Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-09-24

heart warm with admiration. She seemed perfectly composed and, if not perfectly at ease, at least as nearly so as any woman of her position could be in such a place. Godfrey was pleased to see Drysdale in close at- tendance, and he nodded to him en- couragingly.
 Miss Croydon told her story clearly and with an accent of sincerity there was no doubting. It 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 under the blow of the pipe. He was not unconscious, but was struggling to his feet again when his assailant shot him. =.
 The coroner glanced at the jury, but none of them seemed disposed to ask any questions. Then Goldberg made a sign to Simmonds. He left the room, but reappeared in 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 started from her chair, her face like marble. As for Jimmy, Godfrey was astonished to perceive the fascinated gaze he bent upon Miss Croydon. Goldberg had perceived their agita- ton, and the gaze he bent upon the witness grew perceptibly more stern.
 Miss Croydon" he began, you have described the guilty man as short and heavy set with a dark mustache turning up at the ends. Look at the prisoner before you. Is he the man?'
 He is not" replied the witness in a 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 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 a dozen others con- f1rmed the tale; it was a really good alibi. carefully arranged; there was nothing to dsprove 1t, 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 Simmonds crooked at Godfrey an inviting finger, and to- gether they went down to the detec- tive's private office
 "Sit down." said Simmonds. q wanl 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?"
 Here they are" and Simmonds brought out canvas bag and opened it. Look at them"
 Godfrey turned out the contents and examined them piece by piece. It was merely 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-haye you noticedf It's all summer clothing; see these linen trousers. nowT'
 Godfrey nodded with drawn brows.
 What's thisT he asked suddenly, holding up a swart object shaped like a cla,s shell and halving in the same way along the sharp edge.
 q don't know. A curio picked up at sea somewhere, perhaps. I have c theory that Thompson was sailor"
 "whyT"
 "well, the bag. In the first place. only a sailor would carry his clothes that way. Then put your head down in it and under the tobacco you'll smell the salt"
 Godfrey sniffed and nodded again. Then he got out his knife.
 Lets take a look at the inside of MT. Thompson's curio." he said, and inserted the blade.
 A twist and the sides unclosed. Sim monds sprang back with a sharp cry of surprise as be saw what lay within. and even Godfrey's heart gave a sud den leap.
 For there. colled thrice up2n itself. lay a little viper. with venor1ous. tri- angular head.
 Then in an instant Godfrey smiled.
 Its not alive" he said. Don't you see. iss some marvellous kind of nut"
 Simmonds approached cautiously and took aDoSber look.
 "A nuty' he repeated "A nut7 Well. that beats me-'
 And well it might. for in every de- tail the form was perfect. Godfrey looked at it musingly.
 This mny give us a cIew." he said "T shouldn't Imagine a nut Ike this grows in mary parts of the world. though. of course. a sailor might pick 1t up anyvhere-frorn another sailor. In a sIop shop. even here in New York. perhaps
 He closed tbe she'll together again and placed 1t in the bag. stufing the rest of the clothing in after it.
 ~Thomp=un had no very exalted idea of cleanliness be remarked. His clothing needs q visit to the laundry. And this Is a1lY-
 -Te<- He'd rented his furniture from a store down the street He had to pay lis rent in advance becarlse he had so