Great Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 1Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
General
Great Porter Square: A Mystery. v. 1
Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
Detective and mystery stories; Fiction
A week after the murder was committed, Policeman X (as it is not of
an individual, but of a system, we complain, we will not make this
particular constable's name more prominent than it has already
become)--a week then after the murder was committed, Policeman X, in
private clothes, saw lurking in the vicinity of Great Porter Square, a
man: as he might see to-night other men lurking in the vicinity of any
and every square in London. It is a peculiarity of policemen in private
clothes that they are always ready to suspect, and that in their eyes
every poor-looking person with whose face they are not familiar is a
disreputable character. Policeman X watched this man for a few moments,
and took the opportunity of brushing past him when they were near a
lamp-post. The man's face was unknown to him; it was haggard and pale,
and his clothes betokened poverty. These were terrible signs, and
Policeman X at once set himself the task of stealthily following the
man, who walked leisurely towards the house, No. 119, in which the
murder was committed. The house was deserted and untenanted, as it is at
the present time. Now, would the suspected man pass the house, or would
he linger near it? Much depended upon this.
The man reached the house, peered around (according to Policeman X's
statement) to make sure that he was not observed, and then cast his eyes
to the dark windows. He lingered, as though in indecision, for a few
moments, and standing before the door, appeared to be studying the
number. Then he strolled away. It cannot be said that there was anything
criminating in these movements, but Policeman X, determined not to lose
sight of his man, followed him at a cautious but convenient distance.
The man sauntered round the Square, and presently commenced to munch
some stale bread and cheese, portions of which were afterwards found
upon him. He completed the circuit of the Square, and for the second
time paused before No. 119. Again he studied the number on the door,
and again he looked up at the dark windows. Not satisfied with his
inspection in that direction, he stooped down to the grating above the
area, and appeared to listen. Still not satisfied, he ascended the two
steps which led to the street door, and tried the handle.
Nothing more was needed. "I have the murderer!" thought Policeman X,
with a thrill of satisfaction; and without further hesitation, he walked
quickly up, clapped his hand on the man's shoulder, and said--
"What are you doing here?"
The sudden appearance of a human being out of the shadows probably so
startled the suspected man that he did not know what to reply. He thrust
his head forward in the endeavour to distinguish the features of the
questioner. The next words uttered by Policeman X had more meaning in
them. With his hand still on the man's shoulder, he said, sternly--
"Come with me!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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