Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-03
A Rona.,,e storv.


tells this story:
For several days Lynch a Connors S
restaurant has been haunted by the
Lpresence of fair-haired woman and a
| boy Of about twelve or fourteen years Of
age. Their visits have been irregular,
but they generally occurred about eleven
o'clock or midnight. or at supper time
in the early evening. Taking a seat, the
woman would call for supper or refresh
ments, and then listen eagerly to report
or communication from the youth. Sew
eral times we have met the woman there
alone, where she would soon be Joined
by the boy, and the same long consulta-
ton would ensue. Last night the door
at the ladies' entrance, on Fifth street,
opened, and the mysterious beauty en-
tered and took her accustomed seat at
the corner table, and, as usual, kept her
veil closely drawn. Shortly afterwards
the pale face of the curly-headed boy
appeared at the window, and, after a
glance into the room, entered. We
listened eagerly for cue, and were
rewarded by hearing the boy say:
i am sure 1t is them, | saw brother
Johns face.
"Oh, no, no, no, the woman replied,
starting to her feet. God help us,
Allie, we are lost
III With her pale, beautiful face bowed
down into her hands, the woman sank
down into her chair, while the waiter
started forward to offer her assistance.
The boy waived him of, and spoke hur-
riedly to the woman. At this moment a
man looked into the room from the pave
ment and the next instant three gentle
men walked into the room and straight
to the table where the mysterious couple
sat covering in fear. An elderly gem
tleman spoke first. His only words
spoken seemed to act like magical
charm upon them:
Ny childrenl"
A wild scream, followed by storm Of
sobbing from both of the young strangers,
was the only response received. The
boy was taken with a terrible fit of hys-
terics, that at once convinced us that his
boyish garb was assumed. After the first
excitement Of the meeting was over, the
parent bade his son and the detective
officer who accompanied him to seek
conveyance After their departure we
heard the following explanation from
the pretended boy:
Abodt six weeks since, the wild and
romantic couple had fled from their
home in Reading, Pa, in company with
young villain, the affianced of the
eldest girl, whose only name we could
learn was Gus whose attentions to
the young lady had been forbidden by
her parents.
The two sisters, in company with this
Gus, had resided some time at Day
ton, then awhile in Terre Haute and St
Louis. AT the latter place he endeayored
to induce the two girls to enter a house
of ill-fame, but finding his villainous
proposition thwarted, and having dis
posed of all the valuables belonging to
his young wife, excepting a diamond
ring, he deserted them at Christmas time
and started West
Filled with, bitter and reyengeful
thoughts, accompanied by her faithful
young sister, they followed the villainous
Gus" but lost all trace of him at Kan
sas City. Avoiding hotels and the pub
licity of a boarding house, they took
furnished room on the square, and have
boarded at Lynch at such time as they
we're not at Leavenworth or st. Joseph
The boy, or disguised sister has en-
tered each saloon and gambling-house in
turn, the vengeful sister close at hand to
await the sisters signal to come, but for
more than a week they have sought the
recreant seducer and deserter. The pis-
tol, a beautiful ivory-handled revolver,
was given up to her father just as the
carriage arrived to convey the adven-
turous couple to the Linden, thence to
the train for st. Louis.
The brother remains here few days
to seek what the sisters failed to find.