Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-07-05

heen at a matinee the day before and
sat near a yeung lady, VINO had cap
tured his aged but yet fiuttering heart.
He was struck by her delicate beauty,
the silks and laces, feathers and jewels,
that blended in one Understandable
whole. She encouraged him by umld
elapces. and when the curtain fell he
followed her out into the foyer. A
heavy rainstorm had come on, and he
had no umbrella. AS his inamorata
stood poised at the door IKE bird
preparing for flight, her lifted skirts
betraying a very pretty ankle and a
faint glimpse of red hose above II, q
brilliant idea occurred to the old rcue.
Approaching her respectfully he Of
fered his carriage to convey her home
and protect her from the rain. She
hesitated a moment, consulted her
pink finger tips and accepted slyly. 1t
ended by drive to her hotel and a
bashful invitation to come upstairs un-
til the rain abated, where the poor old
man found himself confronted by a
fellow who represented himself as the
woman's husband, and demanded
generous check to keep the matter
from the ears of his family. This he
had given, and departed, fancying that
he had paid dearly for his LESSON. and
had learned it. But he had foolishly
betrayed his own identity during the
ride in the carriage, and the next
morning the innocent young lady her
self called upon him and shyly init
mated that she loved him too much to
leave him without further monetary
proofs of his generosity. He had
pleaded want Of funds and had prom
ised to meet her that afternoon in Cen
trail park. | accompanied him to the
rendezvous, where we found both the
timid lady and her alleged young hus-
band, and succeeded in convincing
them both that it would be better to
return the money they had already in
their possession, and expect no more
in the future. AS suspected, recog-
nized them as two of the most success
full blackmailers in this city, from
whose shiny coils had already rescued
more than one victim. They showed
fight at first, but weakened when dis
closed their identity.
"Some years ago." said the detec-
tive, lighting fresh cigar and settling
himself back in his chair, &C was en-
gagged in a very peculiar case. a we'll
known and very benevolent clergyman
was sent for to administer religious con-
ISOLATION to young lady who was sup
posed to be dying in great distress OF
mind. He was met by the mother and
conducted into the sick chamber, where
the door was closed upon him, and he
was left alone by the bedside of the
sufferer. But little conversation had
passed between them when the girl
leaped from the bed into the clergy
mans lap, and began TO scream loud
enough to wake the dead. Several per-
sons ran in and found the good old
man in this compromising situation,
and so startled that he sat like one pet
ri6ed, with the girl upon his knee. She
asserted that upon the departure of her
mother he had bent over and kissed
her and lifted her from the pillows.
Had / not succeeded in tracing the I'M
savory antecedents of the two women
during former residences in Baltimore
and Philadelphia, it is very probable
that the old man would have been per
secuted into his grave, for he was very
sensitive, and felt his position keenly.
Another case which this last recalls to
me is one upon which / worked a
month before | cleared it up and set
my client free. He was man of pleas
ure, and had recently been left a large
fortune by mis- father. Some unprin-
cipled woman learned this fact, and
went to ball which she knew he would
attend. The plans were probably laid
q month before. He saw a handsome
woman in light costume that exposed
the contours of her form, giving him
a great deal of encourageme from
behind coquettish mask, and it was
not long before he succumbed to her
wiles. A carriage was secured, and
they drove to a well-known restaurant
up town, where a private room was
taken Tor supper. In the midst of the
repast the door opened, and the young
woman, with a startled scream ex-
claimed:
"My god 1t is my father and nv
brothers"
"a seeming y virtuous and indignant
trio confronted the gay Lothario, and
nothing would appease their wounded
honor but plentiful supply of green
backs. Nothing was heard from the
blackmailers until week later, when
the crushed father called upon the
young man to say he was about to sue
for the seduction of his daughter un-
less very handsome check was forth
coming, He came to me in great
distress, but so carefully had these peo-
pie disguised their identity that it was
very long time before l secured proof
sufficient to satisfy them that further
attempt at extortiou would result in
their expatriation TO Sing Sing. l could
talk for a week on this subject, but
see that my babble already has nearly
put you TO sleep.