Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-26

~ HESITATE little before setting down
ISV mere the record OF the last OF those adven-
NHSH lures in which Enoch voyce shared That
IGNk - hesitation arises from the fact that the adj
h.E venture 20 strange and out Of the
tOMM&1V common, and involves the telling OF
k@2Hgzel traordinary story; moreover it concerns
people who live at this moment and whose
Identity for obvious reasons. clothe in other
More than year had elapsed since visit to the
quiet old city Of Roeminster and had achieved
thing of ambition by setting up a modest establish
ment in the neighborhood Regent that small
suburb that had my advent into the Photographic
world knew me no more. And Enoch Noyce-that man
Of mystery, and my good frend-had accompanied me
and occupied tiny room in house, under the very
roof.
It hot August morning, when people were
for the most part out Of and business
quently slack, that looking out of 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 was with
some eagerness that I welcomed him The man seemed
to be in great hurry and had kept his cab waiting.
Enoch Voyce Joined began to speak the
object of the inspectors visit
You're bit above my line just now Mr. Ratten-
bury" began the Inspector I should like you o
do the business for II will for old times sake
Z" Is It In the country?' l asked hestatingly
thought of possible clients.
mo- in London" replied Clair Rather sordid
business mysterious and rather out of the ordinary
man has been killed in a Lambeth. No
even knows his name where he came from. He's one
of that great shifting population Of big city, here to-
day and gone tomorrow. Only in this he's been
rested his journey by the hand Of DEATH
This seemed rather poetical the Inspector but
Interested 1 begged that he would proceed, while
got my apparatus ready.
The man, though poorly dressed was evidently Of
superior class, as compared with those with whom he
had been assocating However in spite of that he had
got down as low as Wicks Rents, Lambeth; had taken
room in of the wreched houses there and had lived
there two three days Last night he was found
there done to death with the weapona heavy poker
from the hrepace-lying beside him"
Any clew?' asked Enoch.
Two" replied the Inspector slowly, "a scrap Of
in of his pockets in of his cnched hands
a feather"
"A feather" we both exclaimed at once
The inspector appeared gratihed by surprise He
nodded and pursed up his lips
"A feather" he repeated, "a small thin curled
feather. three inches in ength-a white feather.
l should say from boa belonging to woman though
never could such feather have from Anything
by a in wcks Rents. However" contn-
ued the inspector rising to his feet we'd better
the place; canstalk the way you bringing
your camera, and our friend, Mr.. Voyce is, hope,
accompanying us I'll dismiss my hanson and cali cab
If there are in London worse places than wicks
Rents Lambeth, should like to them. remember
that went through low archway and found our
selves in squald court, with houses either side and
the high wall of a factory the I that
there frowsy and scowling the door
ways and little knot of people gathered about door
in particular The inspector thrust himself through
that knot being made for eagerly and savsh-
ly we into the place where the man lay dead
couple of constabes guarded the which closed
Immediately had got inside
He not PHEASANT sight that dead He had
only been discovered hour before the
lad already reported that ne had been dead since the
-ious night The blow that had killed him had been
lred with much strength ana Subtlety and had lit
crushed in the side G his head ne must have died
Ae instant He lay, huddled heap, against the
table which he had doubtless been standing.
He of about 40 years of age, with hair
going little gray at the temples. His clothes old
and shabby; his face though smoothed by death
showed the stains of dissipation and suggested that
the man had fallen from something better While we
looked at him spoke in hushed though the
dreadful thing at feet could hear
Unless get finger prints find some
motive for the crime there's not much chance dscov
ering who struck the blow" whispered inspector
He obviously too to rob; and. far l
find out from my men, he not known in the neigh
boThood. OF course, 1t may have been QUARREL but
then the had kept himself much to himself during
the three days he had been here"
I took photographs at the inspectors request of
rusty poker and of the woodwork of broken chair that
had been overturned. More than that photographed
that scrap OF that had been found in the
pocket and which bore only two three words without
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, will meet you at the time
you suggest Burn this"
also. spread out the broad palm OF Inspector
Clair, the feathera slight thing that breath would
II had been found caught between the fingers
Of the dead man-something at which he had snatchet