The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-23

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man,
A pair of boots lying in the corner Of
the room next attracted his attention.
He examined them carefully. Some
thing in the lining of one Of them seemed
to interest him, for he brought out his
pocketbook and referred to something
written in it. He then examined the boot
again and seemed satisfied, for he pocketed
It.
At last Perkins finished his examination
\ of the bedroom and went downstairs, in
specting each stair as he went.
These were, apparently, more satisfac-
tory, for his face frightened considerably,
and after he had been shown the tracks
of blood along the floor of the sitting
room it had expanded into q broad grin.
"You see how it was done?" asked the
inspector, whose opinion OF Perkins had
by this time reached the lowest ebb.
Perkins smiled; he was not the man to
commit himself.
He walked to the table and turned over
the books and papers till he found some
sheets of blotting paper.
These he examined attentively, holding
them in every possible direction. The re-
suit seemed to be very satisfactory, for he
pocketed them.
The footprints in the garden, the half
dug grave under the trees, and the i'm
preston in the wet leaves seemed to in
terest 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 in
spector, pointing to the two boats which
had new been working unsuecessfully fer
some hours.
"Ah, yes!" said Perkins, as IL the ne
cessity of doing it had never struck him.
"The mans perfect idiotl" 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. ellis name is
Tonce, you say. What is he captain or"
Nothing that / know OF, but they
| do say that he has been captain in the
| China trade"
"China?" repeated Perkins, as II the
idea of that country gave him exquisite
| delight.
"Yes, China" repeated the inspector,
gruffiy. He was losing all patience; how
on earth did such born idiot become a
detective?
| hat sort OF man Is he?"
Tall, spare built, about forty, gray
hair and no whiskers."
"Deep cut over the right eyebrow"
added Perkins quietly, as he stopped and
fitted the boot into the impression.
"Yes," said the inspector, puzzled at
Perkins's knowledge.
"He never went by that name here, did
her" said Perkins, handing the boot to
the inspector, on the lining of which was
written "a Compton,"
"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 Per-
kins, cheerfully. "I've got him now"
eyes," said the inspector, grimly,
"he's safe enough here" And he jerked
his head towards the river.
"Bless you," laughed Perkins, "he's
nearer China by this time. He'll die with
a rope round his neck yet. It's plant,
man, don't you see; he has murdered him
| self and bolted with the swag. That
room somehow looked queer. 1t was
| overdone; too much blood and too regular
| When found that boot / thought how IL
| was, and this settled it," said Perkins,
pulling the sheets of blotting paper out
of his pocket and holding them to the in
| spector.
There, all over them, were the words
Cowie, Nabob g. Co., In a neat, clerk like
hand, with that peculiar flourish at the
end which those who have dealings with
| that eminent house know SO we'll.
"That letter to the Balston Bank Is q
| forgery. 1t is not the first time he has
served Cowie, Nabob & Co. this trick. He
| was in their London counting-room for
| Ave years, came over with q forged char
acter, robbed them to the tune of R2,00o
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 for anything"
Perkins was right.
The manager of the Balston Bank found
| to his astonishment that Cowie, Nabob &
| Co., repudiated the letter which pur-
ported 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 Balston assize he was
tried by the name of Joseph Toncc on q
charge Of forgery, and sentenced to penal
servitude for the rest OF his natural life.
| His creditors at Bradtown were the only
persons who regretted him.
Will make an Economical wife.
Anewspaper printed in Austria recently
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