Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15

crime had been committed swiftly and the
murderer had escaped unseen and unheard.
The elderdown quilt, a rich one of gobelin
blue satin, had scarcely been disturbed, and
save for the small spot of blood upon the
sheet traces of a terrible crime were in
no way apparent.
While, however, I stood at the bedside
at the same spot most probably where the
murderer had stood, l suddenly felt some
thing uneven between the sole of my boot
and the carpet. So intent was l upon
the examination l was making that at
first my attention was not attracted by IT.;
but on stepping on 1t a second time 1 looked
down and saw something white, which l
quickly picked up.
The instant | saw 1t l closed my hand
and hid it from view.
Then 1 glanced furtively around. and
seeing that my action had been unobserved,
quickly transferred 1t to my vest pocket,
watch to glance at 1t.
1 confess that my heart beat quickly,
and in all probability the color at that mo-
ment had left my face, for L had by sheer
accident discovered a clue.
To examine 1t there was impossible-for
of such character was 1t that l had no in
tention, as yet, to arouse the suspicious OF
the police. I intended at the earliest mo-
ment to apprise my friend, Amber Jevons,
of the facts, and with him pursue an entire
ly Independent inquiry.
Scarcely had I safely pocketed the little
object I had picked up from where the
murderer must have stood when the in
spector went out upon the landing and
called to the constable In the hall.
"Four-sixty-two, lock that door and come
up here a moment"
Yes, sir" answered a gruff voice from
below, and in a few moments the consta-
BILE entered. closing the door after him.
How many times have you passed this
house your beat tonight, four-sixty-
two?' inquired the inspector.
About eight, sir. My beats along the
Richmond road-from the Lion Gate down
to the museum, and then around the back
streets"
Saw nothing?'
81 saw a man come out of this hurriedly
soon after I came on duty. I was standing
on the opposite side under the wall Of the
gardens. The lady what's downstairs let
him out and told him to fetch the doctor
quickly"
"Ah! Short, the servant" observed.
Where is he?'' asked the inspector, while
the detective with the ready note book
scrubbed down the name.
He came to fetch me; and Miss Mivart
has now sent him to fetch her sister. He
was the first to make the discovery"
"Oh, was he? exclaimed the detective ser
geant. with some suspicion. ITS rather a
pity that he's been sent out again. He
might be able to tell US something
Hell be back in an hour, I should
think"
yes, but every hour is of consequence
in matter of this SORT" remarked the
sergeant. Look here, Davidson" he add
ed, turning to one of the plain-clothes men,,
Just go round to the station and send a
wire to the yard, asking for extra assist
ance. Give them brief outline of the case.
They'll probably send down Franks or
Moreland If I'm not mistaken there's a
good deal more in this mystery than meets
the eye.''
The man addressed obeyed promptly, and
left.
What do you know of the servants
here?" asked the inspector of the constable
mot much. sir. Six-forty-eight walks out
with the cook, I've heard. She's a respeeta-
BILE woman. Her fathers a lighterman at
Kew Bridge. know 'em all here by sight,
OF course. But there's nothing against
them to my knowledge, and I've been a
constable in this subdivision for eighteen
years."
1.-THE man-what's his name-short. Do
you know him7"
Eyes, sir. I've seen him in the Star and
Garter at Kew Bridge"
"Drinks?"
mot much. sir. He was fined over at
Brentford six months ago for letting a dog
go unmuzzled. His greatest friend is one
of the gardeners at the. palace-a man
named Burford, a most respectable fellow -
Then there's no suspicion OF any one as
yet" remarked the Inspector. with an air Of
dissatisfacti ion. In criminal mysteries the
police often bungle from the outset and to
me It appeared as though, having no clue,
they were bent on manufacturing one
/ felt in my vest pocket and touched the
little object with feeling of secret salts