Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-26
A DETECTIVES STORY.

I had always a hankering after a
mystery, and this often served me a
good turn in cases where my skill as
q detective was called in. [ don't
speak of nv skill in a vain sense at
aIl-but as detective I was reckoned
a right smart chap. At the time when
the mysterious murder of Mr.. Loring
occurred in the town of l., which
wa3 my native place, was down
south engaged ia an affair of much
mystery, and requiring the utmost
perseverance, as well as delicacy, IN
its treatment. Well, we were success
full, my partner and me, but it cost
me the worst attack of chllls and fever
that I'd ever had. / was so bad I had
to lay off from business for a while
an go home to recruit.
When [ got to L heard all the
particulars about young Allan-Will
Allan-having been arrested on sus-
picion of the murder, an how that
plucky little girl married him in
prison, an then set herself to find
proofs of his innocence. I admired
that little woman, tell you. I felt
to thank heaven for making such little
ores, an I'd just like to have kissed
her hand, if it hadn't been too great a
liberty. Well, it was all over when
I got home, the trial, and all that.
VIII Allan was acquitted, and the
young couple We're off on their we'd
ding tour. But it turned out, when
Mr., Loring's will was read, that he
had left handsome sum of money to
young Allan. Well, this n0ws had
no sooner spread over l. that
lot of hateful folks began to say that
Will had done the murder, after all,
and to show good reason for it in the
money he had inherited. Of course,
they couldn't have him tried again,
and his life was safe enough; but [
knew right well how he'd feel about
it, for I'd known the lad since he was
knee high to woodchuck and could
kinder understand how cut up that
little wife of his would feel when She
heard these new suspicious against
her husband. So [ wasn't a bit sur
prised when Sallie, my hired girl, one
evening brought Ia a little piece of
Dashboard with "Mrs. William Allan"
printed On it. Of course, I said I'd
see the lady at once-it was just what
I'd been wanting ever since L heard
of her, and she was a sight for sore
eyes when [ d1d see her, I tell you.
Pretty as pink, white and rosy, with
lovely eyes and beautiful hair, and
something about her that made you
think of pearls, there was such a
gllmmer about her face and dress and
white hat. She came to the business
Of her visit with just that directness
you might expect from little woman
of her character.
''Mr. Burns" said she, ST have
heard of your great cleverness in find
ing out criminals; / want to engage
your skill in discovering the murder
of Mr.. Loring-the rich banker who
was murdered last summer. You will
understand why my heart was set on
this, when I tell you that notWith-
standing my husband was fully &C
quilted of the charge, since he inheri-
ted good deal of money under Mr..
Loring's will, there are those who still
suspect him Of having committed the
crime, and this suspicion has almost
the bitterness Of death to him and me.
There is only one way of entirely
clearing his reputation IN this matter
and that, as you perceive at once, Is
by discovering the real criminal.
l didn't interrupt her by word
instead, encouraged her to keep on
talking. It was rare pleasure to see
her pretty face flush up and her sweet
eyes sparkle and melt and then flush
again when she talked; so altogether,
knew her circumstances in regard TO
the arrest and trial and acquittal of
VIII Allen. / got her to go over the
whole ground, and she told me how
she had watched over the sick bed Of
Mrs. Havens, the daughter of the
murdered man and the only living
being who could absolutely prove
Aliens innocence-how her patients
condition fuctuated for months, grow
ing better and then worse, and thea
better again, and finely how she en-
tirely recovered and rewarded the
young wife's devotion by giving testi-
mony which, IN the eye of the law,
wholly cleared him from even that
shadow of suspicion. Then she .ad-
ded:
''Mr. Burns, there's something else
that / want to tell you, although it
NAV not be of any such Importance as
have thought it. One of the most
mysterious things about the murder
was the want of any clue to the real
murderer. 1t seemed absolutely dead
secret: but, interested as have been,
both heart and mind, in this dreadful
affair, I have naturally noted some
things that to others would have nc
significance. In talking over all the
possibilities of the case with Mrs,
Ravens, with whom l became init
mately acquainted during her illness,
T learned that Mr.. Loring's chief OBJ
lection to her marriage with Mr.