r. Conway, nor can he tell us
when to look for his return. When he does show up, my message will be
given him, etc., etc. I have no fault to find with Mr. Conway.
"But I had an idea in regard to this elusive Brotherson. I had heard
enough about him to be mighty sure that together with his other
accomplishments he possessed the golden tongue and easy speech of an
orator. Also, that his tendencies were revolutionary and that for all
his fine clothes and hankering after table luxuries and the like, he
cherished a spite against wealth which made his words under certain
moods cut like a knife. But there was another man, known to us of the
---- Precinct, who had very nearly these same gifts, and this man was
going to speak at a secret meeting that very evening. This we had been
told by a disgruntled member of the Associated Brotherhood. Suspecting
Brotherson, I had this prospective speaker described, and thought I
recognised my man. But I wanted to be positive in my identification, so
I took Anderson with me, and--but I'll cut that short. We didn't see the
orator and that 'go' went for nothing; but I had another string to
my bow in the shape of the workman Dunn who also answered to the
description which had been given me; so I lugged poor Anderson over into
Hicks Street.
"It was late for the visit I proposed, but not too late, if Dunn was
also the orator who, surprised by a raid I had not been let into, would
be making for his home, if only to establish an alibi. The subway was
near, and I calculated on his using it, but we took a taxicab and so
arrived in Hicks Street some few minutes before him. The result you
know. Anderson recognised the man as the one whom he saw washing his
hands in the snow outside of the Clermont, and the man, seeing himself
discovered, owned himself to be Brotherson and made no difficulty about
accompanying us the next day to the coroner's office.
"You have heard how he bore himself; what his explanations were and how
completely they fitted in with the preconceived notions of the Inspector
and the District Attorney. In consequence, Miss Challoner's death is
looked upon as a suicide--the impulsive act of a woman who sees the man
she may have scouted but whom she secretly loves, turn away from her in
all probability forever. A weapon was in her hand--she impulsively used
it, and another deplorable suicide was added to the melancholy list. Had
I put in my oar at the conference held in the coroner's
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