Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-15

Inspector realize that the matter was seri-
Gus. The rooms were carefully examined
and results all pointed to an abominable
crime The front room was plainly fur.
small bed room, which looked out upon the
back of one of the wharyes. Between the
wharf and the bed room window is mar
row strip, which is dry at low tide, but is
covered at high tide with at least four and
a half feet of water The bed room win
dow was broad one. and opened from be-
low. On examination traces Of blood We're
to be seen upon the window sill and sew
eral scattered drops were visible upon the
wooden floor of the bed room. Thrust
away behind a curtain In the front room
were all the clothes of Mr.. Neville ST. Clair,
with the exception of his coat. His boots,
his socks, his hat and his watch-all were
there. There were no signs of violence upon
any of these garments. and there We're no
other traces of Mr.. Neville st. Clair. Out
of the window he must appa rently have
gone, for no other exit could be discovered
and the oninous bloodstains upon the sill
gave little promise that he could save him
self by swimming, for the tide was at It's
very highest at the moment of the tragedy.
And now as to the Williams who seemed
to be Immediately implicated in the matter.
The Lascaf was known to be man of the
yilest antecedents, but as. by Mrs. ST.
Clair's story, he was known to have been
at the foot of the stairs within very few
seconds of her husbands appearance at
the window he could hardly have been
more than an accessory to the crime. His
defense was one of absolute Ignorance and
he protested that he had no knowledge as
to the doings of Hugh Boone, his ledger,
and that he could not account in any way
for the presence of the missing gentle
mans clothes.
SO much for the Lascar manager. Now
for the sinister cripple who lives upon the
second floor of the opium den and who was
certainly the last human being whose eyes
rested upon Neville st. Clair. His name is
Hugh Boone and his hideous face is one
which Is familiar to every man who goes
much 20 the city. He is a professional
beggar though in order to avoid the police
regulations he pretends to a small trade in
wax vestas. Some little distance down
Threadneedie street, upon the left-hand
side, there is, as you may have rerna rked
small angle in the wall. Here 1t is that
this creature takes his daily seat cross
legged. with his tiny stock of matches on
his lap, and as he is piteous spectacle
small rain of charity descends into the
greasy leather cap which lies upon the
pavement beside him. I have watched the
fellow more than once, before ever l
thought of making his professional ac-
quaintauce, and have been surprised at
the harvest which he has reaped in short
time. His appearance, you see is so re-
markable that no one can pass him without
observing him. A shock of orange hair
pale face disfgured by a horrible scar
which. by its contraction. has turned up
the outer edges of his upper lip, a bulldog
chin and pair of very penetrating dark
eyes, which present a singular contrast to
the color of his hair, all mark him out
cants. and so. too does his wit, for he is
ever ready with reply to any piece of
chaff which may be thrown at him by the
passers-by. This is the man whom we
now learn to have been the Iodger at the
opium den and to have been the last man
to see the gentleman of whom we are in
quest"
But a cripple" said T. what could he
haS- Gin crla bo,, Iad Inc tn,
the prime of lifeP"
HE is a cripple in the sense that he
walks with limp; but In other respects he
appears to be powerful and well-nurtured
would tell you, Watson, that weakness in
one limb Is often compensated for by ex-
ceptionai strength in the others"
Pray continue your narrative"
Mrs. st. Clair had tainted at the sight
of the blood upon the window and she was
escorted home in cab by the police, as
her presence could DO of no help to them
in their investigations. Inspector Barton.
careful examination OF the premises, but
without finding anything which threw any
light upon the matter. One mistake had
been made in not arresting Boone instant
ly, as he was allowed some few minutes
during which he might have communicated
with his friend the Lascar, but this fault
was soon remedied and he was seized and
searched, without anything being found
1t is true. some b1oodstains upon his right
shirt sleeve, but he pointed to his ring
finger, which had been cut near the naii
and explained that the bleeding came from
there, adding that he had been to the win
dow not long before and that the stains
which had been observed there came
doubtless from the same source. He de-
MED strenuously having ever seen Mr.
Neville st. Clair, and swore that the pres
ence of the clothes In his room was as much
a mystery TO him as 20 the police. AS to
Mrs. st. Clair's assertion that she had ac-
tually seen her husband AT the HtudQW. hA