Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-02-27

Perkins smiled; he was not the
man to commit himself. lie walked
to the table, and turn 4 over the
books and papers till he found some
streets OF blotting paper. These ne
examined attentiyely, holding them
in every possible direction. The re
suit seemed to he very satisfactory,
for he pocktted them.
The footprints in the garden, the
balfdug grave under the trees, and
the impression in the wet leaves
seemed to interest him little.
He examined them. but only like
one preoccupied with his own
thoughts. They came to the river
bank.
We've dragged the river said
the inspector pointing to the two
boats which had now been working
unsuceessfally for some hours
"Ah. yes!" said Perkins, as if the
necessity of doing so had never
struck him.
1.-The man S perfect fool! thought
the inspector.
"And how about this captain
said Perkins, choosing the clearest
FOOTPRINT he could find in the soft
mud. and pulling the boot out of his
pocket. His name is Tonce, you
say. What is he captain OFF,
s.Nothing that / know of bat they
do say that he was captain IN the
China trade"
"China?n replied Perkins, as if
the idea of that country gave him
exquisite delight.
Eyes, China" repeated the inspec-
tor, gruffiy. He was losing all pa
thence; how on earth did such a born
idiot get to be detective?
What sort of a man is he ~
"Tall, spare built, about fourty,
gray hair and no whiskers.h
"Deep cut over right eyebrow
added Perkins, quietly, as he stoop-
ed and fitted the boot into the i'm
preston.
eyes" said the inspector, puzzled
at Perkins knowledge.
"He never went by that name here,
did he ?n said Perkins, handing the
boot to the inspector, on the lining
Of which was written. "A Comp
ton."
"Never.' He was getting more
and more puzzled.
"Compton, alias Watkins, alias
Crowder. and now alias Tonce; I've
wanted him these two years" said
Perkins, cheerfully. "I'ye got him
now"
Yes said the inspector, '.he's
safe enough there" and he jerked
his head toward the river.
.BIess you, laughed Perkins, shes
nearer China by this time. Hello die
with rope round his neck yet. It's
a plan, man; don't you see, he has
murdered himself and bolted with
the swag. That room somehow
looked queer. 1t was. 1t was over
done; too much blood and to regu-
lar. When / found that boot 1
thought how it was, and this settled
it, said Perkins, pulling the sheets
of blotting paper out of his pocket
and holding them to the inspector.
There all over them were the
words. Cowle, Nobob Il Co, IN q
neat, clerklike hand with that ecu
liar flourish at the end which those
who have dealings with that eminent
house known SO well.
"That letter to the Balston bank
is a forgery. 1t is not the first
time he has served Cowie, Nobob q
Co. this trick. He was in their
London counting room for fiveyears
came over with forged character,
robbed them to the tune of FL 900
and bolted. He's been smuggling
and thieving all over the world since
then. But when is the next train TO
town? / wouldn't miss him forany-
thing
Perkins was right. The managers
| of the Bslston bank found to his as
tonishmenG that Cowle, Nobob d Co.
repudiated the letter which purport-
ed to bear their signature. 1t was
forgery.
On the following Tuesday the
captain was arrested at the London
docks as he was booking his passage
for Melbourne, and at the next Balls
ton assize he was tired by the name
of Joseph Tonce. on charge oil for
gerry, and sentenced to penal servl-
tude for the rest of his natural life.
His creditors at Breakdown we're the
only persons who regretted him.