Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-06-17
Proof Of the Murder.
BY 4 DEFECTIVE


was supposed to have been foully
murdered. He was traveller,
who had stopped at an inn in a
lonely country place, and was
there said to have been murdered
for his no ey The Ii ndlori
was held to be the guilty party,
though there was nothing but
suspicion and his previous bad
name to fasten it upon him.
This much / was told by my
chief when he placed the matter
in my hands He had learned
this, and nothing more, from
those who had come to employ
some one to investigate the mys-
4 terry. / was told to go and do
! my best, and went.
I went first to the individuals
(by whom was employed. and Of
them learned all I could OF the
particulars OF the affair. This
did not take me long, for they
we're few. indeed.
An inn, standing in an isolated
SPOT, in the midst Of a forest. had
ldng borne an evil name. There
were many dark whispers con-
csrning it. and more than one be-
lated traveller was supposed to
have lost his life there.
A few days before a traveller
had stopped there for the night,
and was not known to have gone
away again. More than that, the
landlord drove new horse which
some were ready to swear was the
one the traveller had ridden,
changed only by few jockey
tricks.
My duty was to endeavor to
fnd out the truth Of the matter,
ii possible 1t would never do
for me to go there with my call
ing known, as 1t would be sure to
defeat all. But there was no
need Of that. ! was no novice 10
my profession, and mad all its
tricks at heart. l would play the
part Of tourist, in search OF
some quiet spot where / could
spend a few days in rural enjoy
ment With everything perfect
cd in the character / was to play,
/ was on the point Of setting out.
when another party appeared up
on the scene
1t was the brother of the miss
ing man.
He had not returned at the
tims expected, and his friends
we're anxious for his safety. His
widest fears were aroused when
be learned all. He declared that
he would go to the inn at once in
company with me. But this I
knew would mover do. His nnx-
iety would ruin all. His manner
could not help putting the guilty
ones at once on their guard. So
l prevailed upon him to stay be-
hind, promising him to report
progress from time to time.
With matters thus arranged, Il
set out for the inn. / went on
horseback, as the supposed muir
dered man had done. I could
not help thinking, as / rode
along. that perhaps the landlord
might try his hand upon me; for
.sto all appearances / was q very
Fquiet, inoffensive-looking travels
er. But | was woll armed, and
ready for him should he attempt
anything Of the kind.
Arrived at the inn. the landlord
received me in person. No soon.
or did my eyes fall upon his
countenance th& ! decided at
once that he was a villain. A
more sinister-lo oking face don't
think / ever beheld. The name
on the creaking sign was Saul
Falman
stated my wishes to him, and
was told that the house and all it
contained was at my disposal.
BE would do the best for me that
DO could. So bargain was
struck, and was soon domiciled
in my quarters. Then / went
quietly about my errand.
Each day / added a little to the
web / was weaving, and in whose
meshes I hoped to catch him.
Yet | had no positive proof
against him-only a few links in
the chain was forging.
There was no positive proof
yet that the missing man was
dead. Still, in my own mind
there was no doubt, / was sure
that / had seen very many of his
effects. His brother had describ.
them too minutely for me to be
mistaken. Thus day after day
went on. Ihad no fears at all
for my own safety now, l had
given him to understand that I
was the pastor Of a church who
had been granted a leave OF abb
sence to recruit my health. If
he believed this. he knew we'll
that was not game worth the
powder Such a class are not
supposed to have great amount
Of ready money about them.
One day, the brother, impa-
tient at not hearing from me,
came to the inn to make discov
cries for him self. / was alarmed
at his appearance, for / was
afraid it would spoil all. Before
he could do any mischief, de
termined to get him out OF the