Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-26

N HESITATE little before setting down
IH,N mere the record Of the last OF those adven-
HESH lures in which Enoch voyce shared That
AeNE hesitation arises from the fact that the adj
B9 venture strange and out Of the
tGRM30N common and involves the telling Of
I59H9zel traordinary story. moreover. {
people who live at this moment and whose
identity, for obvious reasons, clohe In other
More than year had elapsed since visit TO the
quiet old city of Roemlnster had achieved
thing of my ambition by setting up establish
ment the nelghborhood Of Regent street: that small
suburb that had my advent into the Photographic
world knew me no more And Enoch voyce-that man
Of mystery and my good friend-had accompanied
and occupied tiny room in house under the very
roof
II was hot August morning. when people were
for the most part out Of town and business
quently slack, that, looking the window Of my
studio Into the street. cab stop and Inspector
Clair get out Remembrance Of old happenings in his
company swept into my mind at once. and it with
some eagerness that welcomed him. The man seemed
to be in great hurry, and had kept his cab waiting
Enoch Voyce Joined began to speak of the
object of the inspectors visit.
You're bit above my line just Mr. Ratten-
bury" began the inspector, GO but should like you to
do the business for me, you will times sake
." Is IT In the country" l asked hesitatingly, 1
thought OF possible clients.
No; in London" replied Clair Rather sordid
business but mysterious rather the ordinary
man has been killed in a house in Lambeth. No
even knows his where from.
Of that great shifting population Of big city, here to-
day and tomorrow. Only in this he's been
rested on his journey it by the hand Of death
was Interested begged that he would proceed, while
! got my apparatus ready
" TIE man, though poorly dressed was evidently Of
superior class dis compared with those with whom he
had been assocating However in spite that he had
got down low wicls' Rents. Lambeth; had taken
room in one OF the wretChed houses there and had lived
there for two or three days Last night he found
there done to DEATH and with the heavy poker
from tine hreplace-ying beside him"
Any clew?" asked Enoch.
Two" replied the inspector slowly "a scrap Of
paper in of his pockets; of his cinched hands
feather"
"A feather" we both exclaimed at once
Tine Inspector appeared gratihed by surprise He
nodded and pursed up his lips.
"A feather" he repeated small thin curled
feather three inches in length-a white feather
l should say from boa belonging to a woman; though
never could such feather have from Anything
by in wicks Rents However" contin-
ued the inspector. rising to his feet wed better go
place; we can stalk on the way As you are bringing
your camera and friend Mr.. Voyce, is l hope,
accompanying III dismiss my hanson and cali cab -
If there are in London any worse places than wicks
Rents, Lambeth, should like TO them l remember
that we went through low archway and found our
selves in squad court, with houses either side
the high wall of factory at the end. remember that
there were frowsy women and scowng men at the door
ways, and little knot of people gathered about door
in particular. The inspector thrust himself through
that knot being way eagerly even slavish-
y, and into the place where the lay
couple of consabes guarded the which closed
Immediately had got inside.
He was not PLEASANT sight, that dead He had
only been discovered an hour or so before the doctor
I'd already reported that had been dead the
GUS night. The blow that had killed him had been
ted with much strength and subtlety, lit
crushed in the side O. his head; ne have died
De- E instant. He lay, hudded heap against the
table which he had doubtless been standing
He of about 40 years of age with hair
going little at the temples His clothes old
and shabby his face. though smoothed by death,
showed the dissipation suggested too that
the man had fallen from something better. While we
looked at him spoke in hushed tones though the
dreadful thing at feet could hear u.s.
Unless get finger prints, find some
motive for the crime there's not much chance
erng who struck the blow" whispered the inspector
He obviously too poor to rob; and far can
find out from my men, he not known in the neigh
borhood OF course, 1t may have been quarrel: but
then the had kept himself much to himself during
the three days he had been here"
took photographs at the inspectors request
rusty poker of the woodwork Of a chair
that scrap paper that had been found in the mans
pocket and which bore only two three words,
signature The words scrawled In what evil
IDENTIFY disguised hand; much though had
held at full length of unsupported and had
dashed down the words anyhow. The words these
" Since you threaten me- 1 will meet at the time
you suggest. Burn this"
saw also spread the broad palm of Inspector
Clair the feather-a slight thing that breath would
II had been found caught between the
Of the dead man-somethlng at which he had snached
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