Evening star., 1924-07-09
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star)


"St. Katherine's docks" muttered
Jifferdene, seeing me look in that
direction. Likely he was going to
sail from there. But they say he
mentioned that Batavier line-their
boats run from nearer London bridge.
Still, that's not many minutes sharp
walk And he came here, anyway
to his end"
He waved his hand, and l saw that
We had come to the scene OF the
murder-a mean and shabby place in
a mean and shabby street Two or
three of the old gray brick houses
had. been thrown into one; across
the level of the tirSt-story window a
long, narrow wooden sign ran--a
blue ground with faded gilt letters:
Kellerman'S Private Hotel. One OF
the lower windows was labeled Cof-
fee Room; another, Commercial
Roem-it passed my comprehension
how either could invite patronage;
the mere sight of the dirty blinds
and window curtains was enough.
We walked in. In dirty entrance
hall and in an atmosphere redolent
of stale food, stewed tea, mutton
chops, vegetables, a man came to
meet uS-a fat, frowSy man, in his
shirt sleeves, whose chief character
istic at that moment was nervous
anxiety. He made a bow that was
almost an obeisSsnce to the two de-
tectives and to me, and hastened to
open the door of what was obviously
his own private parlor. There sat a
very fat woman. sewing, who, on our
appearance, became Is nervous and
fiustered as the man. She got busy
in Offering chairs. Meanwhile the
man stood mute. watching us; it was
very evident to me that he was sore
ly upset. But Jifferdene, having as
certained from his companion that
this was Mr.. kellerman and that Mrs.
kellerman, put him on an easier
footing with a word or two.
Nasty thing for you. this Mr.. kel-
lerman," he said, consoIingly. No
fault of yours, of course, but an un-
pleasant thing to have in your house"
The landlord sighed, as if in relief
at hearing comfortable words. but
the landlady spoke.
Yes, sir-and US knowing nothing
about it--nothing-until the boots
made that awful discovery she said
I'VE didn't even know the gentleman
was in the house"
"Eh?" exclaimed Jifferdene Didn't
know-why, don't you know what
customers you have in here?"
1t is this way, gentlemen said
the landlord, speaking in the slow.
somewhat labored fashion of man
who uses an acquired tongue. The
trade of this house is-what you call
exceptional. The docks-they are
close by. People-seafaring people
they will come in here at all hours
of the night, just wanting bed for
few hours. eh SO we keep a night
porter, who is on duty all night long.
Ourselves-me and my wife-we are
hard-working peOple-we go to our
bed at II. After that-we do not
know who may be in the house-so"
Who does?" demanded Jifferdene.
oh ms Sp-IEnl1
want to see him. then
The landlord went out and present.
ly returned with a man who, as Jif
ferdene afterward remarked, looked
pugilist and had managed to survive
a good deal of punishment. He had
battered nose, SCARED face and a
watchful eye, and it occurred to me
that he would probably be just as
useful in ejecting a visitor as in re-
ceiving one. He gave the detective
a quiet and cautious nod, and when
Jifferdene invited him to sit down
he perched his big, heavy figure on
the edge of a chair in such a fashion
as to suggest that he was not the
man to commit himself to anything,
either in word or deed.
so you were in charge here last
night, after Mr.. and Mrs. Kellerman
had -retired?" suggested Jifferdene
Just tell us what occurred about
this murdered man coming here"
The night porter was evidently pre-
pared for this. He entered on his
story with promptitude which
showed that he had already thought
it out.
LAS far as I'm concerned guvnor,
there was nothing occurred as was
out O. the common" he answered
Nothing! 1 come on duty at II
o'clock, as usual. when the boss there
There was three gentlemen in the
house then" interrupted Mrs. Keller
man. Three highly respectable gem
temen-all customers. Commercials.
Which they had all retired for the
night"
AT II o'clock" continued the night
porter, imperturba bly, AIS quiet
then-alrs quiet till five minutes past
12-midnight. Then this here gem
tleman what we found dead this
morning comes in He says he wants
a bedroom, and not to be called or
bothered till 1880 cause his boat
don't sail till past noon and he's
minded for good sleep. He pays
for his bed and breakfast in advance
according to rule-4 bob. Then he
says he amt sleepy yet and he'll have
smoke. l shows him into the little
smok Groom, side o. the hall, and he
asks me then if l could get him
corkscrew, a clean glass and some
fresh water. ! goes off to get 'em,
W
bottle Of whisky on the table in front
of him. He drew the cork, helped
himself and sat down with his pipe
and glass"
Did he give you a drink" in
He did not! 1 left him" contin-
ued the night porter. IF you want
to know, I'd got a drop O. rum of my
own outside, where 1 sits o. nights.
I'd just lighted my pipe and was
or
when two men comes in at the front
door. They wanted beds and paid for
'em. And seeing the smokeroom door
open and a light in there, they said
something about cigar and walk
ed in"
Before you go any further" inter-
rupted Jifferdene. "can you describe
these men,"
Not in particular" answered the
night porter, with a decisive sha ke
of his head. Il didn't take that notice
of 'em. Seafaring men, I should say.
They was both dressed in blue serge.
and | should think about thirty to
forty years old. Nothing remark abl .
about 'em-ordinary One fellow had
gold rings in his ears-I did notice
that"
Well" said Jiferdene. Anything
happen?'
Not for five minutes or so." re-
man what had come in first knocked
on the table. l went to see what he
wanted. Bring two more clean
glasses, my lad he said, and more
water-these gentlemen'll drink with
me- So | got what he wanted, and
the other two pulled their chairs up
to his table, and l left 'em talking
and drinking together"
Mrs. kellerman interpolated a re-
mark that was obviously apologize.
"Of course she said, cycling the
detective blandly, "of course if a gen.
tleman chooses to bring a bottle OF
spirits in with him and to offer it to
any other gentlemen-"