South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-02-17

oeAe' sue I'LL ne nau exhausted it
and the patience OF the Inspector.
He then stood and mentally
threw himself upon it in such a
position as to make the impression
which still remained on it.
There was some hitch, for he
shook his head. He pulled out
the drawers and examined the
wardrobe OF the deceased man.
A pair Of boots lying in the cor
ner Of the room next attracted his
attention.
He examined them carefully.
Something in the lining of one of
them seemed to interest him, for
he brought out his pocket book and
rsferred to something written in
1t. lie then examined the boot
again and seemed satisfied, for he
pocketed it.
At last Perkins finished his ex-
animation of the bedroom and went
downstairs, inspecting each stair
az he went.
These were apparently more sat-
isfactorY, for his face frightened
considerably, and after no had
been shown the tracks OF blood
along the floor of the sitting room,
it had expanded to a broad grin.
"You see how it was done?" ask
ed the Inspector, whose opinion of
Perkins had by this time reached
the lowest eSb.
Perkins smiled; he was not the
man to commit himself.
lie walked to the table and turn
ed over the books and papers till he
found some sheets of plotting pa
PER.
These he examined attentivsly,
holding them in every possible d.
rection. The result seemed to be
Tery satisfactory, for he pocketsd
them.
The footprints in the garden, the
half-dug grave under the trees aud
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 tho two
boats which had now been working
UNNECESSARILY for some hours.
"Ah, yes!" said Perkins, as if
the necessity of doing it had never
struck him.
"The mans 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. ellis name is Tonce
you say. What is he captain OFF"
"NOthing that 1 know of, but
they do say that he has been clp-
tam In the China trade"
"China?" repeated Perkins, as
if the idea of that country gave him
exquisite delight.
Eyes, China" repeated the In.
speetor. grufiy. He was losing all
patience; how on earth did such a
born idiot become detective?"
"Whst sort of a man is hep
"Tall, spare-built, about 40, gray
hair and no Whiskers."
deep cut over the right eye
brown" added Perkins, quietly, as
he stopped and fitted the boot into
the impression.
eyes," said the Inspector, puz-
sled at Perkins knowledge.
"He never went by that name
here, did he ?" said Perkins, hand
ing 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 Tonco
I've wanted him these two years.
said Perkins, chosrfully. GIVE
got him now"
eyes" said the Inspector, grim
ly, ''he's safe enough here" And
be iorked his head toward the river.
"Bless you" laughed Perkins,
"he's nearer China BY this timo.
He'll die with a rope round his
neck yet. It's q plant, man.
Don't you see lie has murdered
himself and bolted with the sWag.
That room somehow looked queer.