Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13
s'The Moore House? Are You Speaking
of the Moore HouseP"

of the Moore HouseP"
For a detective whose talents had not
been recognized a headquarters, 1 possess
ed an ambition which fortunately for my
standing with the lieutenant of the pre-
cinct had not yet been expressed in words.
Though l had small reason for expecting
great things of myself, 1 had always cher
ished the hope that If a big case came my
way l should be found able to do something
with it-something more, that is, than
had seen accomplished by the police of tie
District Of Columbia since l had had the
honor of being one of their number. There
lore. when 1 found myself plunged almost
without my own volition, into the jeffrey
Moore affair, 1 believed that the oppor-
tunity had come whereby l might d1st:n-
guish myself
1t had complications, this Jeffrey Moore
affair; greater ones than the public ever
knew keen as the interest in it ran both
in and out of Washington
This is wh.S l propose to tell the story of
this great ira gedy from my own standpoint,
even If in so doing 1 risk the cha ,ec of at
tempting to exploit my own connection
with this celebrated case In its course l
encountered many disappointmentS as
triumphs, ard brought out of the affair 4
mart as sore as it was satisfied for ?m
d lover of women and
But l am keeping you from the story II
self.
David came in. lie was always called Uncle
David, even by the urchins who followed
him in the st"eet; so l am showing hin no
disrespe CT. gentleman though he is, by Civ
ing him title which completely charac-
teriZed him in those days as did his moody
WAYS, his quaint attire and the persist
ence with which he kept at his side his
great niastiff. Ridge.
l had long since heard of the Did gem
tleman ere of the most interesting resi-
dents o. the precinct. | had even seen linn
more t!lHn CnCe on the avenue. but l had
never before been brought face TO face wi tn
him, and consequently had much too super
fetal knowledge of his countenance to &C.
termine offEanu whether the une9 ~ light
In his small gray eyes was natural 70 them,
or simply the result of present excitement
But when he began to talk | detected an
unmistakable -tTemor in his tones, and de-
cided that he was in a state of suppressed
agitation; though he appeared tc have
nothing more alarming to tmpait than the
fact that he had seen light burning IN
some house presumably empty.
1t was all trivial that l gave him but
scant attention till he let a mama tail
which caused me to prick up my ears ana
even to put in word. The Moore house,
he had said.
1.-The Moore house?' repeated in amaze
ment. Are you speaking of the MoCre
house,
A thousand recollections came with the
name.
What other?" he grumbled directing to-
ward me a look as keen as II was impa lent.
DO you think that 1 would bother myself
long about house l had no interest in or
drag Rudge from his warm rug TO save
some ungrateful neighbor from a possible
burglary? No, it is my house which some
rogue has chosen to enter. That Is he
suavely corrected, he saw surprise in
every eye. the house which the law will
give me, If anything ever happens TO that
chit of a girl whom brother left be-
hind him
Growing some words at the dog, who
showed n decided inclination to lie down
where he was, the old man made for the
door and in another moment would have
been in the street. If l had not stepped
after him.
You are a Moore and live In or near that
old house?" / asked.
The surprise with which he met this
question daunted me little
How long have you been in Washing
retort
"Oh. some five months"
His good nature or what passed TO- such
In this irascible old man. returned in an
instant; and he curtly but not unkindly re-
marked:
You haven't learned much In that time"
Then, with a nod more ceremonious than
many another mans bow, he added. with
sudden dignity: Il am of the elder branch
and live in the cottage fronting the old
place am the only resident the block
When you have lived here longer you will
know why that especial neighborhood is
not favorite one with those who cannot
boast of the Moore blood. For the present,
let us attribute the bad name that 1t holds
to-malaria." And with a significant hitch
OF his lean shoulders which set in unduiat-
ing motion every fold Of the old fashioned
cloak he wore, he started again for the
door.
But my curiosity was by this time reused to
fever heat l knew more about this house
than he gave me credit for. No one who
had read the papers of late, much less a
man connected with the police could help
being well informed in all the details of
It's remarkable history. What had failed
to know was his close relationship to the
FAMILY whose name for the last two weeks
had been in every mouth.
|Wait!' / called out. You say that you