The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-11
80 COPYRIGHT 1907 by G. Nee1CEE GaSka&a1I43kGA


1t Is mere supposition, based upon a log
zeal conclusion 49," r. sl>~
What motive had you in meeting this
man here Tonight" l inquired, hoping
to gather some tangible clue to the reason
OF his erratic movements. 90. -,
"Ah, that's just the point" he respond
ed IF this poor fellow had lived he
would have revealed to me sccret--we
should have known the truth -
THE TRUTH l gasped. Then at the
very moment when he intended to- con-
fess to you he has been struck down."
Yes. His lips have been sealed by his
enemy-and yours. Both are Identical"
he replied, and his lips snapped together
in that peculiar manner that was his hab
it. l knew it was useless to question him
further.
Indeed, at that moment heavy footsteps
sounded upon the stairs, and two con-
stables, conducted by the shuffling old
man. appeared upon the scene.
I'VE have sent for YOU Amber ex-
planned This man is dcad-died sud-
denly. we believe
"Who is he. sr?" inquired the elder Of
! the pair. bending over the PROSTATE man
and taking up the smoky lamp in order
to examine his features more carefully.
His name is Lane-a costermonger,
known to his ntmates as Lanky Lane.
The man with you is one of his friends,
and can tell more about him than can"
us he dead?" queried the second con-
stable. touching the thin. pallid face.
certainly. 1 answered. I'm doctor,
and have already made an exam ina ton.
He's been dead some time
My name and address were taken. to-
gether with that Of my companion. When,
however. Amber told the officers his
name. both were visiby impressed. The
name of Jevons was well known to the
police, who held him in something like
| awe smart criminal in
7 Il know Inspector Barton at Leman
street-your station, 1 SUPPOSE" he
added.
| Yes. sir, responded the first constable.
And begging your pardon sir. I'm hon
ored to meet you. We all heard how you
beat the c. I. department in the Bower
! Square mystery. and how you gave the
whole information to Sergeant Paying
without taking any Of the credit to your
self. He got all the honor, sir and your
name didn't appear at the Old Bailey
i Jevons laughed. He was never fond of
i seeing his name in print. He made a
study Of the ways and methods of GRIM
inals, but only for his own qualification.
The police knew him well, but he hid his
light under the proverbial bushel always.
What is your own opinion Of the affair,
81 sir?' the officer continued. ready to take
his opinion before that of the sergeant
of the criminal Investigation department
, attached to his station.
| WELL said Amber. lit looks like sud
den death doesn't it? Perhaps it's poi
son."
i "Suicide?"
Il Murder. very possibly was Jeyons'
quiet response
i Then you really think there's a mys-
terry. 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. tG,s ezs.essa
Only one discovery Of note was made
and it was certainly a strange one. -
Beneath loose board near the fire
! place Jevons discovered the dead mans
hoard. It consisted, Of several papers care
-: fully folded together. We examined then
and found them to consist of a -hawker'
license, a receipt for the payment for
barrow and donkey, a postoffice savings
bank book: showing a balance of twenty
six pounds four. shillings. and several let
tiers from a correspondent unsigned. The,
were typewriter, in order that the hand
!, writing should not be betrayed, and upol
that flmsy pa per used in commercial Of
fees. All of them were of the highes
interest. The first, read aloud by Amber
ran follows:
DSctl lLdllS~-l nave hHOWI you a goo
many years. and never thought you wer
such a fool as to neglect a good thing
Surely you will reconsider the proposal
made to you the night before last in tn
bar Of the Elephant and Castle. Yo1
once did me very good turn long age
and now I am in a, position to put goo
! remunerative bit OF business in your way
J | Yet you are tinnid that all may not tur
- out well. Apparently you do not full
recognize the stake I hold in the matter
and the fact that any exposure woul
mean ruin to me. Surely I have far NOR
to lose then you have. Therefore that, i
itself, should be sufficient guarantee t
you. Reconsider your reply. and give m
your decision Tomorrow night. You wi
find me in the saloon bar Of the King Lu
in Ludgate Hill at s o'clock Do nc
% speak to me there, but show yourself, an
then wait outside until 1 join you. Hav
a care that you are not followed. Ths
hawk Amber Jevons has scent Of III
~ Therefore, remain dumb and watch
=, ful.--z'
"That's curious I remarked "Whc
ever wrote that letter was melting Lar
to conspiracy, and at the same time he
you in fear, Ambler.'
My companion laughed again-a quie
self satisfied laugh. Then he commence
the second letter. typewriter like tt
first. but evidently upon another ma
chine.
Dear Lane--Your terms seem exorb
tant. I quite understand that at lea
four or five of you must be in the affa
but the price asked is ridiculous. Beside
didn't like Benefits tone when he spoil
=. to me yesterday. He was almost threa
ening. What have you told him? Recc
lect that each of US knows something
the detriment of the others, and even
these days of So called equality the ma
with money is always the best man. Y
must contrive to shut Benefits mout
Give him money, If he wants it-up
G10. But of course do. not say that
came from me. You can. of course, pc
as my friend, as you have done before.
shall be at the usual place to-night.-Z
Looks as though there's been sol
blackmailing,' one of the corstables I
marked. who's Bennett?''
OIL II expect that's Bobby Bennett W
works in the meat market replied
atom of a man who had accosted us
Dr. Aldgate. ''He was friend of Lanky
or, and a bad 'un. I've card say that e
Sc. a record at the Old Bailey
md What for?"s 4 Is i. ....--.
ma "'Ousebreakin'.
ou ~ lis he working now?" Amber inquir,
in Eyes. saw i'm in Farrin' don str,
hat yesterday >ssf.sEs.
of "Ahn' remarked the constable. "V
all shall probably want to have a chat w
or him. But the chief mystery is the ide
a se tity of the writer Of these letters. At
ist. events it is evident that this poor m