The Washington times., 1894-11-01
OnIu a PiGG6 Of 6l0th

When I was on the detective force-by the
vice-I had case on my hands that bafied
me.
wanted to get on, for was at thar time
engaged 10 Kitty Pease, and she had said
that though she was fond of me, she did not
mean to marry me until I had enough to
marry on. which should have as soon as l
had found out the party who committed a
certain murder.
Mrs Jefries, a rich, miserly sort Of old
lady, had been found dead in her bed, mur-
dered by some one. No one knew who it was.
To be sure, the nephew would come in for
her property. being her only relative; but
though he had been to the door in the even
ing, he had been seen to 90 away again and
no doors were found unlocked, and the SER
want had to call for help before the bedroom
door could be broken in.
The only clew l had was bit OF black
cloth, cutched tight in the dead womans
hand-a fine bit of old black broadcloth torn
in quite singular shape.
dismissed servant was a waiter but
bribed myself into chance OF seeing his
black coat of duty. and it had not been torn
or patched.
l hunted up the nephew's boarding house,
and got into his room under pretence OF hay-
ing been sent from the telegraph office to see
the wires. but his clothes were ali OF thick,
coarse cloth.
1 talked these things all over to Kitty, and
she set her wits to work to help me.
She asked NE to let her 20 to the old lady's
home and show her the room she slept in; and
she went out on the roof, as had done many
a time and went along first in one direction
and then in another looking at all the scuttle
doors, until I thought she would so of into
the street; but she stopped at the last OF the
row and beckoned me- l hurried MP.
Close to the scuttle door lay little black
button.
This belongs to the garment tie bit of
cloth came FROM she said. ''There are
blacks and blacks. This is a button that
matches that black. Not blue-black, nor a
brownish black. nor a foxy black, but black
that is almost invisible green. Do you know
No. l00!''
ITS very respectable frst-class boarding
house" said I.
"Will they take ladies'" she asked.
''If they are well introduced"
~ shall go there to board"
Next day ! got q card from her-she hadn't
been in the habit of having cards-with that
address on it. I called. She came down to
see me in her best black silk, with her bonnet
There was an old lady In the room. She
introduced me to her, and thea said she was
ready. took the hint. We went out to-
gether.
''Of course you know why I came here,
she said. I'm spending all my salary and
wearing my best clothes; but I've found
something out already. Mrs. Jeffries
nephew calls on young widow who has he
upper front room. He has been engaged to
her for some time"
She paused long time and then said:
HE was here the night OF the murder"
''Well!' l said. HAS she left him out upon
the roof"
81 wish you wouldn't ask me any ques.
TONS" said Kitty. Il shall know before
long. When send for you come at once
Will you let me have that bit of cloth?"
ITS more precious than diamonds"
said.
Her answer was:
eyes; know it," She put it into her
pocketbook II have changed my room, u
she rem arked. 81 am next to her. There is
a locked door between US. That is all; and
have made peephole.
Yesterday Jef1ries called. saw him come
up the street, and hid behind a screen in the
parlor. She came to him, and he talked like
an innocent man.
' The poor old woman has done me an
other injury by getting herself murdered, ht
said. L believe I'm suspected, because shall
profit by her death. Why, what do they take
me for? wonder who killed her. They sa!
nothing was gone
Whoever it was, you ought to be Thankful
that the grabbed creature is dead she said
Some common burglar, OF course. She't
scream and shrek if she saw one at her jewe
case and get herself killed
well, poor old woman. I'd have been hi
death if had been near Je fries said. 'She
wasn't half bad. She never made will anC
left things away from me, as she might, afte
told her I'd never cringe to her for he
| favor. Hang it, wish 1 wasn't her heir
People will suspect me, secretly perhaps
| Poor BitZner, the roofer, came to me anC
cried over what they said about him. Xii
Aunt Jersey Why-good Lord
You used to call her aunt Jezebel,' sait
the widow; Mrs. Null is her name.
Yes. I'm sorry did; but she had a TEN
! per, said Mr.. Jeffries. I've mind not t.
take the money
Then 1 shan't take you said Mrs. Null
Such an IDIOT; should be ashamed of you.
''See here!" Kitty handed me an address oil
piece OF paper. II was Mrs. Preston Null
at certain number, Chestnut street. "It i
! her mother-in-law. Can you send our Mrs
| Mull-ElIza Mull-a telegram saying, Com
at once 10 this address, she asked"
1 took her home and telegraphed to
brother detective TO telegraph 10 the widow
A few hours afterward received a note:
Disguise yourself as an old woman ant