Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-13

1ou may go, Miss Croydon
She passed from sight, the door
closed, and Godfrey leaned back in his
chair to hear Jimmy tell a smooth
story Of his doings the night before.
Magraw and half dozen others con.
flrmed the tale; 1t was a really good
abb, carefully arranged; there was
nothing TO disprove it. and at the end
the jury, without retiring, handed in
the usual verdict Of death at the hands
of person unknown.
When it was over Slmmonds crooked
at Godfrey an inviting finger, and to-
gether they went down to the detec-
tive's private office.
"Sit down." said Simmonds. 81 want
to talk to you. We're up against
tough proposition"
Godfrey sat down and looked at him.
"Have you gone through Thompson's
belongings"
Here they are." and Simmonds
brought out n canvas bag and opened
1t. Look ut them"
Godfrey turned out the contents and
examined them piece by piece. 1t was
merely a lot of ordinary clothing, most
Of it much the worse for wear and all
Of it strongly impregnated with the
odor Of tobacco.
Anything in the pockets?" asked
Godfrey
Not thing except some loose smok-
ing tobacco. There's one thing about
the clothing, though-have you noticed?
It's all summer clothing; see these
linen trousers. now
Godfrey nodded with drawn brows.
"What's thisf" he asked suddenly,
holding up a swart object shaped like
clam shell and halving In the same
way along the sharp edge.
Il don't know. curio picked up at
sea somewhere, perhaps. / have a
theory that Thompson was a sailor"
"Why?"
well, the bag. In the first place
only sailor would carry his clothes
that way. Then put your head down
in it and under the tobacco you'll
smell the salt"
Godfrey shifted and nodded again.
Then he got out his knife.
Lets take look at the inside of
Mr.. Thompson's curo," he said, and
inserted the blade.
A twist and the sides Enclosed. Sim
monds sprang back with a sharp cry of
surprise as he saw what lay within,
and even Godfrey's heart gave a sud
den leap.
For there, coilcd thrice upon itself,
lay little viper, with venomous, tri-
angular head.
Then in an instant Godfrey smiled.
ITS not alive" he said. Don't you
see. it's some marvellous kind of nut"
Simmonds approached cautiously and
took another look
"A nut?" he repeated. "a nut7 Well,
that beats me.'
And we'll it might for in every de-
tail the form was perfect. Godfrey
looked at it musingly.
This may give us clew," he said.
II shouldn't imagine nut like this
grows in many parts Of the world.
though, of course, sailor might pick
1t up anywhere---from another sailor,
in slop shop, even here in New York,
perhaps" Nv 81,
He closed the shell together ags4n
and placed it in the bag, stuff1ng the
rest OF the clothing in after 1t.
Thompson had no very exalted idea
Of cleanliness" ne remarked. His
nj n n n ru
And this is all?"
Yes. He'd rented his furniture from
store down the street. He had to pay
his rent in advance because he had so
little baggage. That receipts the only
thing that's got his name on it-oh, yes
There's a letter tattooed on his left
arm. but it's not TITS a j."
(which goes to show that his name
wasn't Thompson. think you're right
Simnonds. in putting him down as a
sailor. l thought so last night; in fact,
I've already got two men making a
tour of the docks trying to find some
| body who knew him"
Have you?" said Smmonds, smiling
"Ihat's like you. There's another curl
GUS thing, though, about the clothing
| he had on"
What is that?"
"Some of it's marked with one initial
some with another. Not one piece is
marked with his
The door opened and the coroner's
clerk entered
"Mr. Goldberg sent the exhibits bacl,
to you" be said. holding out parcel
| to Simmonds.
Silnmonds opened it and took out q
pocketbook, a pipe, knife and some
silver money.
"All right" he said. and signed a
receipt.
| Godfrey waited until the door closed
then he rose and came over to Sim
monds' side.
There's something here that nigh
help u.s. he said, picking up the
pocketbook. "Those newspaper clip
pings-why, they're not here!"
Simmonds smiled dryly.
"That's another thing l wanted tt
tell you. The clippings have been 70
moved"
Removed? BY whomw
"That's question. They were re
moved some time between the mOmen
we looked at them and the momen
the coroner took charge"