Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-07
The Man With a Thumb.
BY w. c. HUDSON.
(Barclav Nnrihl


 he askedg
 "I have told you. After the alarm was raised all who were in the saloon be- low ran up to this door except myself. asked the proprietor if there was not rear entrance, and being told there was came up that way and made an easy en- trance"
 "Yaw, das iss so," remarked the pro prietor of the saloon from the door. "Dey vos all gone owit an he ask me- say go cop de back stairs. "He was drinking in your saloon then"
 "Yaw. He drink ein glass of wineand smoke ein cigar and talk init old MT Nettleman all de night"
 "The gentleman sat with the rest. of us, captain" said another voice from the hall. "When the man cried out that blood was dropping on his cards, the gentleman jumped on the table to see where it was coming from" q see," said the captain in an altered tone, and turning to Dorison said, "It was imprudent of you to attempt an en- trance before the officers were called"
 "Perhaps," returned Dorison with a | sober smile. "In such emergencies, however, men are rarely prudent The prudent thing for me to do was to walk | away entirely. As it is, l presume l | have made witness of myself for the coroner's inquest"
 This was so true that the detective smiled and regarded him with more favor.
 "What is your name?" he asked. Dorison hesitated. He had registered himself at neighboring hotel under the name he had borne since he left New York eight years before-James Dudley. | He knew the next question would be his address, and if he were to give his proper name an examination of the register | would discover the discrepancy, with a | resulting suspicion. If, on the contrary, he were to give his assumed name, he would, if application were made to MT. Nettleman, since he had not given his assumed name to that gentleman, be at a disadvantage in that quarter, He per ceived his dilemma without seeing his proper course.
 His hesitancy aroused the suspicion of the detective. With increased sternness | the demand was repeated. Under the belief that less trouble would result from using his registered name, he replied:
 "James Dudley. 1 come from Du- buque, Iowa. I am registered at the Grand Central. l arrived in town at seven this morning have not been in New York fer eight years before." "Why did you hesitate i'll answering?" l Because I vainly thought by conceal ment of my name I might escape the annoyance of being a witness, but a moments reflection showed me the ab surdity of the idea"
 This was promptly said, but frank and ingenious as the reply seemed to those who heard it, the detective, looking into Dorison's eyes, saw something there which did not satisfy him.
 Do you know this MT. Nettleman?"
 "I have known about him all my life since boyhood."
 "Does he know your
 "Yes."
 At this moment two men in citizens clothes, who were admitted by the uni formed officers, entered and took up their stations respectfully behind the de- tective.
 "What did you see when you entered? asked the detective after long and keen examination of Dorison's face.
 That" replied the young man, point ing to the body on the floor. 'I had but just entered when you came"
 The detective did not permit his eye: to follow the pointed finger of Dorison but still continued his stern and search ing examination, while Dorison fully ap preciated that he had become an objec of suspicion.
 There was a slight diversion at thu door. A man of average height, inclined to be stout, perhaps sixty. with shaver face, whose only striking feature was { pair of eyes. small, dark, keen, activ, and restless, who had been standing without the door, pushed his way in The officers guarding the door made motion as if to stop him, but upon an al most imperceptible nod from the cap tain permitted him to enter. The newcomer crossed to the tabl covered with blue felt, his hands in hi vest pockets, and leaning against the ent furthest from the body sent his eyes int every part of the room with rapid darts finally fixing them on Dorison, withou abandoning the motionless attitude h had assumed on entering.
 The detective began a systematic in spection of the body, the room, tn = entrances thereto. He took the name of all present and those in the saloo when the drop of blood was discovered He closely questioned the proprietor | The only fact he elicited was that tw o weeks previously the rooms had bee rented by a woman, who announced tha she would conduct a costumer's bushes, and that the saloon proprietor had neve seen but one person he knew to be COT = nected with the business, and that an ol woman, and she but once. Brought i to examine the body, he declared he ha }, never seen the woman in life, and di not know who she was or where sh came from.
 The detective turned to Dorison agair ) "When you ascended those back stai1
 was the door at the top open or shutY'
 Shut"
 Did you try the door leading frol