Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-01

lnah Win you 10 one OF his friends, ard
can toll you more about him than l can"
rs he dead?' queried the second con-
stable, touching the thin, pallid face.
Certainly l answered. I'm a doctor,
end have already made an examination.
He's been dead some time"
My name aud address was taken, to-
gether with that Of my companion. When,
however, Amber told the officers his name,
both were visibly impressed. The name OF
Jevons was well known to the police, who
held him in something like awe as a smart
criminal investigator.
81 know Inspector Barton at Leman
street-your station. l suppose7" he added.
yes, sir" responded the first constable.
And begging your pardon, sir, I'm honOred
to meet you. We all heard how you beat
the c. l. department In the Bowyer square
mystery. and how you gave the whole in
formation to Sergeant Paying without
taking any OF the credit 60 yourself. He
got all the honor, sir. and YOU name didn't
appear at the Old Bailey"
Jevons laughed. He was never fond Of
seeing his name in print. He made a study
of the ways and methods OF criminals, but
only for his own qualification. The police
knew him we'll, but he hid his light under
the proyerbial bushel always.
what is your own opinion of the affair,
sir?" the officer continued, ready to take
his opinion before that Of the sergeant OF
the criminal investigation department at
tached to his station.
well" said Amber, "it looks like sud-
den death, doesn't it? Perhaps It's poison"
'Suicide?"
Murder, very possibly" was Jevons'
quiet response.
Then you really think there's a mystery,
sir? ?" exclaimed the constable, quickly.
1T seems suspiciously like one. Let us
search the room. Come along, Ralph" he
added, addressing me. Just lend a hand"
There was not much furniture in the
place to search, and Before long, with the
aid Of the constable's lantern, we had
searched every nook and Granny.
Only one discovery OF note was made,
and it was certainly a strange one.
Beneath a loose board near the fireplace
Jevons discovered the dead mans hoard.
1t consisted of several papers carefully
folded together. We examined them and
found them to consist Of a hawker's Ii
cense, a receipt for the payment for a
barrow and donkey, a postof1ce savings
bank book showing a balance Of e26 4
shillings and several letters from a CORE
spondent unsigned.
They were typewriter, in order that the
handwriting should not be betrayed and
upon the fimsy paper used in commercial
Offices. All OF them were of the highest
interest. The first, read aloud by Amber,
ran as follows:
Dear Lane-I have known you a good
many years and never thought you we're
such a fool as to neglect a good thing.
Surely you will reconsider the proposal l
made to you night before last in the bar
OF the Elephant and Castle. You once did
me a very good turn long ago, and now
l am in a position to put a good remrn-
erative bit of bushes in your way. Yet
you are timid that all may not turn out
well. Apparently you do not fully recog-
nize the stake l hold in the matter, and
the fact that any exposure would mean ruin
to me. Surely l have more to lose than you
have. Therefore, that in itself, should be
sufficient guarantee to you. Reconsider
your reply, and give me your decision to
morrow night. You will find me in the
saloon bar of the King Lud in Ludgate Hill
at s o'clock. Do not speak to me there,
but show yourself, and then wait outside
until I join you. HIVE a care that you
are not followed. That Hawk Amber Je-
vons has scent of us. Therefore, remain
dumb and watchful.-Z."
That's curious, l remarked. whoever
wrote that letter was melting Lane to con-
spiracy. and at the same time held you in
fear, Amber"
My companion laughed again-a quiet,
self-satisfed laugh. Then he commenced
the second letter, typewriter like the first,
but evidently upon another machine.
Dear Lane: Your terms seem exorbi-
tant. l quite understand that at least four
or Ave Of you must be in the affair, but the
price asked is ridiculous. Besides, l didn't
like Benefits tone when he spoke to me
yesterday. He was almost threatening.
What have you told him? Recollect that
each of us knows something to the detri-
ment OF the others, and even in these days
Of so-called equality the man with money
is always the best man. You must con-
trive to shut Benefits mouth. Give him
money, II he wants it-up to s10. But, of
course. do not say that it comes from me.
You can, of course. pose as my friend, as
you have done before. l shall be at the
usual place tonight-Z."
Looks as though there's been some
blackmailing," one OF the constables re-
marked. who's Bennett?"
II expect that's Bobby Bennett, who
works in the meat marke'," replied the
atom of a man who had accosted us at
Aldgate. He was a friend of Lanky's, and
a bad 'un. I've card say that q 'ad a
record at the Old Bailey"
What for?"
"'Ousebreakini."
as he working now?" Amber inquired.
Eyes. l saw i'm In Farrin'don street yes
terday.'
"Ah!" remarked the constable. I'VE
shall probably want to have a chat with
him. But the chief mystery is the identity
OF the writer of these letters. At all events
II is evident hat this poor man Lane knew
something to his detriment, and was prob
ably trying to make something out of that
knowledge"
mo at all an unusual case / said.
Jevons grunted and appeared to view the
letters with considerable satisfaction. Any
documentary evidence surrounding a case
Of mysterious death is always OF interest.
In this case. being of such a suspicious
nature. II was doubly so.
Are you quite decided not to assist
me?' another letter ran. II was likewise
typewriter, and from the same source.
'Recollect you did so once. and were we'll
paid for II. You had enough to keep you