The Shasta courier., 1872-01-13

thought
care you the detectives z"
ave are" and l mentioned our names
"I must speak to you in private" she
said, and led the way to an adjoining apart
ment. -.
"What do you think of the matter" she
asked when out of hearing of her mother.
GAS yet an opinion would be mere guess
work." l replied.
.Neyertheless | have come to one L
have no doubt that he was murdered, and
that the deed was committed somewhere
near the old ruinons building near the
river"
"Some such idea has crossed my mind,
but there is no trace as yet which can lead
to the proof of it."
"We will find it out, rest assured" she
said, and to this end you must cooperate
with me, and now listen to what l have to
say. To night at twelve o'clock precisely,
do you two visit the old building. | will
J be there. Ask for the young woman who
applied at nightfall to them for shelter.
Let your object be, apparently, to arrest
her."
"But do not understand"
"But you will I am going there at
dark, disguised as beggar girl. By the
time you come my information will have
been collected"
ri will read the guilty secret" she said.
'If the criminal is there, however deep in
his heart he may bury it,
Strange as it may appear, l made no at
tempt to dissuade her from her purpose,
I could not. felt as if the beautiful
creature exercised over me magnetic
control
Those acquainted with with the city at
this period can form some idea of the
danger of the plot we had formed. To us
it was matter of daily occurrence. But
for the young girl, inexperienced and
tenderly nursed, to thrust herself into the
very house of the unscrupulous and desper-
ate wretches who were suspected of this
crime, was simply appalling. 1t would
not do, however, to go to the place before
the hour appointed for our coming for that
would defeat the object in view. 1t was
therefore with many misgiving and un-
easiness but poorly concealed, we bided
our time But we determined to be there
at the very moment, and the clock was on
the stroke of midnight when we knocked
at the door. The outside of the house
gave no signs of life within. The shutters
were securely fastened, and no ray Of light
penetrated the dark mess but muf1ed sound
of voices reached our ears, until our knocks
hushed them to whisper. There was a
momentary hesitation, as if counseling to-
gether. and then the door was opened
wide.
1t was long low room, dusty and brown
from age. About a dozen persons were
seated around, but every eye was turned to
the door. Two men had risen to their feet
and stood in an attitude which might
mean defence, before the fireplace: but
she object that attracted our atten-
ton was a young girl sitting in the
corner of the apartment Her face was as
dark as gypsy's, and the long hair hung
loose on her shoulders her dress was a
poor material ragged and unclean. Patches
and rents had almost changed its hue and
disguised its texture. She seemed too
thinly clad for that cold night, and her
slender frame shivered as if from cold as
the chill air from tie open door swept in.
"What do you want ?" was the stern
question addressed to us by one of the men
at the fire. Before had time to reply the
girl sprang to her feet and spoke instead ,
-"Arrest these menv' Her voice was low
but her face flashing on the light Of the
fire, was that of the Nemesis l had see
that day
There was short fierce struggle, and
the men were in our power. The girl
then walked to place in the floor, and
touched concealed spring, lifted trap
door. She babe Mr.. l. lift the box that
lay in the hidden place. The lid was
wrenched off, and in it were the old mer-
chants money, papers and pocket book.
With the money was found the bill and
word "Canal" written across its back
1t was not long before the men confessed
their crime The old man had been muir
dered and his body thrown into the river.
The daughter accomplished her mission
She had carried out her design and traced
to their hiding places the proofs OF the
murderers' crime. 1t is useless to state
what followed. Long years have fed
since then, and the Nemesis is yet among
the living. Beautiful still, there are many
hearts to grow glad at her smile and share
with her the joys of the home she charms.
GET PATENTs.-At the present time
claims can be bought for $3.50 for placer
and 500 for quartz claims, per acre. If a