Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-06-25
find they agree, nab him, that's all.
Would you like Schofeld with your

co TO lace rough work, IOr nyOur man
should turn out to be: the one sus-s3
pect. look sharp, / advise you" u. y
& After these and other timely hints, I.
retired to the wardrobe adjoining
Jones room. went in a clean-shaven
good-looking man OF ~, and in half
an hour afterward came out again in
the character Of a middle aged wom-
an, dressed in q rather seedy suit of
black. s,s - i
i had on faded dress OF cashmere
a long circular cloak of the same ma.
terial, and matronly- looking bon:
net, IF om beneath which hung longish
locks OF iron-gray hair, while thick
veil dropping down in front completed
the. transformation. must not for
get to mention, though, that I took
with me a small wallet ofpins, needles
and tape, under the pretext.of having
these for sale. My get.up was perfect.
/ looked to all the world like one who
had seen better days. but was reduced
now to a state OF genteel poverty.
1t was closeupon 3 O'Clock in the
afternoon when sailed out of Albert
street, and a drizzling rain was max
ing matters most uncheerful. l had
no difficulty in finding Tomson' s court.
1t was situated in Little Peter street,
and in that direction 1 turned my
footsteps. must confess my mind
was not without some misgivings as
to the successful Accomplishment of
my plans. Still, I had before played
two Or three gold games as detective
with 1>1n t,o-3s%.
should ! fail in this?
Proceeding along the dark and mar
row yard Of Tomson's Court, l MOTTO
ed knot of unkempt women, ofmost
repulsive appearance, standing talk
ing together, and by their earnest de.
meanor knew they had some serious
business in hand. Sudden as thought
my wallet was out, and stood before
them cringingly, ceseeching them to
buy my wares. But OF course it was
all to no purpose. neither sold any
thing nor heard word that would
give the faintest clew. Watching my
opportunity, got away from them,
and passed into No. Is unseen by any
one. The room WAS situated at the
end ofn long, dark, and winding lobby,
and the stencil that met me was al.
most overpowering. lpaused a mo.
1nent listening, but not a sound did /
hear. Then l knocked at the door,
very feebly at first, then louder and
louder, and yet there came no response
to me.
"Surely am the victim OF a hoaxr'
thought to myself. '"The room is
evidently tenantless."
STOPPING down, I.peered through the
keyhole, and by the very dim light
that shone within saw what I thought
was a chair upset. knocked again,
so as to be certain there was no one
in the room, and still received no an.
swer. My curiosity was now aroused.
took from my pocket a small bunch
OF skeleton keys-I never went out
without them-and noiselessly opened
the door. AS soon as entered Istood
aghast at the sight that met my eyes.
In one corner of the room, stretched
| upon a heap of straw, l saw the form
| Of a. woman, half-naked and motion.
less, with her eyes closed, as ifin DEATH
l staggered toward her, turned her
face to the eight, and, merciful heavens,
recognized in her the mysterious mid
| night visitor whose wild look had SO
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
hands OF q little babe that nestled tc
her breast. Iknelt beside them. and
placing my ear to the heart of the
woman, found it was still beating. In
an instant I requisitioned my brandy
flask, and after considerable difficulty
succeeded in pouring few drops o.
the liquid down her throat, and was
soon rewarded by perceiving 81 GINS O.
returning consciousness. Her eyes
opened, and her lips began nervous
twitching at the corners.
"A few moments afterward she fixed
a. steady, wondering gaze on me, then
tried to speak.
"Pray do not for the present agitate
YOURSELF I exclaimed, in a. well-as
sumed female voice. "You will fee
better presently, and then we we viii
speak g Ettle'
Her beautiful black eyes expressed
b their gratitude to me, then she re-
lapsed into a fitful slumber. This was
a very opportune circumstance fol-
ME, because it enabled me to take
stock of the miserable surroundings
Three chairs, an old deal box and g
dilapldated table formed the principal
articles in the room. Two other
things, however, attracted my atten
ton more than all beside. They were
a long wooden bench, such as is useC
by carpenters, and from the nature O.
the tools saw lying about-with dies
and moulds Of various siZes-my sus
piciOns became confirmed.
The other object which arrested my
| attention was a. strong, capacioui
wardrobe in the opposite corner, fac
ing the bench: Its foldidg doors stood
a little ajar, and I grew curious tt
know the character of it's contents. -.
was just rising from my seat with tn,
intention of making q closer inspec
ton, when the woman opened her eye.
again and beckened me to her side
Then in voice just raised above
whisper, she said: -
"Who are you that have found YOU
way into this miserable dwelling?''
II am woman peddling few sim
pie wares,'' I answered, "but how
managed to find myself here is NOR
than l can tell; yet l ain thankful
have reached you, if it is only tina
l may be Of simple service to you
for see you need helping hand.'
"Ah, tits true-'tis true" she re
piled; "but I fear your kind assistance
has come too late-yes, too late!"
Il hope not. Tell me, though, hov
you have come by that wound ii
your temple. Is 1t the result of =:
fall?" GIL. ~ =
! "No, no; it was done by HMM,
husband. He struck nne with a ham
n1er hecause T would not consent II