Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-26

Fusion Road temperance t1oteI "a
which he had been summoned hastily
ttS barren disorder, the pitttul meager-
ness Of the whole setting, perhaps rem
derea more terrible still by the sight OF
the body crumpled up across the iron
bsdstead, at frst glance filled him with
nothing but disgust
Police Constable Collier. summoned
from his beat 10 take charge OF the
room until one Of his Superiors should
arrive. looked at the matter differently.
It was a gala morning for him. whose
taste for sensation usually had TO be
appeaSe6 by the arrest of pickpocket,
or the stopping OF a drunken brawl.
"Co1ned it fair, he did, sir, he re-
marked.
you2" BenSkin asked.
Dead as mutton. sir.
The detective stood little away from
the bed and studied the room. A single
chair was lying on its back; a worn
strip Of ltnoleur was rolled up and dts
arranged The bed was in disorder. a
broken glass that smelled Of spirits lay
upon the floor. There was a handful OF
loose money on the mantelpiece, and,
curiouSly enough, n gold watch ana
chain. apparently Of considerable value.
BerSkin. conQuerirg an aversion from
which he had never wholly succeeded
II freeing himself. came a little closer
70 the bed ana examined the dead man.
The latter was apparently Of middle
age. clean-Shaven. wearing the shirt
ard trousers OF a laboring man, but
presenting many indications OF SUI
perioy station in life On the floor by
the side OF the bed was revolver from
which one cartridge had been dis
charged.
what about the doctor?" the detec-
tive inquired.
0'T~HE walters gone round to the
l. 'ospital for Dr.. Jacobs, sir. His
s1rgeTy's in the next street. The
woman as keeps the house. she's down
stairs waiting for you"
Bring her up" was the prompt COM
nand.
Police Constable Collier departed
upon his Grand. In due course there
we're heavy footsteps upon the stairs,
and he ushered in the proprietreSS of
the hotel She was untidy, nervous,
and almost incoherent
DO you know the name of this poor
fellow?" BerSkin asked, pointing to-
wards the bed
mfr. Brown, he called hisseIf, sir
Don't know whether that's his right
name or not
How long has he been staying here?"
Three nights-leaStways he slept
here three nights. He hasn't been In
much during the day.
DO YOU know anything about him?"
Nothing, except he's paid a weeks
rent in advance for the room"
Was he staying here alone? Had he
any visitorS?"
None that know Of" the woman
replied. Il amt always about, of
course, but there was no one with him
permanent"
Was this all his luggage?'' Benskin
asked, pointing to shabby kit-bag.
from which the initials seemed to have
been scratched away, and q cheap port
nlanteau.
An that I know Of" she remarked.
He had trunk when he came, but he
took that away the next day"
Did he say what his occupation
Something out Of work. He wasn't
fond OF talking about himself, but he
did let that slip. Kind Of clerk, or
something Of that sort"
Bensi1in looked at the body thought
fully. Did you hear q shot in the
nigi1t?" he inquired.
Not thing"
There was knock at the door, and
Dr.. Jacobs entered He was a pale,
weary looking man, with hooked nose,
thinning gray hair and tired stoop of
the shoulders. He deposited his little
black bag on the edge OF the bed,
greeted the proprietress and looked in
ouiringly toward Benskfn.
Inspector BenSkin of Scotland
Yard" the latter announced. IT was
fetched here by telephone call from the
constable on point duty here. You can
See the cause"
He indicated the figure upon the bed.
The doctor put on pair of horn rim
med spectacles and made q brief ex-
animation.
Bullet through the head" he re-
marked. Close quarters, should say
Case OF suicide, suppose. Wait
moment"
He unfastened the n,.n's waistcoat.
him.
what is it?" Benskin asked. draw
ing nearer.
The decor pointed downward. The
clothes Of poor man outside" he OBJ
kerVed-out silk underclothes. Seems
quaint"
THE detective leaned a little farther
over the bed. The doctor was
fIe1S The mans undershirt was Of
six. He felt round the back of the
neck Inside was the name Of a famous
Bond street hosier.
Some one in hiding, imagine" the
Doctor propounded indlfferently That's
your JOB. not mine. anyway. Cause Of
death, that wound. without a doubt"
How long should you say he had
The doctor occupied himself with the
body for few minutes. About six
hours" he decided He took I'D the
revolver, shook out the cartridges. and
held the weapon 70 his own forehead.
Very simple" he observed. I'll Just
90 what's necessary. and then / sup
pose II viii be the mortuary"
He bent over the bed once more, and
Eenskin continued his search Of the
room. The gold watch had the makers
name IN Il, and there we're the torn
fragments Of several letters that he
carefully placed In the breast pocket
OF his coat. The markings had been
removed from the few other articles OF
clothing. There was nothing in the
shape Of cards or papers by which i'm
MEDIATE Identification was possible The
coeter wrote q fey lines In his mem
oyandum oOok
Any fresh diScoverieg?" Benskin in
oured.
Nothing " discover" was the re-
ply
Soon after the appearance Of the
evening papers a fnl66le-aged man, ac-
cpmpsn.ec by q young lady in state
% considerable agitation. presented
himself a. Scotland Yard and the two
were usAered into Benskjn's room.
The young lady, VINO was good looking
10 = somewhat ordinary way, addressed
hin At once
MISE Hammond. my name Is" she
explained Tn typlst and private Sec
Rotary 70 Mr. William starr He's been
missing for several days.. We thought
he'd gore abroad, but We saw IN the
paper
Size broke down for a moment Her
CON paDion !nterposec word
I'm kgP sss ~