Hand and Ring

ick-Se

o catch w

ml

nd project into view, groping for the handkerchief which was, doubtless, hidden in the hat which he now perceived standing on the floor in the corner of the door-way. He looked at that hand well. It was large, white, and elegantly formed, and wore a seal ring of

t to glance aside, when, to his great astonishment, he saw the hand appear once more with the handkerc

ndkerchief back into the hat. “One does not take off a ring in a company like this without a good

ways of his fellow-detectives, he found it impossible to tell whether the significant action he had just remarked had escaped the attention of this man or not. Confused if not confoun

ctionary preparin

ch Mrs. Clemmens acknowledges herself to have entertained in regard to her personal safety. Now, while duly impressing upon you the necessity of not laying too much stress up

f dozen or so words indicative of the advisability of examining the proprietor of the Eastern Hotel as to the name and quality of the several guests entertained by him on the day of the murder; and having signed this communication with his initial letters H. B., looked about for a messenger to carry it to the

h a slight smile Mr. Byrd was not slow in attributing to its true source, he read the note through, then turned to the officer at his side and gave him some command that sent him fr

t was in an envelope that had never been sealed, and was, if I may use the expression, tucked away under a pile of old receipts. The writing is similar to that used i

en rested, looked up with a flush, an

sible culpability of a gentleman living in Toledo, Ohio, known by the name of Gouverneur Hildreth. He is a man of no principle, and my distinct conviction is, th

lemmens, Si

reaking the universal silence occasion

echoed the burly man

Perhaps they found themselves sufficiently engaged in watching that half-seen elbow, which since the reading

home at this present time, but is somewhere in this region, as will be seen by the following telegram from the superintendent of the Toledo pol

hen last heard from was in Albany. He has been living fast, and is well known to be in pecuniary

day,” he continued, taking up the telegram t

rate way, and said that if something did not soon happen he should be a lost man. Horse-flesh and unfortu

d b

t he has been

cast in that direction by persons who could see the owner of that now immovable elbow, he would have been assured that all was not right, by the alert exp

and the wonder was, that there were no more to observe this exciti

mewhat trying delay, “is the proprietor of the Eastern Hotel. Ah, here

embarrassed look about him, which convinced Mr. Byrd that the words in regard to w

tell us in the meantime whether you have entertained at your

t of way. “We have always a great many men from the West stopping at our house, b

pect your guests to put

s,

cion of the coroner, and he was about to address him with another question

who writes himself down h

juryman and looking over his shoulder at the book.

paused and looked about him with that same embarrassed look before noted. “He is

preted the sudden dive which he made, and the heedless haste that caused him to trip over the gentleman’s hat that stood on the floor, causing it to fall and another handkerchief to tumble out. But Mr. Byrd, who had a detective’s insight into the whole matter, saw something more than appeared in the profuse apologies which the thick-set man made, and the hurried manner in which he gathered up the handkerchiefs and stood looking at them before returning one to his pocket and the other to its place in the

g. “And came yesterday? Why, then, did you l

use he was there once before, though his n

And on

he sudden decision of one who sees it

of the

s,

he book at that time if he ca

rely called in, as it were, and d

that he was there? Did yo

s,

at did

ctions to a certain h

se h

w Clemmen

ury brightened visibly, while the assembled crowd gave vent to a deep murmur

to the house of Widow Clemm

-past eleven i

very

he leav

er taking a gl

ou not see

l yester

time did you se

o’clock train; but I was away all the afternoon and did

at passed bet

I inquired if he had registered his name. He replied ‘No.’ At which I pointed to

nd what you have mentioned? ask him no que

took him to the Widow Clemmens’ house, but he snubbed me so quickly, I conc

that an unknown man had been at your house on the

in keeping out of all sort of messes. Po

roner may have convinced him tha

well, “what sort of a ma

e sort of person with whom you would be li

ed the hotel-keepe

ed; then, in a different tone, repeated: “Thi

breakfast-time. I hav

he coroner, turning to the officer at his side. “Go and s

ke up full and loud

the thick-set man showed himself for an instant to the coroner, then walking back, deliberately laid

om, appeared with a bound from beyond the jamb, and pausing excitedly before the man, now fully discovered

ssurance, “if you will step out he

ed complacency, the gentleman stalked hurriedly forward and took his stan

ed, “what hav

om replying, though he gave a quick look at the coroner, which led

w this g

r. Cleme

the window, inundated for an instant the face and neck of the gentleman, but was foll

n; I should call him now

instant before been red, the gentleman turned and surveyed the

have never been introduce

he had previously put there, and presenting it to the other with a bow, “b

m of espionage.” And stepping into the other room, he walked haughtily up to the coroner and excl