The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-05-21

and musty, but Its details started
forth from the obseurity as he turned
up the lights.
Detective Coogan's words seemed to
come from a great distance as he
said: Here, you see, he was stabbed.
The knife went to the heart. Here
he was hit with something heavy and
blunt; but it had enough of an edge
to cut the scalp and lay the cheek
open. The skull is broken. See
here"
l summoned my resolution and
looked.
Disfgured and CHASTITY as it was,
recognized it. 1t was the face of
Henry Wilton.
The next . knew | was sitting on a
bench, and the detective was hold
ing bottle to my lips.
There, take another swallow" he
said, not unkindly. " | didn't know
you weren't used to it"
oh" | gasped, I'm all right now. u
And 1 was able TO look steadily at
the gruesome surroundings and the
dreadful burden on the slab.
is this the man." asked tho de
tective.
YES"
His name?"
"Dudley-James Dudley" l was Io'
quite willing to transfer the whole oi
my identity to the dead, and changed
the Giles to James.
WAS he a relatile?"
[ shook my head, though | could
not have said why | denied it. Then
in answer to the detectives question
| told the story of the scuffie in the
alley, and of the events that followed
Did you see any of the men? Tt
recognize them, l mean?'
| described the leader as well as
was able-the man with the face G
the wolf that l had. seen in the Ian
tern-fash.
Detective Coogan lost his listles
air and looked at me in astonish
ment,
Il don't see your game, Wilton" hi
said.
I'm giving you the straight facts,
/ said sullenly, little disturbed b,
his manner and tone.
| well, in that case, Id expect yo
to keep the straight facts to youl
self, my boy
1t was my turn to be astonished.
well, that's my lookout" l SAT-
with assumed carelessness.
81 don't see through you," said th
detective with some irritation. Il
you're playing with me to stop thl
inquiry by dragging in-well, W
needn't use names-you'll find youl
self in the hottest water you eve
struck"
You can do as you please" sal
coolly.
The detective ripped out an oath.
IF | knew you we're lying, Wilto1
I'd clap you in Jail this minute"
We'll, if you want to take tn
risks" said smiling.
He looked at me for a full minute
"Candidly, l don't, and you kno'
it," he said. But this is q stunne
on me. What's your game, anyhow?
| wished l knew.
so accomplished detective shoul
not be at loss to answer so simpl
a question"
well, there's only one cours
open, as | see," he said with groal
We've got to have a story ready IL
the papers and the coroner's jury"
This was new suggestion for NJ
and | was alarmed.
You can just forget your little ta
about the row in the alley" he CO.
tinued. There's nothing to sho
that it had anything to do with tn
man here. Maybe it didn't happe
Anyhow, just think it was a drear
This was a waterfront roW-toue
sakoon-killed and robbed by parti'
unknown. Maybe we'll have you b
fore the coroner for the identit1c
ton, but maybe it's better not"
| nodded assent. My mind WI
5 too numbed to suggest anoth
course.
The gray dawn was breakll
through the chill fog, and peop
8 were stirring in the streets as L
tective Coogan led the way out OF Il
e morgue AS we parted he gave me
r curious lock.
l, Il suppose you know your own bu
Il ness, Wilton" he said, but | suspe
you'd be a sight safer if I'd clap "
Il in jail
a And with this consoling CONNIE
+ he was gone, and l was left in t
y dawn of my first morning in 81
Francisco, mind and body at the mac
g of depression after the exciteme
and perils of the night.
II (TO BE CONTINUED)