The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-03-15


take my leave, said
viii commence work at once, and
win comnunicate immediately with YOU
as noen as I make any discovery"
70 matter what your suspicious may
be, promise me that you will not lei
Miss Trafton know them until YOU ar.
absolutely certain Of her guilt, pleaded
Miss Lawson.
She shall suspect nothing if can
help it" said.
All that day, while | was at work on
the case, Miss Trafton's beautiful face
haunted me Do what might, could
not drive the thought Of her from iny
mind In all my life / had never seen
4 woman to whom / felt so strongly at
tracted But ] resolutely steeled my
heart against the softening influence of
her lovely face, and determined not to
let it stand between me and the con-
aeientious performances Of my duty as an
oticer
Three days passed, and on the after
noon Of the third day, as sat in my
otiirs summing up the result Of my in
yestigations, who should rush in but
Miss Lawson.
Mr. Clark, she said, dropping into
chair, and beginning to fan herself
violently, II couldn't wait for yeu any
longer, 50 here am. Have you discov-
cred anythingf'
AYes, madam | replied, Il have
discovered where Miss Trafton went,
between the hours Of eleven and twelve
that night. She has not told you ret,
presumed
No, sir despite my pleadings. nay,
my commands, she has refused to tell
N. Where did she 90, Mr. CLARK r
s'She went to the corner Of Broadway
ana Eighteenth street, where she met q
man to whom, under the light Of street
lamp, she paid a sum of money.
"Good Heavensl are you certain Of
thisI
Il have it from the lips Of an eye
witness
sAnd who was the manf'
Il don't know, Miss Lawson. That's
just what I'm trying 70 find out, now.
Have you description Of himF
"a rather vague one He was de-
scribed to me as tall, slim, and wearing a
black inoustaehe Have yeu any idea
who he VAST
Not the slightest, sir. Oh this is
terrible Mr. Lawson, l would have
staked my life on the integrity aud
virtue Of that girl And, even now, l
win not believe her guilty. Perhaps
she can explaie it all. But, sir, have
news for YOU / have had more money
sselsn--n
.sAIore, madame. Whenf
Two hundred dollars last night, and
the same amount the night before. Both
su1ns were taken, as before, from my
safe. Now, Mr.. Clark, l have propo-
sition to make to you: l want YOU to
keep watch on my hosse tonight. At
eight o'clock this evening / will send
both Alice and Barbara out Of the house
on errands, and while they are gone you
can come. / will conceal YOU in the
spare room, which is directly opposite
my apartment You can sit there in
the dark, unseen and Unexpected, and
watch, and am confident that your
vigilance will be rewarded by some dis
coyery of Importance"
s.Very well, madame" l said Il viii
be there at eight o'clock"
At the appointed hour that evening
presented myself at Miss Lawsens
{ .ttage. | was at once ushered into the
SPARE room. At nine o'clock Miss Traf
ton and the servant returned. Half an
hour later the entire household was in
bed The place was as still as death as
| sat there, a dark lantern by my side,
watching and waiting. The clock struck
ten, and / had seen nor heard nothing
to excite my suspicious At eleven my
watch was still nnrewarded. l had but
little faith in any desirable result from
my vigil, and looked forward to the
long, dreary night which was still before
me, with anything but pleasurable
emotions. But I was destined to be
agreeably disappointed As the half
hour after eleven struck, I heard a slight
noise, and an instant later, Miss Law
sons door opened and the old lady ap-
1edfcuy Il AOOSc WHttPPtI GAEOWna OEeE
her, lamp in her hand.
Her eyes wore strange, meaningless
stare. She did not, as / at first expect
ed, enter my room, but proceeded, with
noiseless tread, along the passage way.
Instantly suspicion of the truth en-
tered my mind, and | sprang to my feet
and followed her.
She went down to the lower floor,
chen turned into a passage way, walked
the full length Of It, opened door and
descended a flight of stairs to the cellar.
Arrived at this apartment she proceeded
to one corner where number Of boyes
and barrels were stored, and knelt upon
the ground. She then drew from her
pceseg a roll Of bills which she placed
ii one Of the boxes Then, rising to her
feet. she began to retrace her steps. of
course, the reader understands by this
time as clearly as l then understood,
that Miss Lawson was somnambulist.
As she reached the foot Of the cellar
stairs, 1 stepped forward and awoke her
For a few moments she was com
pletely at a loss to comprehend her po-
sItion, then, as she gradually recovered
tAe use Of her faculties, she exclaimed !;
"Why, have / been walking IN my
sleep again9 l Thought / was cured Of
that trick long agop
That's just what you've been doing,
ma M, . 1 said. ssBut don't go up stairs
yet. Look here!' and stepped to the
corner Of the cellar where she had knelt,
drew forth the box and displayed the