The Van Buren press., 1871-05-23
MISCELLANY.
How to Prove an Allbi.
A Detectives Story.

One Sunday, about ten years ago, l
found myself at Carlisle. ! was consid-
erably acquainted there, and had been
there pretty often on business; but my
being there at this time was the result of
an accident, merely. had been three
hundred miles west Of this, trying in vain
to find clue to the whereabouts of an
absconding defaulter; and coming back
to take fresh start, found that a food
had submerged the track for several
miles east OF Carlisle. and that there
would be no getting away till Monday,
at the least. SO l made virtue Of ne
ccssity, AMI telegraphing my detention
and its cause to my family, went up
town. Npn
After dinner at the hotel. dropped in
the office Of the district attorney, with
whom was we'll acquainted. / found
him arranging the details Of a number OF
criminal cases which were to be tried at
the court which began on the following
Monday.
Anything Of Importance ?" I asked
rather carelessly.
"One at least" he replied. "Joe Slifer,
a notorious scouidrcl, is to be tried for
highwoy robbery. The victim was drag
ged out Of his buggy or lonely road,
beaten insensible, and robbed of thous
and dollars He identifies Sliter positive
ly as one Of the rullians. '
whats the defense z"
IL cant imagine. don't think there
10 any in reality"
MAYBE he'll prove an alibi.' l joco-
sely suggested. He shook his head
"They'll hardly try that" he said
"The fact is too clear"
After some more unimportant conver-
satlon with him, returned TO the hotel,
where spent the remainder of the day.
The next day was Sunday. Iawoke
quite early, and found the promise Of a
beautiful summer day 80 good that ]
dressed myself and sailed out for walk.
Nobody was string yet about the hotel,
and the streets were perfectly still.
walked around several squares, and re-
turned to the hotel, meeting only one
person on the way.
That person was standing in the door
wav of Il basement saloon as l passed.
looked around casually, and saw him
st nding there in his shirt-sleeves. His
hair was tumbed and he was Gaping, as
if Just awakened did not discover that
he was doing anything particular there
| thought aiterward that it vas quite
likely that he had been left in drunken
fit on the floor or on the bench in the bar
the night before, and that, waking up at
this early hour he had taken the wrong
door in seeking for his lodings, and had
gone out Of doors instead of going t
bed. My look at him was merely side
glance, but that was en0ught to photo
graph his face in my hind. II was thin,
bilious face, perfectly smooth. with a
long nose, much twisted to one side, and
a red scar over the left eye. marked il
instantly as the face of q rascal.
How l could do that l can't explain /;
our business learns us to read faces as
most men read books. and the glance
had at that face told mo that the man was
q lawless fellow. His actions confirmed
the opinion. Sleepy as he looked and
acted, no sooner had he seen me p ,ssing
than he drove back through the Coor and
slammed it TO.
instantly understood him. IA scamp,
on some lay or other, and don't want to
be seem" was my thought. And walk
cd on with his photograph in my mind.
but ceased to think anything OF him OF
the circumstances before l rea ,hed the
hotel
The day passed, and bright and early
Monday morning took my satchcl and
went down to the depot. But it was to
no purpose; the Office was closed. and a
placard on the wall informed the public
that the road would not be opened terore
Tuesday.
went back TO the hotel. too much out
of sorts to enjoy my breakfast. did
not understand, till the day was some
hours older, that was needed more here
at Carlisle than anywhere else, just then.
went from the breakfast table into
the reading room, and after had read an
hour. I heard one man say to another !: