The House Opposite

h in the heavens, but on consulting my watch I found that it was only ten minutes past six. Annoyed at having waked up so early I was ju

ng man keenly, although he appeared to be nothing but a grocer's or baker's boy going on his morning rounds. But looking at him again I thought him rather old for an errand boy, for they are seldom over eighteen, while this young fellow was twenty-five at the very least.

prehensively up and down the street, casting a look in my direction. I thought that he started on encountering my eyes. Be that as it may, he certainly drew

ly into such a heavy sleep that it was some time before I realised that the alarm-bell that had been clanging intermitt

armingly in their sockets, and it was several minutes before I could make out

nt case, I was ready to follow him in a few moments. What wa

night. So this was the explanation of that scream, and I had rema

er blood. On the landing at which we stopped were several workmen, huddled together in a small knot, with white, scared faces. One of the two doors which now confronted me stood open, and I wa

right. Here several men stood together, gazing down at some object on the floor; but at my approach they moved asi

ould not help giving vent to

, whom I afterwards discovered to be the fo

wered, as I knelt d

an steppe

; the Coroner and the gen'l'man from h

ed, his whole attitude suggested nothing so much as a drunken stupor. He appeared to be twenty-five or thirty years old. No wound or mark of violence was visible. He wore a short, pointed beard, and was dressed in a white linen shirt, a pair of evening trousers, a black satin tie,

; but I was astonished to discover, on examining him more closely, that he

red-haired man, in the most comical deshab

oc, what

," I said, "but I am inclined to believe that our friend succumbed to alcoholis

man; "I knew he hadn't died last

, "to think that sich a thing should have happened in this building! We only take the most iligant people; yes, sir, and

quiet, middle-aged man in plain clothes, whom I inferred, from the respect with which he was treated, to be no other tha

s this

pped forward. "We don't

e he her

rd only

do you

ing at seven they come while I was still half asleep, having slept bad on account of the heat, and I gets up and opens the safe myself and takes out the key and gives it to this gintleman," pointing to the foreman; "and he come up here, and a few minutes after

urned towards me with a sli

find that the man has been dead at least twenty-four hours. I have not yet made an examination of the body, as I did not wish to dist

waving his hand in the direction of the gentleman referred to. I was surprised

st request you all to leave the room whil

had finished, he beckoned me to approach, and together we turned the body over. As I had discovered no sign of violence, I was about to tell him that, unless the autopsy disclosed poison, the man had certainly died fr

ng-needle. In the meantime, the detective had been carefully inspecting the clothing. There were no marks on anything except those with which laundries insist

t if he discovered any clue he kept the knowledge of it discreetly to himself.

octor," he remarked,

further north; my office faces

much. Their behavior had certainly been very peculiar. Had they anything to do with this murder, I wondered. I was startled by a soft voice at my elbow, remarking quietly: "You seem struck by something." As I was not anxious, at least not yet, to tell him of my experiences of the night before, I tried to say in the most natural tone in the world: "Oh,

e Coroner deep in conversation with t

an exclamation of surprise on seei

turned towards me, and I felt myself actually blushing. "I was at first struck by a fancied resemb

answered; "he met his death by being stabbed to the heart by a very small weapon, possibly a stiletto, but a sharp knitting-needle, or even a hat pin, could have caused the wound. The crime was co

profound

at this wound was self-infl

ossible,"

partment some time between six o'clock last evening and seven o'clock this morning

n testifies that he himself locked the door in the presence of several workmen; you tell me

d McGorry. "Why, sor, I never saw the man before in my li

ng. But if this place was locked up last night, how came the body here thi

er key was also in my

these keys eve

t May, until three days ago when the painters begun work here. Since then they hav

er, turning to the foreman, "has th

sticking in the door all day, and

ave come to the door, taken the key, and kept

int likely; I haven't seen anyone

rought in here any other way

gs have not been tampered with, and the dust on the fire-escape shows no signs of recent disturbance." Mr. Merritt had gone

this building unperceiv

but now everything seems possible." Even the

ontinued, "and during those hours there are always one or two boys in the hall, and often three. After eleven the watc

e the front hall except to ta

niver, sor, but h

o get out of this house unperceived between eleven P.M. and

o, that's what

out the back d

opened at six and closed

ng the day, is it?" I went on, for

low me to conduct this inquiry. Ye

a back elevaytor, but it don't run in

irs, at any time during the day, unseen, or at any rate unnoticed; but after ten o

's so

mporary inmate of this building; that he wasn't s

ain,

he slightest clue

Jim. He's the elevaytor boy who went for you, Do

er paused

ve you at present

McGorry answered, with a vague sweep of his hand, which seemed to include all those favored regions wh

d who ar

Atkins, who have the apartments above this, only at the other end of the building." I pric

people bee

; they are a newly-married couple, I am told." And not a word of the mysterious pair I had seen in the adjoin

hat there is no one else in t

Mr. Merritt here whispered something to the Coroner, whereupon the latter turned to McGorry and said: "Please see that no one leaves this building till I have seen them. I don'

excitement; "shure and you wouldn't mix Miss Derwent up in this! Lord, she ain'

ncluded, must view the cor

sor,

d the Coroner; "the

out to give the desired order. O

Miss D

ss May Derwent." So it was the fashionable beauty I had b

only daughter of Mrs. Mortimer Derwent. She arrived here unexpectedly on Tu

e come

s,

t even

s,

nusual thing for a r

ally; "she has never done it before. Ma

rwent bring

ut a hand-

ts! Do you know any reason f

e shopping to do. A good many parce

key to her

or the summer they leaves one key wi

nt into her apartment,

t her

n the young lady w

y that?" inquired M

o her place to get her

not that I

east thing for herself should go to an apartment in which dust and dirt had been accumulating for several months

in, anxiously, "and young ladies, especial

s a slig

n the building besides you

s wife-French people they are; and

d by Mr. Merritt, proceeded toward

mployees, one b

s,

em. The Coroner frowned, evidently considering me a very unnecessary addition to the party, but his displeasure