New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-10-03

could obtain a clue to it was to be sought for.
Did he understand the art OF photographic!
If he did, one good point was made. | had
failed in every attempt to find his occupation,
until the following opportunity occurred, IN
availing myself of which claim some credit Tor
sagacity.
Ross came limping to me one evening, bear
ing an expression of pain. inquired what the
matter was, at which he dropped into a seat be-
side me, and in a coarse manner began cursing
his corns. which appeared to have been the
cause of his lameness. While he was lamenting
his misfortune, an idea occurred to me. had
been troubled with corns myself, and had eradi,
Gated them with nitrate of silver, a chemica!
much used in photographing. "Mr. Ross" said
|, 'you can be eflectualy relieved by an article
that you have probably used, and are quite
likely to have with you.
"What is it2'' inquired he, anxiously.
sit is chemical that stains the skin and hair
| black said /.
''Indeed," said Ross, with forced surprise,
and apparently very uneasy:
cit is article quite indispensable in the art
Of taking pictures by the solar light" said l,
gazing directly into his eyes.
Yes replied Ross, without inquiry.
"Nitrate of silver. Did you ever use it?' !
inquired; AGO..
before my gaze, he arose and left me, unmistak
ably embarrassed and ann Dyed.
This interview nearly settled the question IN
my mind with regard to his criminality, and the
prospect of bringing him to justice pleased me:
| observed him closer than ever. He appeared
less lame the morning after had suggested the
| remedy, and on the second day his lameness
| had entirely disappeared. l ventured to ask,
after ccngratulating him upon his Improvement,
whether be had obtained the chemical aboard,
and although he denied it, had but little doubt
| be had awaited himself of my remedy. For;u
| nately, to discover whether he had was com.
pletely within my power. If Rosa had applied
the chemical to his corns, blackened, indelible
| stain remained, which important fact was de-
| termined to find out. SLOUGH aud | met fire.
Quently to compare notes, and our interviews
| were generally late at night. He always came
to me upon the quarter deck, aud, as our ill luck
would have it, had been observed by Ross tres,
passing upon the quarter forbidden to the occu-
/ pants of the steerage.
The extent Of my perplexty can be imagined
when, while waiting anxiously to have an inter
view with my partner for the purpose of devising
a method to have peep at Ross toe, Ross
| himself came to me in confidential way, and
whispered that he was keeping a close watch
upon that thievish looking fellow, describing
my partner that his scarf pin had been stolen,
and that he was suspicious it had been taken by
SLOUGH. managed, with some risk and diff
Guilty, TO whisper few words to my partner
shortly after, requesting him to keep away from
l
to work to get look at Ross foot. We were
| then sailing in low latitude. The nights were
| sultry and warm, and all the windows and doors
| that decency would allow open during sleeping
hours, were left So Ross apartment being
near mine, arose late in the night, and, taking
q lighted lamp, held it concealed beneath my
hat, and stole. noiselessly within his chamber
| Nothing but a sheet covered him. ana gently
raised its corner, and thus exposing his foot
set the rays of my lamp upon it, pretty large
spot, as black as ink. dis6gured one of his toes
| His deep and measured respiration emboldeneC
me to remain still longer, and l gave good
look at his face in a state of repcse. The con
viction again, and with more force, presented
itself that had known him long before. ! re-
turned to my berth puzzling my brain to replace
him in my recollection, but without success.
Having proceeded thus far, contrived on the
following morning to see my partner, when lait
the whole matter before him. / had no doubt O
his approval of my strategem to implicate Ross
but he surprised and mortified me by shaking
his head in a dubious way. My nitrate of silve
test evidently went for nothing with him. The
physiognomy of Ross had already been sub
mtted to his wonderfully scrutinizing examina
ton, and his judgment had pronounced him in
nocent Of the crime. / argued and endeavore(
to reason with him upon the suspicious manne
of Ross when had suggested the remedy 70
his corns, and inexplicable concealment of tn
|
} carried with him to all of which Sloucl
scarcely deigned a reply. While was urging
him to carry the matter further, he interrupte'
me with the following question:
"How would you like to make love to tn
gal with the pearl bracelet, Tony?''
replied that was about half in love wit
the lady already, and that it would be pleasan
undertaking, expressing, however, some doubt
of my success
"isn't she pretty?' said ].
SLOUGH shrugged his shoulders, gave me 81
wink, and then burst into a laugh. :" Max
! love to her." said he.
Business" answered my partner seriously
Explain YOURSELF said l.
"Well," said SLOUGH, "you must make up t
the gal in sort of loving, serious way an
Wen both see a little fun"
| was about to call for a further eXplanatio
J from my partner, when l CHANGED to observ
Ross watching us from distance. 1 left Slouc
at once, and went sauntering of in careles
way.
: felt a good deal annoyed by this intervie
: with my partner. He had treated my straiagei
; with indifference, and had regarded my afiinit
t for lady with levity. The idea of my being T..
t. quested to make love to her as a cool bushes
transaction, with predicated result of witness
ing fun. SLOUGH was something of a wag, bu
knew from the manner of his request that h
| expected some result more than amusement
; had now an additional ince ntive to make myse
agreeable to the lady. and determined to brin
, all my art to bear, that success might follow.
began paying her marked attention, and IL
! truded upon her society whenever | could fin
her apart. She treated ME at FIRST with reserve
but persevered because she was really attrat
; tive, because her Indifference in measur
wounded my vanity, and for the less importan
|, reason that it was furthering some scheme of m
partner to bring to justice the criminal crim
: nails upon whose hunt we had started. My effort
J we're not wasted. l could discover after awhil
that the woman wa- really becoming fond Of ms
Her manner toward me became serious aud sh
: began to welcome my attentions with undisguse
delight. My intimacy with her, however, coole
my admiration. l perceived in her cruel, sell
ish nature, impulsive and sensual, with only tn
shadow of conscience. A mere vOluptuoll
figure and handsome face dressed up with al
and few superficial graces. | soon becam
! cloyed with her company and would have gladl
rr;rea,ed had not the business consideration in
duced me to follow up the affair, which did,
must confess in such an ardent, heartless man
ner, that she actually declared her preference,
for me above all other men she had met. A
i this stage became uneasy with my position, 70
hardened as | had become by contact with crime
| do not think any person can charge me wit
cruelty to women. ! accordingly contrived t
! see SLOUGH, and demanding an explanation, re
fused to proceed step further unless he gave il
Snow, Tony" said my partner, ''snce yo
talk Of leaving the gal, I'll tell you jest exactl