Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-10-25
From tho New York Firoside Companion
8R@WpWo
THE DETECTIVE.
S-S-S aaastr !
BY TONY PASTOR. /.
CHAPTER XVIII.
A CLEAR RECORD.

A CLEAR RECORD.
Tho hours passed, and no tidings woro
received of tho missing girl. A number
of tho best detectives in New York were
on tho case, but they wcro all bafIled. The
father had sworn out warrant against our
hero, but the detectives were unable to find
him. During all this timo Frank had been
going to and fro from his hotel in tho most
open manner. He was still registered
under on assumed name, however, and this
latter fact probably accounted for tho
officers i'll success. Tho fathor expected
whon Frank was found, his daughter would
be found also. At length ono Of the on
cors met Frank one day on tho street. Tho
detective had been furnished with q de-
scription of him, and recognized him at
once. Ho followed, and finally "piped"
him to the hotel, and tho arrest was made
as described. Frank had been about an
hour iu his cell in tho Tombs, whom the
door opened, and Dir. Palmcdo cntored ac.
companied by one of the detectives. Tho dim
light which the detective had brought with
him shed nickcring light around, revealing
tho prisoner sitting on lis iron bcdstcad,
/ palo aud thoughtful Mr.. Palmcdo was
greatly excited. Rushing toward tho pris--
oner, tho father Of tho missing girl ex--
claimed:
"NVhore is my child? How dare you
steal my chld?" 10
ri did not steal your child! I do not
know where she il! Would to I1eavon that
I did, rs fear the wors,"
cit is useless for you to attcmpt to de-.
ccivo me! We have proof sufficient to send
you to prison for long term, so you may
as well confess at oncc! H.
81 have nothing to confess; toll you'll
fear the worst" ''. :
"Nhat do you fear, young manY"n asked
the detective y.rr
"L fear that she is dcadn'
"Who would kill hcr?"
tllor life was attem pied onco by mys:.
tcrious assassin. l fear tho iend has at last
accomplished his purpose" '''' '''
''Was your daughters life threatened
oncc?" asked the detective, turning toward
Mr.. Palmcdo .u~
"No, sir!' was tho emphatic reply
"What does this young man mean?"
"lie is referring to a masqucrading scene,
in which he acted tho disguised asssssip
himself, for tho purpose of intimiduting my
daughter or myself, or both of us!'
Frank recognized tho drift of The fathcr''s''
suspicious, and at once exclaimed, in tho,
most vehement manner: "
''.Ihat is false. Was not struck down
by tho same shadow-iko murderer"
care you the youth who was stabbed in
front of the - IIotcl2" ~" ~. -
81 am"
Addressing tho father, tho detective
"What was tho date on which your
daughter was assailcd2"
The father mentioned tho date, whom tho
officer said:
"Onc thing is certain, sir, this young
man could not have been an actor in tho
bedroom sconc, of which you told mo, as at
that time ho was lying upon his back at tho
hotel"
This information staggered the father;
but he was a man who always hold tena-
oiouslY to his ideas, and he said:
ole could have employed an agent to do
tho masquemding for him."
The detective, addressing Frank, asked:
"Did you not havo hand in tho abduo-
tion of Miss Palmcdo"'
"No, sir"
"Did you not havo an interview with her
day before yesterdayT'
"No, sir''
"Did you not write 4 note to her bcsccoh.
ing her to meet you?"
"No, sir.'
"Your real namo is Frank Midgcly."
eyes, sir"
The detective handed him tho letter,
saying:
"lNill 20. still deny all knowledge of the
missing girl?"
'.'rhat note is a forgery. I never wrote
it,"
"Ts it not in your handwriting"
at is written in hand which resembles
minc, but never wrote it,"
Tho detcotivo was puzzeJ. 4 longer
interview failed to improve the chances of
confession, and tho two men left, Tho
following day Frank was brought before tn Q
District Attorney. Walton Spraguo had
received telegram, and was on hand. The
prisoner proved that he did not send the
notes. Tho moment his handwriting was
shown, tho forgery became apparent
Whether Mr. Palmedo WAS satisfied or not
tho legal officers were, and Frank wont
forth free man, without having had the
affair made public. Walton Spraguo at
oucc visited Mr.. Palnedo, and offered his
services in an effort to search for the missing
girl. The detective was cooliy informed
that his services we're not required. The
lattcr's intimacy with Frank had led the
father Of Lucy to look upon him with sus-