Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-06-08
Selected Sforp.
A Detectives Story.

It was a dark, rainy day. The
dawn had stolen in through the ashen
clouds, and a dense fog wrapped
around the houses and lay upon the
streets like winding sheet. A misty
wind, steely and cold, now and then
would whistle along the wide avenue
and rattle the shutterless easements
OF the old brick house. A wild, blus-
tering day was that Tuesday, twenty
years ago; and many heart sbrank
with strange feeling Of horror as
they read in the morning papers Of
New Orleans Of the tragedy far down
on Charles street. 1t was one of
those densely-crowded districts for
which certain localities in that city
were then noted.
Mr.. land myself had been sent
for at an early hour and were among
the first to reach the place. where a
Young girl in the very flush of her
tender womanhood, lay murdered.
On a low cot, the crimson stain on
sheet and pillow, and the dark hair
thrown back like floss Of silk, the
dead glrl lay. Underneath the linen
sheet was traced the outlines Of the
slender limbs and rounded form. Full
of grace and exquisiteIy fashioned
had the creature been in life. Even
with the seal of death stamped upon
her face and form she looked like a
child asleep. One almost expected
the glorious eyes to open-the long,
black lashes to lift from the waxen
cheek. A smile yet fingered about
the lips, as sunshine plays on could,
sometimes and the olive tint of the
brow and neck still looked life. like.
Tae tears fell like rain as we look ed
upon the dead-this name ess strang-
er from foreign land. None knew
whence she came, none knew her his
tory. The house itself had long been
deserted-a ruinous building gwen
up to decay. But one night the
neghbors heard cries of distress and
the piercing wall Of a woman in ter.
ror thrill out or the night air; then
lights flashed in the windows and the
patter OF running feet was heard on
the stairs. Still later in the night,
the sound Of low music came out on
the silent strest-and then sobbings,
like some one crying-and after this
all grew dark and quiet, unbroken
Butt the early dawn some one went
into the old house to search out the
mystery.
High up they founda locked door
which dehed all efforts to open it
But they broke in at last, and saw a
poorly furnished room, and a dead
girl lying on the cot. There was
nothing in the house outside of this
room to show it had ever been inhab-
tied. There was no wardrobe, &c
dresses; nothing but the crimson
sheets and the linen gown; and on the
floor, near the bed, bracelet set with
diamonds, but it bore no initial mark
"a silent jewel, beautiful as the arm
it had encircled. There was no clew
to be found unless the bracelet would
lead to one; curions trihe, fashione d
like a golden serpent and the jewels
flashing like eyes from the head-even
the tongue had diamond fame, and
cleaned like jet Of FIRE.
The girl had been stabbed to the
heart, and had died without a strug-
gle. There was an awful mystery
about it, which l could not. unravel.
To me it appeared there had been a
crime committed, which, if revealed
would disclose some terrible purpose
that now could not be perceived. But
nothing could be done as yet. We
must wait and watch, and this we
did.
had heard Of a sloop landing be.
low the city few days before, under
circumstances that created some sus.
picion. l determined to look up the
parties who had seen it and see if
could ind some trace that would help
my Investigations. From this source
| learned that an old man and wom-
an and a young girl had landed and
that the vessel had Immediately gone