Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-11-27
CHAPTER w.

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CHAPTER w.
IT1H HE coroner's court was crowd
etl, as 1t always is at any
@vsSl hearing presenting features
SEE of morbid or sensational Ill
terest, and Goldberg, with an in
born love OF the theatric, arranged
his witnesses so as to lead gradually
to the climax, the denouament. lie
put the janitor on the stand first, and
then hal Simmonds tell his story.
Some medical testimony followed as to
the exact nature Of Thompson's III
juries, and the bullet, which had been
extracted, was put in evidence-it was
plainly much too large to have come
from Miss CroydOn's pistol. Finally
Miss Croydon herself was called. \
little gasp Of delicious excitement ran
through the crowd as she appeared ut
the door Of the witness room. Here
was q tidbit to touch the palates or
even the jaded police reporters.
Godfrey. looking at her as she came
steadily forward to the stand. felt his
heart warm with admiration. She
seemed perfectly composed and. II not
perfectly Mt ease, ut least as nearly
80 as any woman Of her position could
be IN such n place. Godfrey was
pleased to see Drysdale in close at
tendance. and lie nodded to him en-
couragingly.
Miss Croydon told her story clearly
and with an accent Of sincerity there
was no doubling. 1t differed In one
detail from the story she had told the
night before Thompson, she said, had
perceived the intruder, and there had
been a short. fierce struggle before
he fell uLder the blow Of the pipe.
He was not unconscious, but was
struggling to his feet again when
his assailal ut s.iot him.
The coroner glanced at the jury, but
none Of them seemed disposed to ask
any questions. Then Goldberg made
IL sign to Si,amonds. He left the room,
but reappeared in Il moment. lead
Ing In Jimmy the Dude.
Not until they were quite near did
Miss Croydon perceive them; then, as
her eyes met the prisoners. she half
lstarted from her chair, her face like
marble. AS for Jimmy. Godfrey was
Iastonished to perceive the fascinated
gaze he bent upon Miss Croydon.
Goldberg had perceived their asita'
ton, and the gaze he bent upon the
witness grew perceptibly more stern.
Miss Croydon" he began. you
lhave described the guilty man rs short
and heavy set with Il dark mustache
turning up ut the ends. Look at the
prisoner before you. Is he the MANI:
He Is not" replied the witness in
la firm voice and without an instant's
hesitation.
"You are sure"
Perfectly sure; there Is little or no
resemblance"
THAT is ALL" he said abruptly.
"You may 90. Miss Croydon"
She passed from sight, the door
closed, and Godfrey leaned back In his
chair to hear Jimmy tell Il smooth
story OF his doings the night b.iore.
Magraw and half a dozen others con-
tirmed the tale: 1t was really good
alibi carefully arranged; there was
nothing t. disprove it, and at the end
the jury. without retiring. handed In
the usual verdict of death at the hands
Of a person unknown.
When it was over SimmOnds crooked
ut Godfrey an inviting finger, and to-
gether they went down to the detec-
tive's private Office.
"Sit down." said Simmonds. II want
to talk to you. We're up against a
tough proposition"
Godfrey sat down and looked at him.
"Have you gone through Thompson's
belongings?'
"IIere they are" and Simmonds
brought out canvas bag and opened
It. Look ut them"
Godfrey turned out the contents and
examined them piece by piece. 1t was
merely lot of ordinary clothing, most
of Il much the worse for wear and all
of 1t strongly impregnated with the
odOr Of tobacco.
Anything in the pockets" asked
Godfrey.
mot 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 this" he asked suddenly,
holding up swart object shaped like
a clam shell and halving in the same
way along the sharp edge.
81 don't know. A curio picked up at
sea somewhere, perhaps. have q
theory that Thompson was n sailor"
"Why?"
"WelI. the bag, in the first place
only a sailor would carry his clothes
that way. Then put your head dowr
In It and under the tobacco youl
smell the salt"
Godfrey shifted and nodded again
Then he got out his knife.
Lets take a look at the inside Of
Mr.. Thompson's curio." he said, anf
inserted the blade.
A twist and the sides Enclosed. Sim
monds sprang back with sharp cry o.
surprise MS he saw what lay within
and even Godfrcys heart gave SUD
den leap.
For there. coiled thrice upon it'elf
lay a little viper. with venomous. TIL
angular head.
Then In an instant Godfrey smiled.
..It's not alive" he said. Don't yol
see. it's some marvellous kind Of nut"
Simmonds approached cautiously ant
took another look.
"a nut?" he repeated. "A nut? Well
that beats me"
And well it might, for in every de
tail the form was perfect Godfre.
| looked at 1t musingly.
"This may give us clew." he said
II shouldn't imagine a nut like thi
grows In many parts Of the world
though, of course, n sailor might picl
1t up anywhere-from another sailo'
in slop shop. even here In New Yorl
; perhaps"