The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-04
"a clue!" cried Captain Ross, as he

neyj ana, now tfat L nave one end OF
the thread in this case, propose to
follow it out. The honor shall be
yours, but the revenge must be mine.
Leave the matter with me three days.
At the end of that time I'll either give
you the criminal or turn you over all
my proofs and give it up"
Ross at once agreed to this plan, and
my friends body having been removed,
and C0roner's jury having rendered
decision Of "death by the hands of
some party or parties unknown" the
case was for three days in my sole care.
naturally felt certain that had the
right clue-the missing papers and the
torn glove--but I knew my business
suf1icitntly well to understand that 1
could neither walk into the cigar store
where my supposed murdcress was and
arrest her. nor was it at I'LL likely that
| could bluff or frighten her into con-
fession. Moreover, 1 wished to know
first why she would have cared for
these missing papers.
That afternoon | StrOlled to the cigar
store. An elderly German was behind
the counter. In the eveeing tried it
again. No girl was to be seen.
l determined to learn something Of
her. L entered and bought some cigars.
keep the store alone?" said l, casu-
ally, as l lit my cigar.
'"rrade good?"
"Yaw."
"You ought to have a pretty girl to
help you catch the young fellows
trade"
"Yaw."
turned and walked away. Nothing
to be made there.
1 watched the store until it closed.
and half the next day. Then l was re-
warded. at about noon Il girl entered
laid aside her hat and cloak and took
her place behind the counter, while the
man went away. When he was well
out OF sight l dropped in and did Il
little trading.
1t was the same girl, a little nervous,
told myself.
l watched her until the store closed ;
then followed her as she hurried home
ward. She lived two miles away, near
the river shore, in a small, old tcne-
ment house. She climbed to room
near the roof. l followed all the way,
stumbling i'll the uneven halls, but
looked upon, doubtless, us 4 new tenant
Il little off.
The girl entered the room locked the
door, and then heard the voice of two
talking. Evidently she was conversing
with a man.
| made friends with a half booZy
bachelor Oh the floor below, and found
from him that the girl was an old
tenant, but tllat Il man had recent Iy
arrived who occupied room next to
her, and was called her brother.
l waited all night Just across the
street from the tenement house.
EARLY in the duSky dawn l SAW a man
steal out. followed him.
lie went straight into the country,
walking fast, and covering nearly five
miles before sunup. followed all the
way, not near enough to cause suSpi-
cion, but near enough to watch.
at last the fellow turned into piece
OF woods. l FASTENED, and just rs |
entered the grove l saw him not far
away, bending over little fire.
AS he heard me coming he looked up
hastily, hesitated a moment, then turned
and ran. At first was impelled to fol-
low, then something at the fire caught
my eye, and l paused. Papers were
burning. Quickly seiZing the bundlo-
for such it proved to bel managed to
extinguish it, while still considerable
portion remained unconSumed. [ OPEN
ed it. There were all the papers and
proofs in the uarcourt will case-the
Identical papers stolen from Abort on
the night Of this murder. My heart
bounded. 1t was the third day, but
the scent was very warm now.
returned to the city with all haste,
but by another road, and at noon was
at the cigar store. The girl appeared
and the German disappeared.
Supplied with the torn and bloody
glove, | awaited my chance, aid when
the store was empty | entered. IIav
ing first purchased cigar, came close
to the girl and said in a low tone: "Is
this your glover l saw you wearing it
few nights ago." at the same time
presenting to her the kid, stained as il
was.
The girl turned fairly livid, gaspcd a
little, then whispered:
''Where did you get it?"
"ln the same Office where those
papers were stolen and Lawyer Airport
was mn dered, three nights ago!' !
said.
Aho pun llllS uIttlCu Single
moan, and would have sunk to the floor
If had not caught her. A glass OF
water stood upon a shelf. threw part
Of it into her face. Slowly she opened
her eyes.
"Who are your" she whispered
hoarsely.
1 opened my coat and showed star
She uttered a low shrek.
"A detectivel lie is lost-lostl"
MY good GIRL" said I, cit is best
for you, and him, too, to tell me the
whole truth. Shut the shop and como
with me-"
She obeyed ME unlesitatingly, and ]
led her to my own Officer There, in
the presence Of brother officer, she
told me the whole story.
She was the wife-sad fatel-of q
gambler who had sought to personatt
| the lost heir Of the Harcourt estate.
| SO we'll had he succeeded that when
Airport began to make trouble for him
he determined to get rid of Airport and
his proof at one blow. Dressed in his
wife's clothes he had visited Alport's
Office and killed him, then stolen the
desired papers. The torn glove he had
doubtless found in the pocket of his
wife's dress, and used to wipe some
slight stain up from his hands, and
then carefully dropped it in the waste