Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-10-06

on my hands that bafied me, |
wanted to get on. for | was at that
time engaged to Kitty Pease, and she
had said that though she was very
fond of me she did not mean TO marry
me until | had enough to marry on,
which | should have as Don as | had
found out the party who committed a
certain murder.
Mrs. Jetfries, a rich, misery sort Of
old lady, had been found dead in her
bed, murdered by some one No one
knew who it was.
Everybody was under suspicion-a
man servant who had been dismissed
weeks before: a ~dissipated nephew
who had quarreled with her; a ped
dler: a mar who had mended the roof.
But it seemed Likely that no II
would be actually proved guilty. To
be sure, the nephew would come in for
her property, being her only relative,
but though he had been to the door
that evening be had been seen to go
away again. and the servant had to
call for help before the bedroom door
could be broken in.
The only clew that | had was a bit of
black cloth clutched tight in the
dead woman's hand-a fine bit of Old
black broadcloth torn in quite a singu-
lar shape. We hid the fact thatthis had
been found from the newspaper men,
and | was looking for the coat it had
been pulled off Of. That would be my
chance.
The dismissed servant was a waiter,
but | bribcd myself into a chance OF
seeing his black coat off duty. and it
had not been torn or patched. | hunt
ed up the nephew's clearinghouse and
got into his room under pretense OF
having been sent from the telegraph
Office to see the wires. but his clothes
were all of thick, coarse cloth. ] talked
these things all over to Kitty, and
she set her wits to work to help
me. She asked me to let her go to the
old lady's house and show her the
room she slept in, and she went out on
the roof, as | had done many u time,
and went along first in one direction
and then in the other, looking at all
the scuttle doors, until | thought she
would go off into the street, but she
stopped at the last of the row and
beckoned me. hurried up,
Close to the scuttle door lay a little
black button.
This belongs to the garment the bit
of 10th came from" she said. There
are blacks and blacks. This is a but
ton that matches that black. Not a
blue black. nor a brownish black, no-
a foxy black, but a black that is al
most invisible green. Do you know
No. 1902
Its a very respectable tirst-class
clearinghouse" said l..
''Will they take ladies?' she asked.
IF they are we'll introduced"
II shall go there to board"
Next day | got a card from her-she
hadn't been in the habit Of having
cards-with shat address on it.
called. She came down to see me in
her best black silk, with her bonnet
and msntilla on,
There was an old lady in the room.
She introduced me to her and then
said She was ready. | took the hint,
We went out together.
''Of course you know why | came
here she said. I'm spending all nv
salary and wearing my best clothes
but I've found something out already
Mrs. Jetfries' nephew calls here some
times, He calls on a young widow who
has the upper front room. He has beer
engaged to her for some time
She paused a long time and thel
said:
He was here the night Of the mur
der
WELL" ! said, ''has she let him gu
upon the roof"
II wish you wouldn't ask me an,
questions" said Kitty. II shall kno,
before long. When | send for yo,
come at once. viii you let me hav
that bit Of cloth?"
. 'It's mor precious than diamonds,
1 | said.
Her answer was:
"Ycs, ! know it." She put it int
her p~ocketbook. Il have changed m
room" she remarked. I'm next t
her. There is a locked door bctwee
us. That is all. And ! have made
paop. hola