the kitchen with the intent of get