National Baptist world., 1894-10-12

on my hands that baff1ed me.
wanted to get on, for I 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 soon as | had
found out the party who committed
certain murder
Mrs. Jeffries, rich, miserly 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; dissipated nephew
who had quarreled with her; a ped
dler: a man who had mended the roof
But it seemed Likely that no one
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 he 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 bit of
black cloth clutched tight IN the
dead woman's hand-a fine bit Of old
black broadcloth torn in quite singu-
lar shape We hid the fact that this had
been found from the newspaper men,
and | was looking for the coat 1t had
been pulled off Of. That would be my
chance.
The dismissed servant was waiter,
but bribed myself into chance of
seeing his black coat off duty, and it
had not been torn or patched. | hunt
ed ND the nephew's boarding-house 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 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 little
black button.
''This belongs to the garment the bit
of cl 9th came FROM" she said. There
are blacks and blacks. This is but
ton that matches that black. Not a
blue black, nor a brownish black, nor
a foxy black, but black that is al
most invisible green. Do you know
No. 100?'
Its a very respectable hrst-class
boarding hous e, said l.
"Will they take ladies?" she asked
eff they are well introduced"
Il shall go there to board"
Next day | got card from her-she
hadn't been in the habit of having
cards-xith that address on It,
called. She came down to see me IL
her hest black silk, with her bOnne
and mantilla on.
There was an old lady in the room
She introduced me to her and thel
said she was ready. I took the hint
We went out together
''Of course you know why cam
here" she said. I'm spending all m.
salary and wearing my best clothes
but I've found something out already
Mrs. Jeffries' nephew calls here some
times. He calls on young widow VIII
has the upper front room. lie has bee
engaged to her for some time"
She paused long time and the
said
He was here the night Of the mu1
DER
We'll" said, has she let him ou
upon the roof?'
Il wish you wouldn't ask me an
questions" said Kitty. Il shall kno'
before long. When l send for 20
come at once. Will you let me hav
that bit of cloth?"
Its more precious than diamonds
said.
Her answer was:
"Yes. know it," She put 1T int
her pocketbook. II have changed
ROOM" she remarked. I'm next
her. There is locked door betwee
us. That is all. And | have made
peep hole"
you are a born detective, but |
this widow is respectable you can
watch young Jeffries that way"
yesterday" she said, without a
swering me, 'Jeffries called. | sa
him coming up the street and hid b
hind a screen in the parlor. shou
have pretended to be asleep in cha
there had l been seen, but no OF
found me out. She came to him, al
he talked like an innocent man.
'"rhe poor old woman has done r
another injury by getting herself mi
dered,' he said. I believe I'm 81
pected because shall profit by h
death. Why, what do they take
for? They say nothing was gone
"'Whooever it was, you ought to
thankful that the Grabbed creature
dead, she said. Some common burgli
Of course She'd scream and shrek
she saw one at her jewel case, and
herself killed
"'Well, poor old woman, I'd ma
been his death if I had been nea
Jeffries said. She wasn't half bs
She never made will and left thin
away from me, as she might. aftel
told her I'd never cringe to her for
favor. Hang it, l wish | wasn't I
-, Doo,la will cuSnact me- secret