Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-06-26

playeu TWO or three bold games as Gle
tective with considerable credit; anc
why should fail in this2
Proceeding along the dark and narrow
yard of Tomson's court, l noticed ,
knot of unkempt women, of most rcpul
slve appearance, standing talking to
gether, and by their earnest demeanor
knew they had some serious business il
hand. Sudden as thought my wallet
was out. and stood before them cring.
ingly, beseeching them to buy my wares
But of course it was all to no purpose
| neither sold anything nor heard word
that would give me the faintest clew.
Watching my opportunity, l got away
from them, and passed into No. 1;
unseen by any one. The room was sit
uated at the end of long, dark, anc
winding lobby and the stencil that met
me was almost overpowering. l paused
moment listening, but not Il sound did
hear. Then | knocked at the door,
very feebly at first. then louder and
louder, and yet there came no response
to me.
''Surely l am the victim of a hoax"
thought to myself. ''1'hc room is evi-
IDENTITY tenantless."
STOPPING down, l pecred through the
keyhole, and by tie very dim light thai
shone within saw what l thought was
chair upset. | knocked q ,ain, so as to
be certain there was no one in the room,
an still received no answer. My curiosity
was now aroused. | took from my p cket
small bunch of skeleton keys l never
went out without them-and noisclcssly
opened the door, AS soon as | entered |
stood aghast at the sight that met my
eyes. In one corner of the room, stretche |
upon heap of straw, | saw the form of
q woman, motionlcss, with her eyes
closed, as if in death. l staggered to-
ward her, turned her fac to the light,
and recognized in her the mysterious
midnight visitor whose wild look had 50
possessed me. l turned her head more to
the light, and was Mortified to see a thin
stream of blood oozing from her snow
white brow down upon the face and
Lands of a little babe that nestled to her
breast. knelt beside them, and placing
my ear to the heart of the woman,
found it was still beating. In an instant
l re4uisitioned my brandy flash, and after
cons. derable difficulty succeeded in pour
ing few drops of the liquid down her
throat, AMI was soon rewarded by per-
ceiving signs of returning consciousness
Her eyes opened, and her lips began a
nervous twitching at the corners.
A few minutes afterward she fixed q
steady, wondering gaze on me, then tried
to speak.
''Prav, do not for the present agitate
YOURSELF" ! exclaimed, in a well assumed
female voice. ''You will feel better
presently, and then we'll speak little. :"
Her beautiful black eyes expressed
their gratitude to me, then she relapscd
into fitful slumbcr. This was a very
it enabled me to take stock of the miser-
able surroundings. Three chairs, an old
deal box and a dilapidated table formed
the principal articles in the room. Two
other things, however, attracted my at
tention more than all beside They were
a long wooden bench, such as is used by
carpenters, and from the nature of the
tools l saw lying about-with dies and
mods of various sizes--my suspicious
became confirmed.
The other bjcct which arrested my
attention was a strong, caplcious ward
robe in the opposite corner, facing the
bench. Its folding doors stood little
ajar, and l grew curious to know the
character of its contents. l was Just ris-
ing from my scat with the intention of
making a closer inspection, when the
woman opened her eyes again and beck
oned me to her side. Then, in a voice
just raised above whisper, she said:
'Who are you that have found your
way into this miserable dwell.ng?"
II am woman peddling few simple
wares" answered, ''but how managed
to find myself here is more than can tell !;
yet l am thankful l have reached You,
if it is only that l my be of some simple
service to you, for | sec you need help
ing hand"
"Ah, It's truc-'tis true, "she replied;
"butl fear your kind assistance has come
too late--yes, too late"
81 hope not. Tell me, though, how you
have come by that wound on your tenn
pie. Is it the result of q fall2"
ono, no; it was done by him-my hus-
biit. III ctiuSh llC WIFI IL ldlIltiltI DC-
cause would not consent to his taking
away my child"
"Mercllul heavens, can such things be?
Where is he nowln | somewhat eagerly
inquired.
IL cannot TELL" she answered. and
she appearel to be growing fainter by
the cxertion. "La>t night little before
twelve. he came home in terrible tenn
per. | saw murder lurking in his eyes,
and after listening to his fearful oaths, l
ran to the police station, pursued by him.
| could not attract attention. He over
took me Just as | rc.entcred this room,
and-lIark. What is that"
Instantly we were as silent as the dead,
and istcucd. The faculty of hearing is
remarkably keen with me, and | soon
came to the conclusi N that some one
was crouching behind TIC door.
motioned to the woman to b. silent,
while / crept noiscIcssly into the open
wardrobe. | closed the folding doors
from within, and, as good fortune would
have it, dis covered large crevice
through which | could sec the move
ments of any one who might choose to
enter the apartment.
The poor womans head sank on the
pallet of straw, apparently in swoon,
and all was still again.
The minutes that elapsed seemed hours
to me, and was beginning to think that,
after all, my ears had deceived me. when,
very slowly, and without the faintcst
sound, the door opened, and the figure
of short, stout bushy- bearded man
crept in. He stole to where Lizzie
IN, Lou In. l. L., L.