The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-01-19
F0ILED BIZ A WOMAN.
a Loaf nom rho Diary of Detective

a Loaf from rho Diary OF Detective
"Mademe, it is my duty to arres,
you"
"You dare not !"
The lips were white with passion
rather than fear, and the lady stood be-
>tpre me like lioness Mt bay. Even
then | could not but note the splendid
beauty Of this grand lady. Tall aud
slender, eyes black and Aashing-almost
lurid now, tho spectacle she presented,
standing there in the middle of the
apartment, was moro the appearance
Of queen than hunted criminal.
al must" replied, III do not doubt
your innocence. Looking into your face
it is strange that any ono could couple
it with guilt but | am constrain' d to
do my duty, however inimical it may DO
to my feelings"
"Will you allow me to change my
dress 2" SHE said, in tone almost pleas.
ant. The hard lines around her mouth
had rclaxod, and the passionate glow on
the face gave way to pleasant
smile.
"Certainly, I will wait for you
here"
'sf wish also to send a messenger
for friend will you permit him to
pass 2"
"Certainly."
"This was my first interview with
Eugenia Cornill. 1 had seen her here
for months, the leader Of our gaycst and
most fashionable society. LII her
splendid mansion she dispensed with
the most profuse and elegant hospital
ity.
a Spanish lady--a widow she had
represented herself, aud had been a res.
ident here almost year. No one ever
suspected hor Of being aught than what
she seemed, until one day I was ordered
to arrest her rs murdcress.
It was now alleged, said Mr.. IT,, that
this young beauty was no other than
the woman who had poisoned her hus-
band in Havana, and fed with all his
wealth. An immense reward was Offer
ed for her apprehension, aud the cir
cumstances that had como to our knowl-
cdgo pointed her out beyond all doubt
as the person we were in search Of
Yet the person wlIo recognized her the
evening before at the theatre advised
us to be careful lest she should escape
US. laughed at the idea. Air. |, aud
myself wire surely sufficient to arrest
lady. We were old enough in he ways
OF cunning to defeat any such attempt.
When the lady left me, stopped to the
window, and said to Mr. Iwho vas watt
ing at tho door.
"Thc lady desires to send mcsscn.
ger for a friend, suffer him to pass"
Almost ut the same instant the door
Of tho apartment tho lady had entered
opened, and Il youth apparently mu-
latto boy-camc out and passed hurried>
ly through the room into ,hc hall, aud
fron thence into the street. 1t was no
doubt, the messenger, I thought, and
picked up hook and commenced read
ing Nearly an hour passed, aud still
the lady did not make her appearance,
nor did the boy return. The friend she
had sent for must live at some dis
tarcc, thought, or the lady is unusu-
ally careful about her toilet, and 81 an
other hour went by. at last be-
came impatient, and knocked at the
door.
"Nladamc, can wait no longer"
There was no reply. | knocked re-
peatedly, and at last determined to force
an enterance. Strange fears harrasscd
me. began to suspect know not what.
II took but moment to drive in the
door, and, once in the room, the mys.
terry was revealed. The robes of tho
lady lay upon the floor, scattered over
the room were suits Of boys wearing ap
parol, similar to that worn by the mulatto
boy. On the table was cosmetic that
would stain the skin to light delicate
brown.
l was foiled, for surety; the lady
had escaped in the disguise Of the mes.
sengcr. i should have detected the rusc
felt humiliatcd, and determined to
redress my error. | knew she would
..st remain in the city an instant longer
than she could get Away. hurried to
her bankers, but found that she had
drawn the amount due her an hour
before.
"Who presented the check 2" asked
Of the clerk.