Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-08

mo, sir" was the reply; "we have not
yet sufficient evidence
The disguised officer soon so won on
young Austin, by his engaging address, that
they became inseperable, and the young
man, with great apparent frankness, opened
himself freely to TO his companion, seeming
10 not dream of the terrible use that might
be made of his remarks
To the questions of Smith and the lady,
the officer replied that proof was aocumu-
lating in his hands, and that he had no
doubt of convicting the offender.
Meanwhile, as if to give color to their
suspicious and afford q motive for the deed,
the will of Mr.. Austin was read, which,
while leaving the bulk Of his property 10
his wife, left his nephew considerable
legacy, and, as said nephew was sOmeWhst
extravagant, with but little means Of sup
porting IL, q knowledge ofthis legacy might
have urged him to the murder.
Smith, all this time, was ingrstisting
himself with the widow, probably thinking
pretty wife and large fortune something
well worth winning.
A few days after, as they all sat in the
parlor conversing, Mrs. Austin casually al
luded to card-psrty, in which they had
been engaged, on the evening preceding the
day of the murder.
"By the way" she continued, "that was
my first initiation in the ancient mysteries
of gambling. Mr. Austin insisted on put
ting up a stake, and we fell into the whim
with all the excitement of old gamblers"
"And you, as usual, had the luck to win
every thing" said Smith.
"Not So" she replied; "you pocketed
some of the winnings 1 remember your
winning a silver dollar, on which Mr.. Aus
tin had scratched the representation of an
eagle calling it q double-eagle."
"You are mistaken" answered he;
"Charles here won the eagle"
"Not l." answered Charles; ~ do not res
member the circumstance. 1t must have
occurred after left"
Exactly" replied Mrs. Austin; /" Mr..
Smith was undoubtedly the lucky man.
Pray, sir, what did you do with the prize?
You promised to keep it,"
"Then have broken my promise" he re-
piled; "for certainly have no such article
at present. In fact, had forgotten the cir
cumstance."
~ am ashamed of you," said she, play
fully; lis it thus you keep your promises ?'
"The next make you will be more care
full to keep" he answered, with meaning
in his voice that called q slight color to the
| lady's cheeks.
At this juncture Wilson, the detective,
rose and left the room. Shortly after, he
re-entered, while they were still conversing
on the murder, and wondering how the cul-
prit had been able so completely to hide his
track.
"Do not imagine So" said he; 'justice is
not so blind as she is painted"
Opening the door, he called in brother
officer, and, exhibiting warrant bade him
to arrest his man. AT this there was a vio-
lent start of surprise among those present,
while their eyes went from one to another
in amazement at the thought that the muir.
derer was among them. Those in the secret
bent their eyes on Charles, lwho sat in per-
feet composure, with smile on his lips.
The officer, however, walked by him, and
deliberately laid his hand on the shoulder
of Smith. That worthy started as if SER
pent had stung him.
"Take off your hand, fellow" he cried
"there is your man."
''No, you are my man" replied the other;
"eh, Jack
"You have struck the right game" saiG
Wilson.
At this assertion, Smith became pale a:
death, and strove, by series of indignant
remonstrances and threats to escape from
the stolid officer. Mrs. Austin beheld all
this with complete amazement. So unex,
pected q denouement entirely oyerpowered
| her.
"What means all this ?" she exclaimed,
at length; "why do you accuse Mr.. Smith
of this horrible deed? On what grounds
can you base such an unlooked-for accusa-
tion?"
"No doubt, Mrs. Austin, replied Charles,
"that hypocrite has succeeded in deceiving
! you, but our friend here was something too
| sharp for him. 1t was keen game of his,
| to attempt to lay his own crimes on me, and
| to bring skillfully-arranged proofs to bear
| against me. But such game, when dis
| covered, Immediately becomes transparent,
and his schemes have returned on his own
head"
at is a base conspiracy" exclaimed
Smith, with the appearance of violent indig-
nation. "What one suspicious circum-
stance can you bring affainst me?" Has
not proof after proof been collected against
him? Was not his button found in the
dead mans hand %
81 can only say" replied Wilson, "that
that part Of your scheme has failed. There
was no button there"
"Whatr' cried Mrs. Austin, II saw it
taken from his hand"
"And saw it put there returned Will
son. "Mr. Smith held the button in his
own hand, merely pretending to take it
from that Of the dead man, as l and my
friend here can testify. 1t was evidently
his aim to direct suspicion against Charles
| Austin, and, if possible, commit second
murder to hide his first. So his well framed
remarks about meeting him on the night of
the murder were manufactured for the same
| purpose, for Mr.. Austin can prove a COM
! plete alibi. Are you acquainted with this
article Mrs. Austin ?" and he took a silver
dollar from his pocket and handed it to the
lady.
Smith grew paler than ever at the sight
Of this, and bent forward in trembling at
tention.
"Why this is the very dollar that wa
scratched by Mr.. Austin" replied she 9Th
one that he called a double-eagle, and tha
Mr.. Smith won"
"Are you sure of all this2n asked vii
son.
"Perfectly," she replied.
~ found this on the floor of the murders
mans chamber" said he. "Remove you
prisoner sir"
Smith, struck dumb by this concentrate
of proof where he believed his track to b
completely hidden, suffered himself to t
quietly removed, leaving all behind in
state of the utmost astonishment.
''What possible motive could he have fC
such deed ?" exclaimed Mrs. Austin {
| IauoIh