Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-02-24
A Detectives Story Of
New York Life.


moustache and crossed one leg ovel
the other, rs if settling himself
down for a narrative in which be
had personal interest. "WeIl it was
one of the most remarkable cases
that / ever had anything to do with,
and John Young will tell you the
same thing. He took a hand in
working it up, and if be wasn't as
much astonished as any of US be.
fore we got things dead to rights
you can set me down as a donkey,
Now, if you you've got time I'll tell
you all about"
The detective was informed that
be would be atteniiyely listened TO-
at happened-Iet me see, its
now IS70-Well, it happened sew
teen years ago. 'Old Man Matsel
was an officer then, and things were
not allowed to 60 begging to be
worked up in those days, can tel
you. ! remember that | Was sit
ting in the Office one cold night all
alone. 1t was raining luriOusiy,
and the wind shook the windows as
though bent on making short work
of the old shanty in BrOome street.
A good fire was burning in the
stove aud l felt particularly CON-
fol table; in fact, | was just
falling into a dcze when the Cffice
door opened without anybody
knocking. The sharp gust of
wind that came rushing in brought
me to my senses, and on starting to
my feet, half unconsciously, / saw
the outline Of female form before
me in the din light, for l had weak
eyes then, you know, and eouldn'i
bear the gas at its full height.
TUNED the burner hinge at once,
and saw that tie person who stood
before me sbiveripg with the cold.
aud with water dripping down from
the shawl she had drawn over bel
head, was girl apparently about sew
enteen years of age. Her face was
ccmely one, and as she raised her
hand to her eyes to brush away
tear-for she was crying bitterly
| saw the sparkle Of large di6-
mond on the forefDger Of the left
hand.
81 had to ask her several times
what she wanted before she could
reply, so violent was her grief.
AT last she eXelaimed:-
Have you any record Of an &C.
cident to a person named Miss p?
81 went and looked over the tel.
egraph book aud answered, mo.
""Heard nothing at all about any
such perSon?' and the child-like
face wore such an expression OF
hopefulness that [ really would
have given a months salary to have
been able to say, Yes, in reply.
Nothing Shatever,' | answered
"'My God (! then it must be SO,
she exclaimed, WriDglng ber hands il
anguish, as she paced to and fro IL
the room.
81 tried to pseify her and finally
succeeded in making her sit down
She asked for a glass Of water, anC
on its being given to her dipped be-
hand into it and then bathed be-
temples. She ther d
"Listen y =, I'm in a hurr,
and can't 4e.e time in words. Mis-
P is friend of mine. She i
three years older than lam, thougl
she looks just as young. There's he
picture. Look st it well for yoI
may have to make use of it. Sh'
went to the country last week, an'
to-day l received letter from he
friends there inquiring of her. The.
said she had left the city 70
three days before; they we're aston
isbed by a letter from me addresse'
to her. They reasoned that | oOgh
20 b. aware of her presence In town.
"Here the young girl began t
sob again as il her heart woult
break. She controlled her emotion
after awhile, however, and went on
+" What could ] do? ! bethougb