Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-07-18

| unfinished business lnere anu so d
ood excuse for going.
Arrived there, l made inquiries
concerning the murder. A reward
had been offered for the murderer,
but as yet he had not been captur-
ed.
My room was in the second story
of the little hotel. 1t was a hot
night in July, and although fatigu-
ed by my journey | could not sleep.
1t was perhaps near II o'clock,
when the stiffness of death seemed
to reign in the house. that | arose
and resolved to seek the balcony
for a breath of fresh air.
AS | walked out | saw a man in
his shirt sleeves, bare headed, sit
ting at the far end, with his tcet
on the railing.
He gave an involuntary start at
my approach.
"Ahw he said, with something
like a sigh, "out for a breath Of
fresh air, eh 1t was so plagued
hot in the house I thought I'd try
it out here myself"
l do not know that the mans
manner would have impressed me
if / had not seen Him in his shirt
sleeves, but putting this and that
together-the way he,started at my
apprOach-his nervous. j erky man
ner of speaking, and theA-his be
ing in his shirt sleeveS--but pshaw
l wore no coat myself. Who could
on such a burning July night.
/ do not know whether tate or
Providence led me to this man, bat
do know that a half hours con-
versation with him made me supect
that he knew something about the
murder of that poor woman whose
body had seen on that memOra-
BILE morning by the roadside
naturally led the conversation
to the murder. lie did not seem
inclined to talk of 1t and 500 Il
changed the subject.
But brought him back to # 10y
easy stages until at last, with a
gesture of impatience, | e SAID 81
don't care to talk about it; the
authorities are at work on the case
and l guess they'll ferret ont the
murderer in time"
The best detectives sometimes
blnnder in their work. I was an
amateur IN the business hence my
great confidence in my theories.
GA tail man," the woman had
said. Here was tall man. \ TUT
of coarse black hair clutched in
the dead woman's palm. Ny friend
in his shirt sleeves had just such
hair. These were the mental notes
I made while was talking with
him there on the balcony.
care you a stranger here -
asked.
"Not exactly" he replied. GIVE
been IN business here little more
than thee months. Pm a surveyor,
We parted for the night and be-
fore returned deci ded to dismi:
my foolish impression of the man
and turn my attention to Other
matters.
But [ could not quite rid my
mind OF the idea that in some wa!
or another he was connected will
that murder.
In the morning after breakfast
he walked across the street to th
pOstoffice in his shirt sleeves an,
got his mail.
saw him a dozen times tha
! day always in his SHIRT sleeves
ALI that week, whenever | met th
man, he was coatIess. 1t seemed t
be his habit to go that way.
T l was strangely attracted to hiI
= and the mole l thought of him ii
: more felt convinced that he kne
Il something about the murder.
K He said he was a surveyor. Pc
haps that was the reason he toe
e long walks every afternoon ? ha
It seen him in the park dozen tim'
g but he seldom wore his coat.
n l sought the cOlored woman wi
b had testified OF the inquest. If 81
# saw that man in the park aga
would she be able to recognize hil
l. She thought she would If s.
IL could see him standing in the san
y position.
II 1 slipped five dollar bill in h
's hand, enjoined her 10 secrecy, al
obtained her promise to be in t
l. park every evening after that l
I'll she met the man.
. The next day at twilight ] 81
:, a man standing in the park will
Goa qn his arm. In his hand
held a heavy cane, and appear
=" to be contemplating some object
ne the distance.
.r Whila no uvoa i'm fhia OOSitiOn