Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-07-30
miscellaneous.
A CLOSE SHAVE.

the Cabinet received basket of flowers
at his desk. They were placed on the
desk while he was at lunch, and the
colored attendant who received them
stated that he took them from the hands
of well-dressed boy. They we're flow
ers of which the official was particularly
fond, and he spent some time admiring
tho gift and inhaling the perfume =
Within quarter of an hour he was
taken suddenly i'll and had to be sent
home in carriage. There we're several
stories whispered about, but believe,
from what followed that the bouquet
was poisoned and had been sent in hopes
to cause his death He was done up
for four or five days anyhow, and | re-
ceived orders to make every effort to
hunt down the person who had sent in
the bouquet.
II was little | had to encourage me in
the start. | got a description of the
boy, however, and after day or two |
found people Of whom he had inquired
his way from the station to the Secre-
tary's Office. 1t was easy enough after
that to trace him as having come on
from Baltimore. He came alone and
he had the bouquet in band box.
The bouquet was tied with a grass
cord, and | took this cord and went TO
Baltimore and scarcely rested moment
until had seen the ewner Of every
greenhouse. applied to twenty or
more before | found the one who had
put up the flowers lie remembered tho
circumstances, identified the cord and
described the buyer as a handsome-look-
ing lady about 30 years of age who had
come III u hack. The vehicle was drawn
by white and bay horse, and inside
Of two hours had found the driver. He
described the lady as the florist had done,
and added that she had gold-flled front
teeth. blue eyes, little scar on her chin
and was sharp and decisive in her speech.
She had taken the hack at the stand and
left it at the same place
IL this woman intended the death of
the official she had gone to the green
house in an attire selected for the occa-
sion, and one she would not wear again
on the street. hung about the various
hotels until certain she was not guest
at any Of them, and then | could only
trust to accident for success. On two
occasions | caught sight Of face in n
carriage which answered the description
and followed the vehicle without success
Each time il escaped me by rapid driv-
ing Again ! caught sight of lady
on the street. She entered dry goods
store and followed. She soon passed
out and | was at her heels, but she
lodged into crowd gathered about the
scene of an accident and lost her. An
hour later suddenly discovered that |
was being Swallowed. did considera-
bic walking, turning and lodging before
| would admit that this was the case,
but finally had to acknowledge that
the hunter was being hunted.
Ny shadow" was medium-sized
man about 40 years old, well dressed,
respectable looking and doing his work
IN the neatest manner. He did not lose
sight of me until he saw me enter my
hotel, where | brought up about 6 o'clock
in the evening. had no clue connect
ing the man with the woman | was look
ing for, but il was natural for me to in
fer that there was some connection.
wrote out and made my daily report, ate
supper, smoked cigar, and then started
for the theatre. 1t wouldn't be at all
strange If I found my lady therc--even
il had the seat next to her | was
within twenty feet Of the door Of the
theatre when rough and ragged-look-
ing man, who certainly spoke in dis
guised voice, stopped me and said
mister, Pm discharged soldier,
and I've been sick and am out Of money.
Won't you buy this revolver OF me for
S3p
Ho pulled the weapon from his pocket
and showed il towards me, muzzle first.
Before | could comprehend the full i'm
port of his words there was fash and
report, and was dimly conscious of
falling. -Four or five minutes later |
came to myself to find that crowd had
gathered, and that was in the hands
Of doctor. A bullet from that re-
volver had plowed along my skull, max
ing a wound which laid me of for
month. The fellow who sought to muir
dor me escaped without pursuit, and is
this day undctected. II he was not the
person who had Swallowed me in the
afternoon he was in that mans employ,
aud both were acting for the woman.
II was afterwards ascertained that she
was woman who was notably vindica-
tive, aud that she left for England be-
fore recovered from my wound-De-
troit Free Press.