Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-04-19


except on business.
The Inspector had hardly finished
his breakfast when Policeman Jones
returned from Balston.
He had been eminently successful.
The bank manager had identified the
numbers on the paper as those OF the
bank notes paid the day before to the
Captain.
The money, it appeared, had been
paid to him in purs lance OF an order
contained in a letter received that
Saturday morning from their London
correspondent, Cowie, Nabob & Co.,
the great China and Indian bankers
The drags mad now been at work
some time, but without success The
river had been dragged up and down,
and sideways and across, and at every
conceivable angle, but no body had
been found.
The Inspector was getting impa
tient. when a gig drove up to the
building and daDper little man in
a frock coat, buttoned to his chin,
and with a heavy black mustache,
Jumped out.
The crowd which had collected by
this time made way very respectfully,
for it was whispered that this stranger
was no other than Detective Perkins
rom London.
In few minutes the detective had
heard all that the Inspector had to
tell.
They entered the "building." The
crowd outside was getting more ex.
cited.
They thought that now the London
detective had come the murderer
would soon be dragged from his hid
ing place and handed over to justice.
Time. however, went on and Per-
kins was still inspecting the premises,
while his character was rapidly TALL
ing ia the opinion Of the crowd out
side.
He's no conjuror. l told We so
afore," said one sturdy countryman
who had been a skeptic from the first.
And this time his assertion did not
NEE; with the disapprobation it had
allied forth when pronounced half an
hour before. The crowd was tired Of
waiting.
Perkins, meanwhile, unconscious of
hostile criticism. had looked over the
kitchen and Mary's bedroom, but
without making any discovery. When
he came to the Captains bedroom he
stood in the middle Of it and took
general survey.
He then proceeded to the details.
He raised the chairs and then put
them down again in their original
position, repeating this operation two
or three times, watching with great
interest how they fell.
Then he came TO the bed. He
looked at it from all points-frst
full view, then three-quarters, then
one side view, and then the other
side till he had exhausted it and the
patience Of the Inspector.
He then stood and mentally threw
himself upon it in such position as
TO make the impression which still
remained on it.
There was some hitch. foe he shook
his head. He pulled out the drawers
and examined the wardrobe of the de
ceased man.
A pair Of boots lying in the corner
of the room next attracted his atteu.
zion.
lie examined them carefully. Some
thing in the lining of one of them
seemed to interest him, for he brought
out his pocket-book 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 exam
ination of the bedroom and went
downstairs, inspecting each stair as
he went.
These were apparently more salts
factory, for his face frightened con-
siderably, and after he had been
shown the tracks of blood along the
floor Of the sitting room, 1t had ex-
banded to broad grin.
You see how it was done?" asked
the Inspector, whose opinion of Per
kins 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 direc-
tion. The result seemed to be very
satisfactory, for he pocketed them.
The footprints in the garden, the
.half-dug 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
unsuccessfully for some hours.
"Ah. yes" said Perkins, as If the
necessity of doing it had never struck
him.
1.-The mans a perfect IDIOT"
thought the Inspector.
"And now 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 w nav 10 bC ShpOdih W.
Nothing that 1 know of, but they
do say that he has been a captain in the
China trade"
"China?" repeated Perkins, as ii
the idea of that country gave him ex-
1uisite delight.
Yes, China" repeated the In
spector, gruffiy. He was losing all
patience; how on earth did such a
born idiot become a detective?"
"What sort of a man is he?"
'Tall, spare-built, about 40. graz
hair and no whiskers."
deep cut over the right eyebrow"
added Perkins, quietly, as he stopped
and fitted the boot into the impres.
Won.
yes" said the Inspector, puzzled
at Perkins knowledge.
"He never went by that name here