The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-19

Lawson and asked:
WAS Miss Trafton aware Of that men,
orandum in your bureau drawer2'
Yes. sir, she was. replied the old lady;
'but do not, beg of you, think of suspect
ing her. She is incapable of such crime.
Rest assured she has some good reason for
refusing TO tell me where she was last night
some reason which she will divulgc to
me when we are alone
l made no reply, but rs arose TO take
my leave said:
i will commence work ut once, and
will communicate with you Immediately
when l succeed in making any discovery
mo matter what your suspicious may
be, promise INC that you will not let Miss
Trafton know them until you are abso-
lutely certain Of her guilt, pleaded Miss
Lawson.
She shall suspect nothing if can help
it, said.
ALI that day. while was at work on
the case, Miss Trafton's beautiful face
haunted me. Do what I would, could
not drive the thought of her from my mind.
In all my life had never seen q woman to
whom felt 80 strongly attracted. But l
rcsolutcly stecled my heart against the
softening influence of her lovely face, and
determined not TO let it stand between me
and the conscientious performance of my
duty as an officer.
Three days passed, and the afternoon of
the third day, as l sat in my office sum-
ming up the results Of my investigations,
who should rush in but Miss Lawson.
'Mr. Clark she SAID, dropping into a
chair and beginning to fan herself violent
ly, 4 could not wait for you any longer, so
here l am. Have you discovered any
thlngT
Yes, madam, replied. i have dis
covered where Miss Trafton went between
the hours of eleven and twelve that night.
She has not told you yet, lpresumc e
mo, sir; despite my pleading, nay, my
Where did she go9'
She went to the corner Of Broadway and
Eighteenth street, where she met man to
whom, under the light of street lamp,
she paid a sum of money
Good heavens are you certain Of
tbls2'
I have 1t from the lips of an eye-wit-
ness
And who was the man u
Il don't know, Miss Lawson. That's
what [ am trying to find out
tHave you description Of him =
"A rather vague one. lie was described
to Inc as tall, slim, and wearing q black
| was p
Mot the slightest. Oh, this is terrible
Mr.. Clark, I would have stakcd my life on
the virtue and integrity of that girl. And
even now I will not believe her guilty. Per-
haps size can explain it all But, Sir,
have news for you. I've had more money
stolen
'More, MADAME When2'
Two hundred dollars last night and
the same amount the night before.
Both sums were taken as before, from my
safe. Now, MIR. Clark, have PROPOSE
tion to make to you. | want you to keep
u watch on my house to-night. at eight
o'clock this evening will send both Alice
and Barbara out upon errands, and while
they are gone you can come. l will con-
ceal you in the spare room, which is di-
| rcctly opposite my apartment. You can
| sit there in the dark, unseen and unsus-
pected, and watch, and am confident that
your vigilance will be rewarded by some
! discovery of Importance
At the appointed hour that evening l
presented myself at Miss Lawson's cottage.
wasat once ushercd into tho sparcroom. At
nine o'clock Miss Trafton al | the servant
returned. Half an hour latr the entire
household was in bed.
The place was still as dec rs sat
there, a dark lantern by my side: watching
and waiting. The clock struck ten and
had seen or heard nothing to excite my
suspicious at eleven my watch was still
mrewardcd. had but little faith in any
| desirable result from my vigil, and looked
forward to tho long, dreary night which
was before me with anything but pleasur-
| able emotions. But was destined to be
happily disappointed. AS the halt hour
after eleven struck | heard slight noise,
and moment later Miss Lawson's door
opene d and tho old lady appeared loose
wrapper thrown over her, a lamp in her
| hand.
Her eyes wore strange meaningless
! stare. She did not, as at first expected,
enter my room, but proceeded with noise
less tread along the passage-way. In
stantly, suspicion of the truth entered
my mind, and I arose and followed her.
She went down to the lower floor, then
turned into a passage-way, walked the
whole length of that, opened door and
| descend flight of stairs into the cellar.
Arrived at this apartment, she proceeded
| to ono corner where number Of boxes
and barrels were stored, and knclt upon
the ground. She then drew from her pocket
roll Of bills which she placed IN one OF
the boxes. Then rising to her feet, she
began to rctrace her steps.
OF course the reader understands by this
| time as clearly as then understood, that
Miss Lawson was q somnambulisv.
AS she reached the foot of the cellar
stairs, stepped forward and awokc her.
| For few moments she seemed at loss
to comprehend her position, then. as she
gradually recovered the use Of her facul-
ties, she said:
why have been walking In my sleep
again thought was cured of that trick
long ago.
That's just what you've been doing,
madam, said. But don't go up stairs
yet. Look here, and I stepped 10 tho
corner, where she had knelt drey9Aforth