Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-30

ID ONCE~
crowded with pedestrians and traffic of
all descriptions. At 3 o'clock on this
gusty March morning it was curiously
empty. Benskin, overcome on his
homeward way with sudden craving
for tobacco, looked hopefully at the sin
gle figure approaching, a hopefulness
that deepened into satisfaction as he
saw that the man advancing with long,
leisurely strides was smoking. They
met almost underneath one of the elec-
trio lights.
II wonder whether 1 could trouble
you for match?" Benskin asked apol-
ogetically.
The newcomer thrust his hand into
his pocket and produced a bejeweled
briquet. Benskin was little intrig-
ued by this early morning Wanderer.
He was man of dignifled presence,
pale-faced, with srong yet ascetic fea-
lures, dressed with punctilious care.
His black evening overcoat, open for
the purpose of reaching his pocket, dis
closed as appurtenances of his evening
clothes white cravat tied with almost
large but exquisitely chosen; his pat
ent leather shoes and silk hat betrayed
the assiduous attentions of the perfect
valet. Yet here was one strange de-
feet in his toilet, at which the man
who was now lighting his cigarette
glanced with curiosity
Between the second and third studs
there was small stain, undoubtedly
the stain of spot of blood.
Benskin blew out the light from the
briquet and returned 1t with a word Of
thanks. Its owner replaced it, buttoned
up his coat and passed on with a
brief good night" For single Sec
ond, as the two men were parting, they
exchanged more or less inquisitive
glances. In the gray eyes of the stran-
ger there was no expression save that
of the idlest curiosity. Benskin him.
other feeling-partly professional with
out doubt-inspired In some measure
by that curious blemish in the mans
otherwise impeccable appearance. It
seemed impossible that he should have
passed the evening at whatever func-
ton he had been attending with that
disfiguring spot of blood upon his shirt
His cool, unhurried demeanor betrayed
no sign of having been led into any
kind of adventure.
Yet the conviction that there was
history of some sort connected with
that ominous stain remained with Ben
skin long after he had watched this
early morning Wanderer vanish into the
pool of gray twilight at the end of the
street.
Brooks, the East End detective and
Benskin's coadjutor on many occasions,
looked up when the latter walked into
his room at Scotland Yard on the fol-
lowing morning
We'll, we've got Eddie Higgins at
last" he announced, "or rather we shall
havo him within an hour. And got him
for keeps this time, too"
1.-THE Holme street murder!" Benskin
exclaimed. II read about it in the tube
and it struck me at once that that was
where the woman lived whom he's been
In trouble about before"
Same woman" Brooks assented
for beating her once and six weeks an
, other time. This morning she was
found dead with Eddies knife in her
; heart. I'm going round to the station
now to see him brought in"
"I'll come along if you don't mind, "
Benskin suggested.
They took an official car to the Clerk
enWell road station. Benskin was at
that time only mildly interested. 1t
seemed to him to be one of those cases
In which notorious criminal had at
last delivered himself into the hands OF
justice.
Did he stay on in the house," he
! inquired.
mo, he was seen coming out early
this morning We telephoned down to
the public house where he has a room
! He got in at o'clock very drunk and
was still asleep. I've sent a couple of
men to fetch him. He'll be here in a
i few minutes"
X X X X
The charge room at the station was
empty of miscreants but there was
an air of expectancy among the few
policemen who were lettering about and
the sergeant at his desk. They we're in
the act of exchanging amenities with
the latter when there was the sound
of commotion outside and a tall
heavily built man, bareheaded, hand
cuffed and disappearing volubly, was
almost dragged into the place He