Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-05

daily papers, and notwithstanding the fact that the coroner stamps them all as suicides I begin to doubt his judgment. The evening papers an- nounce that another person has been Found Drowned
 Suicides. eh? Oh. yes, they're plenty; or, if not all suicides, perhaps something else," answered.
 ''Too true," he returned; "but would it not be well to trace the mystery of these floating bodies. so as to know the truth, rather than to allow pig headed coroner to class them all as self slain? 1 also notice that many of the victims are branded unknown indi- eating them to be strangers in the city strangers who come here to drowa themselves, eh?" and he laughed. "No, Heron. The fact probably is that one-half of these unknown dead are thrown into the river, even if the other half do jump in.''
 ''T think you are right" replied.
 The result of that interview was that received a special commission to ferret out, if possible, the source of sources whence came these unknown dead The task set before me was 8 difficult one.
 Two days later the papers announced another mysterious death. The article was headed:
 TWAS IT SUICIDE OR MURDER?"
 It ran as follows:
 'This morning the dead body of Brace Cloyd, wellknown gambler, who occupied room No. in the C. hotel, North street, was found dead in his bed on the third floor of the house. He had retired late in pretty sober condition and apparently in excellent health. His win dow was secured, and his door was not only locked but bolted. When he was searched by the coroner no trace was found upon him, in his bed, or in his clothing, of roll of bank notes that he was known to have had the day before, but it is naturally supposed that he had lost it in a run of bad luck at some gaming table be- fore going to his room"
 Something in the article prompted me to visit the locality, which was in an unfashionable and rather tough part of the city.
 Accordingly, at 9 o'clock that night, went to the suspected house, disguised as boyish-looking person, with silky black curls falling over my neck, and my face was so artistically painted that the ravages of disease could be plainly tra ced.
 "What shall it be, my friends?' said l, us SGeppCO up to the par connected with the hotel. "Life's too short not to make it merry when we can, and as I'm thrown into your company for to- night, and just to show your goodwill toward stranger, order your drinks. :"
 The heart of the crowd was touched, and was taken into general confidence when they saw what a generous bumper tossed off on the heels of a distressing cough which followed my speech.
 My friends,'' said I, after a pause, "I've been a wild sort of fellow in my time, but I've weakened, and have set out to undo the wrong I've done to a certain party, and have got together what coin I can raise, and am trailing him up to give back the money. Of course, it ain't the half of what took, but had a streak of luck at cards over at Squire's that swelled the sum con- siderably.'
 Let's have little game, then, just to help you on your way,' suggested one of the men.
 Of course I was willing. From the time I entered the room and now, as I sat down at the gaming table, that racking cough-which flat ter myself I initiated very cleverly- had run it's distressing accompaniment, and made it noticeable that when l