The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-11-27
\ MIRROR DETECTIVE.
1t Gives FalH Evidence to Convict
aus
an innocent Man.
ICanclndea from last ,reek.l

she had not the areInotest suspicion of him be-
ing anything but gentleman clever and re-
specially connected. The facts she spoke of,
indeed, seemed totprove that he was at least no
adventurer; all his antecedents were familiar
to her, from his reputation for mischief at the
school to his latest successful exhibition at
the academy. began to fear that l was mis-
taken. At last left the house undecided how
to act next, but with a hazy idea Of getting
| further information somewhere about the place.
| At the foot of the lane / came upon cottage
little low-roofed place such as farm hands
| generally occupy-and then / remembered
hearing some one speak of an old woman hav-
| ing heard the watch dog bowling shortly after
| II that day. When l reached the cottage and
was about to pass it, saw the face of an old
woman at the little window, and decided
| to stop and have crack" with her. She
seemed glad to obligs me- and was evidently
| eager for the latest news from the scene of the
outrage. l thought her rather stupid at first,
but soon found that she was sharp enough to
guess that l belongts to the police, and to
! know that | came from Edinburg.
II suppose nearly every one going to the
| farm passes your door," l said at last.
| "There's nae other way" she promptly re-
! turned. "They maun gang up here or no gang
| ava"
~ suppose you don't trouble to notice any
one passing?"
Didn't II There's no body passes here
but see them," she briskly returned.
"Oh, indeed! Then you didn't see anyone
pass to-day during church timer"
"Naebody but that bonny artist chief that
gangs aboot WI Miss May. He gaed by aboot
| twal' o'clock"
You're sure it was hep"
"Sure!- !-dae ye think l am doitedP"
81 don't, but / like to be particular. Did
! you see him come back?"
HE didna come back this way. Maybe he
gaed across that fallow field at the east side O.
| the farm. Miss May and him whiles gaed that
way for short cut"
That was nearly all the old woman had to
tell that was Of interest to me. She was GER
tain that the only person who had gone near
the farm was Mr.. Henderson, but the suspicion
that he was the criminal did not once seem to
cross her mind. Indeed her idea of the dog
bowling so frightfully had been that May and
her lover had gone out together without un-
fastening the dog and taking it with them, as
they sometimes did, and that the robbery had
been committed by some tramp in their ab-
sence.
Further along, but good bit back from the
road, was row Of cottages occupied by farm
workers. and, though had little hope of pick
ing up information, visited these in passing.
Most of the occupants tad been either at church
or in bed at the time of the outrage, but found
one young lad of II or so, who distinctly at.
frmed that he had seen Miss Mays sweetheart,
Mr.. Henderson, pass along the road below in
the direction of the farm aboot twal' o'clock"
He was SO positive OF the identity that / be-
came positive too, and determined to see Mr..
Henderson himself
The village was about a mile off, and the
house of the school oln,aster-in which he lodged
was ON the other side of that, so it was dusk
before found him. He was in his room in his
shirt-sleeves, smoking fercely, and busy pack
ing up his things as if for a journey.
The room was Uttered with artists materials
pictures, sketches, and half packed bags-and
in an inner room could see hanging on a peg
a velvet coat and a slouch hat of soft, white
felt.
''What! are you going Off" ] said, after he
had given me granny greeting.
"Oh, yes; I've got enough of this place." he
| said, with warm exl session of his regard for
the locality generalts That robbery business
down yonder seems to have quite upset them.
| She looked at me and spoke to me worse than
| if I'd been a criminal. can't stand that, you
| know. You're the detective, believe, from
| Edinburg-got any Cue to the villains YETI"
II am not sure whether 1 have a clue or
not" said, astonished not little at his cool
ness. THAT your coat in there-the velvet
one?"
"Yes," he answered, with vicious push at
a pair of boots which would not compress in
the bag he was packing.
you hadn't it on to-day, had your"
eyes, had it on in the morning for q
while"
"And you changed in the afternoon, sup
pose? You had another on when saw you at
the farm"
"Oh, yes went to church in the afternoon
properly rigged out, though hate that sort of
thing"
"And in the forenoon?"
l went to walk-meant to have gone to
church. as | had expected to meet her there ;
but the bells rang in, and l went for walk
instead"
"Where to?"
"Why?-does it matter particularly?" he
said stopping his packing and evidently MOTTO
ing for the first time that he was being closely
questioned. " | strolled away out by the woods
and found a sunny spot, where fell asleep for
an hour or So"
.That is not in the direction of the farm 2"
/ gravely continued.
mo. no; quite the opposite direction
"You're sure you went nowhere else?"
"Quite sure. Wby?"
did anyone see you going into the woods or
coming from them, or sleeping there?"
"How should / know? l don't remember
seeing anyone. Never thought of looking" he
carelessly returned.
Iremained silent for some moments
Likely enough, but others saw you," at
last pointedly observed.
did they?" he carelessly answered.
"Yes, near the farm at it, in fact" said,
watching his face keenly.
He started, Strengthened his body, took the
pipe from his mouth, and looked at me long
and fxedly.
"What the ID are you driving at 2" he
at last exclaimed, in evident anger. do you
mean to say Pm liar?"
g. mean to say that you lie under very
grave suspicion of being concerned in this out
rage" l sharply answered.
"Oho! then that explains why Miss Carnavon
treated me so strangely to-day" he exclaimed,
with dawning of the truth.
:" l suppose so; though the lady has accused
you of nothing, and has not even given me
hint to that effect" / gravely answered.
Have you any defense to make?"
''Get away with you, mani" he incredu-
lously returned. "You don't mean to tell me
that you believe this nonsense?"
/ said nothing, but passed into his little bed
room, and took down the, little velvet coat and
hat On the ribbon of the hat were two tiny
specks of crimson, which pointed out to him,
and on the pocket flap off the coat was another
stain, which did not show so well ON the black
velvet.
"What is that?"I / said, holding it up to tho
dim light and simply appealing to him.
Hestared and stared atit till his checks were
bianched with concern.
" IT looks like blood - he slowly replied, after
q horrible pause. j turned out the pocket, and
then we had no doubt-the cotton of the pocket
was stained in crimson spatches. l turned out
the other pocket, but found nothing but pref
tily cut cairnrorfn store. such "a are used az