The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1869-03-20
Signed with my Own Blood.
BY CAPTAIN HOWARD.

IN the Spring OF 1S0J L entered the
detective force. [ will not here give the
why's and wherefores for SO doing, but
leave the reader to. conjccture It is
said that when man becomes detect
ive-a man kunter-he is desperate.
The sayin. was applicable to my step.
But why did you do it, captain ? asks an
inquis;tive reaIer. Perhaps, my dear
friend, L had been jl;ed; perhaps a
great comnerciai crash left me penniiess ;
or. doubtless, found the years of bach
eloi hood gathering around me, and I
with no visible means of support. The
last conjecture is most probable Don't
you thirk so2
But to the story-thc leaf pluck
from detective life
l was seated one morning on the steps
or " house, waiting for break fast
when little Dick, the errand boy OF head
quarters, ran up aud whispered
captain, the chief wants YOU
.Is his business urgent, Dick % I
asked, for did no. relish walk with
empty stomach.
No; you can eat your break fast"
and the boy bounded away.
After partaking of my mornings meal,
consisting of coffee, ham and es.s-a
dish reiish-I sauntcred towards head
quarters. As | entered Eighth street, [
saw several groups of men talking excit-
ediy, knew that something important
had lately taken place with which my
summons to headquarters was connected
L quickened my step. and not long after
ward stepped into the office
Take chair, Howard" said Mat
sell.
l seated myself, and he continued:
GA murder was committed last riolt
Some person or persons assassinated Mr..
Royston, the banker, in his chamber"
"They did ~ | exclaimed.
"Yes; you wi / have to work out the
case, as the rest of the force are engaged.
a reward of five thousand dollars is Of
fered for the arrest of his murderer"
''I will do what I can to bring him to
justice" answered, sand will procee /
at once to the scene of the midnight
work"
[ went directly to the bankers man
sion, and was shown to the room where
the body still lay as it had been found
An examination of it and the chamber
gave me clue by which I hoped to Sc
cure the Williams, for | knew now that
two persons were concerned in the trae-
edy. l went to work with success in the |
distance, and in month felt the rosues
within my grasp. But on the thresh old |
of accomplishment was thwarted.
One night as [ was standing by a
iamppost, my head bowed upon my
breast meditatingly, hand touched my
arm, and looking up confronted rather
richly clad female. Her face was cov-
cred by vail, through which l caught
CLEAN OF eyes-fery eyes-li.e the flash.
es OF lightning on an inky sky.
"Ha. l have found YOU at last. have
2" she exclaimed.
"lt seems so.' replied, "What do
you want with me 2"
"Do you ever listen to- death bed con.
fessions p
mot often"
"I have friend who is nearino the
portals OF that undiscovered country.
He has secret--one which he has car
lied in his heart these many years
which he wishes to con6de to YOU
"Why to me 2" [ asked. ssThcre are
ministers who will hear it, and soothe his
lying moments with comforting
houghts."
"He will confess to you alone, as his
is about case you worked on
nee. Will you go ?''
/ hesitatcd. The woman might be
incere, or she might be decoy to lead
ne into net set by thieves and mur-
erers, who wished to rid the world of .
20. But that case / had worked on
atarteda Perhaps he knew about the !,
mi n vkr II Il