Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31

i pipe of the most approved sailors type,
and we sat together in the saloon he told
me sea stories, in order that group Of
men sitting near might overhear.
That he had some object in all this was
quite certain. but what it was 1 could not
gather.
Suddenly, after an hour, however, a lit
tie. understood, old man, of dirty and ne
elected appearance, who had been drinking
at the bar, shuffled up to US, and whispered
something to Amber that L did not catch.
The words, nevertheless caused my COM
panion to start. and disregardng the fresh
whisky and soda he had just ordered he
rose and walked out-an example which 1
followed.
addressing Amber. when we were out in
the street. HE couldn't come hisself e
said you'd like to know the news"
''Of course, L was waiting for it," replied
my companion. alert and eager.
Well he said, Il suppose I'd better tell
yer the truth al once sir
Certainly. What is it?"
well. Lanky Is dead"
Dead" cried Amber. Impossible.
was waiting for him.
Il know. This morning in the Borough
Market he told me to come ere and find
you. because he wasn't able to come e
had previous engagement. Lanky's en-
gagements were always interestin," he
added. with a grim smile.
Well. go on said Amber, eagerly.
GWhat followed?"
and see i'm at s o'clock, as e had a mes
sage for you. I went and when I got there
I found i'm lying on the floor Of his room
stone dead" --.-
You went to the police, of course?'
mo, l didn't; / came here to see you in
stead. I believe the poor bIoke's been muir
dered; E was good un, too-poor Lanky
What" exclaimed as that man Lane
dead?'
at seems So" Jevons responded. eff he
IS, then there we have further mystery"
If you doubt it, sir. come with me down
to Shadwell,'' the old man said in his Cock
ney drawi. Nobody knows about 1t yet
] ought to have told the perlice. but know
you're better at mysterious affairs than the
silly coppers in Leman street.
Jevons' fame as an investigator of crime
had spread even to that class known as the
submerged tenth. How fashions change.
ETY. TO go stunning" Today only social
reformers and missionaries make eXcur-
sions to the homes of the lower class in
East London. society woman would not
dare admit today that she had been further
east than Leadenhall street.
Lets go and see what has really hap
pened." Amber said to me. "If Lane Is
dead then 1t proves that his enemy is
yours"
Il can't see that Howr' 1 asked
''Y0u will see later. For the moment we
must occupy ourselves with his death and
see whether 1t is owing to natural causes or
Il may have been that"
NO" declared the little old man, 'Ianky
wasn't drunk today-that I'll swear. l saw
I'm IN Commercial road at T. talkin' to q
Teller wot's in love wtv lis sister,"
Then how do you account for this dis
covery of yours?' asked my companion.
Il can't account for IL, guy'nor. / simply
found i'm lying on the floDr. and it give me
shock, l can tell you. E was as cold as
ice" .,s-- ~-.. ..- r.. -
Lets go and see ourselves" Amber said.
har VIZ hltrr Tod oil . h. u I,g,o
chapel High street, at that hour busy with
mercial road east, arriving at last in the
dirty, fnsalubrious thorouShfare, veritable
hive of the lowest class of humanity-Tait
street. Shadwell.
Up the dark stairs of one of the dirtiest Of
the dwellings our conductor guided u.s.
lighting our steps with wax vestas struck
upon the wall, and on gaining the third
floor of the evil-smelling place he pushed
open door and we found ourselves in an
unlit room.
Don't move, gentlemen" the old man
urged You may fall over i'm: 'Fas right
mere. Just where you're standin'. I'll light
the lamp" sfz
Then he struck another match, ard by its
tickle light we saw the body of Lane. the
street hawker, lying full length only q ward
from us, just as our conductor had de-
scribed.. . ~ W
The cheap and smelling parafin iamu he
ing lit. took a hasty glance around tho
poor mans home. There was but little fur
> niture save the bed. q chair or two and n
| rickety table. Upon the latter was one Of
those nat bottles known AS a 'auartern ;"
Our first attention. however, was to the