The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-09-01
A PIECE OF CLOTH.

BY the way, my nacce is Jack Hlndson,
at your service-I had a case on my
hands that bafded me. l wanted to get
on, for | was at that time engaged to
Kitty Pease, AID she had said that
though she was very fond of me she did
not mean to marry nj until / had
enough to marry on, which / should
have as sooi as | had found out the
party who committed a certain murder.
Mr.. Jefries, a rich, misery sort OF
old lady, had been found dead in her
bed, murdered IL Some one No L
knew who it was.
Everybody was under suspicion-a
manservant who had been dismissed
weeks before; aGissipated nephew, who
had quarreled with her; a peddier; a
man who had mended the roof. But it
seemed likely that no enc would be &C
tually 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 no
doors were found unlocked, and the
servant had to call for help before the
bedroom door could be broken in
The only clew l 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 singular
shape. We hid the fact that this had
been found from the newspaper men,
and l was looking for the coat it had
been pulled out of. That would be my
chance
The dismissed servant was a waiter,
but I bribed myself into a chance Of
seeing his black coat off duty and it
had not been torn or patched. I hunted
up 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. I 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 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, look
ing at all the scuttle doors, until
thought she would 60 off into the street,
but she stopped at the last of the row
and beckoned me. I hurried up
Close to the scuttle door lay q little
black button.
"This belongs to the garment the BIT
of cloth came from" she said. ""There
are blacks and blacks. This is a button
that matches that black. Not a blue
black, nor a brownish black, nor a foxy
black, but q black that is almost invisi.
BILE green. Do you know No. 1902"
cts a very respectable first class
boarding house" said !.
"Will they take ladies?" she asked.
IF they are well introduced"
81 shall go there to board
Next day / got a card from her-sht
hadn't been in the habit of having
cards-with that address on it. l call
ed. She came down to see me in hel
best black silk, with her bonnet ane
mantilla On.
There was an old lady in the room
She INTRODUCED me to her and then sale
she was ready. | took the hint. w,
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 a young widow, wh'
has the upper front room. He has beef
engaged to her for some time"
She paused a long time and then said
He was here the night Of the mur
der"
"Well!' l said. Has she let hir
out upon the roof?'
Il wish you wouldn't ask me an.
questions" said Kitty. Il shall know
before long. When l send for you, com
at once. Will you let me have that bi
of cloth?"
''It's more precious than diamonds,
/ said.
Her answer was:
Yes, l know it. She put it into he
pocketbook. Il have changed n,
ROOM" she remarked. II am next t
her. There is a locked door between US
That is al. And I have made a peer
hole"
lyon are a born detective, but a
this widow is respectable you cam
watch young Jefries that way"
Yesterday" she said without az
swering me, ''Jeffries called. Isaw hin