The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-08-26
STORIES BY A DETECTIVE.
A Whited Sepulchre.
CONCLUDED.


women got into the car at Eighth Street.
They might have been taken for fashion
ably-dressed ladies, if they had not been
dirty-an unfailing mark either of low
birth or sudden and rapid wealth. The
car was full of people with their travelling
bags, going on by the Boston train, and,
as no one else stood up, did so, and gave
one of the ladies my place. The feeling of
sympathy, or otherwise which sometimes
arises, is curious phenomenon, and can
not to this day explain to myself how it
was but, before had even glanced at the
dress which this woman wore, it occurred
to me that in her I might find the clue to
unravel the mystery of the thefts at Mr..
Redding's. But so it was. The silk which
had seen at Mr.. Redding's, and which
struck me at the time as SO peculiar in pat
tern and style, did not recur to me at first.
But after while, when l had noticed
somewhat closely the appearance Of the
lady, began to puzzle myself with think
ing where had seen dress like hers be-
fore, till at last it occurred to me that it
must have been in Mr. Redding's store.
Now there was work before me. But the
business which l had in hand was of
much Importance, for had to go to the
New Haven Depot before the departure of
the train, to look for man who was
wanted for burglary committed in New
Jersey. 1t was possible that the ladies
also were going by the train but it was
possible, too, that they might alight before
we reached Twenty-seventh street, and l
must perforce go on. What was to be
done? looked down the rows of passen-
gers in the car, went also or the front plat
form, but found nobody who seemed lik ely
to answer my purpose. While, however, l
was turning it over in my mind, and had
in the meanwhile inspected the rear plat
form, good-looking black-eyed italian
boy got up on the car with basket Of
toys which he wanted to sell. The boy
pleased me, and to my question how old
he was, he aswered "thirteen." And
when I asked him whether he would like to
earn five dollars that afternoon, his eyes
glistened with delight as he replied that
he:would. now asked him his name, place
of residence, the names of his parents and
so on, and noted all down in my pocket
book.
"Now,," said 1 to him, "here is my
card. / am detective, and would like to
know where in the city could find you in
the middle Of the night. But for little
while you must be detective too will
take care of your basket, and you can get
it in the morning at my Office Here are
two dollars to begin with, and viii give
you the other three tomorrow morning.
You may bring your father with you il
you like. I would like to speak to him
and if you do the errand that am giving
you now very well, it is possible that may
engage you in place where you will earn
good deal of money"
had struck the right note and the boy
was at my disposal. now told him in a
whisper that he must 60 on with the car,
and watch where the two ladies went whom
Ipointed l out to him, but in such manner
that they could not notice him, and then
he was to come back to me. Then told
him he must follow them any distance, and
that, in case they separated, he was to 90
after the taller of the two-the one in the
silk dress. If they went into store OF
house, he was to wait until they came out,
and not to give up following them until he
was sure that they would not come out
again and that they were at home. He
was then to notice the street and the mum.
Der of the house, SO that he would be able
to take me there. "Can you manage this
properly, 80 as to not give rise to any sus-
picion ?" asked him.
The boys ambition swas aroused. "Oi
course can," he replied, his eyes beaming
with pleasure; "I'll follow. her till night, il
necessary"
then wrote my private address on the
back of the card which / had given to him,
and told him that II he liked he might
come and stay through the night at my
house. Tears ran down the child's cheeks,
for he evidently had never met with any one
who had spoken to him as kindly before.
Scarcely had / completed my instruc-
tions, when the sound of the bell told VI
that somebody was going to leave the cal
at Twenty-second Street II was the two
ladies. That they might not see the boy'l
splendid eyes-which, If they had seen
they must have noticed--I drew the boy'
cap over his face, and then took him OF
with mo to the next street, where ! pu
him off and enjoined him to bring me
good report. ] told him he was to spent