The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-08
WHO WASSHE---A AND HE

There had been an exposure of a
spiritualist medium the night before,
under circumstances so peculiar that
every one was speaking oft. The
more so because a reporter had caus.
ed the fiasco and ventilated his ex.
plot very thoroughly in the daily
paper.
Judge O., two attorneys and
myself sat on the hotel veranda dis
cussing that class of phenomena, and
finally drifted into relating personal
experience.
Zone experience of mine WAS of "a
peculiar character and was never
quite explainable even to myself"
said the judge in reply to an inquiry.
~ had been attending collegein the
north, and at the end of the third
year took a trip during vacation,
for health partly, but more to see
where and in what business wished to
locate.
81 had taken literary course, and
hoped to enter upon professional
life after Ihad completedit. Whether
it would be law or art, at the north
or south, were the vital questions.
81 knew nothing of law, but had
tried my hand at some forms of art
could draw fairly well, had some
skill in making plaster casts, and
could do a negative tip-top.
81 had money enough supplied me,
so that could afford to indulge my
tastes. | decided to look over some
northern cities in a leisurely fashion,
and determine which l liked best, the
north or my own sunny south. Also
which offered the finest field for fame.
"Soon afterward | found myself in
Detroit, Mich. The next morning
after arriving l rose early, before it
was light, in fact. and strolled
out of the hotel to get the artistic
effects of the dawn. the effect of the
gray light on the public buildings,
and of sunrise on the river.
81 did not find the buildings up to
those of neighboring cities, and went
down to the river, where it was but q
block or two below the main avenue
running east and west. 1t was just
after daybreak, and the street, still
silent, did not promise much traffic
to disturb me.
"a lake boat that had evidently
just arrived lay at the dock, cutting
off the view.
81 turned back, land took marrow,
dirty, alley-like streets, turned down
another higher up.
Passing by narrow alley, l
glanced up and noticed that it ended
in an abrupt fashion-a sort of Guide
sac. Dropping my gaze back and
downward, saw a stain like aspray
of blood, and looking back toward
the alley saw, about 10 feet away, a
human hand. turned and picked it
up. Truly lady hand land young
ones hand at that. was about 20
and this find had a horriblefascination
for me. The engagement finger wore
q golden band that told tale: but
what cared l?
"What was to do? I didn't know
didn't wish to beinvolyed in public
ity and detained from my wandering
and yet wished the evident crime
and it's attendant mystery solved
and punished. The bloody trail led
to the street and toward the river,
and there ceased. l carefully wrap
ped the hand in my handkerchief,
put it in my pocket and returned to
the hotel to think.
Gan irresistible desire to know
what others had seen and done drew
me back toward the spot. l went
down the main avenue. Here and
there an early laborer sped along,
dinner pail in hand. The crowd in
creased as l strolled, with apparent
carelessness, along. Market women
began to hasten by, jostling against
the men with self-asserting familiarity.
Huge trucks rumbled DER the stone
pavement. Men rushed hither and
thither with the alert look of those
Yankee tradesmen. Vast express
wagons came up from the boats,
loaded with huge crates of fruit.
I'm the narrow streets l traversed
first, the pandemonium oftrade held
high carnival. Melons were corded
up in huge piles against the walls,
potatoes, apples and other fruits, in
barrels, peaches in baskets, garden
truck of all sorts made impass-
able the narrow walk. Men jostled,
bargained and swore with all the
freedom of u people who worship the
golden calf. Stout coarse women
shouldered their way about, and
threatened loosely to steal crates
of berries from earlier purchasers. A
tall alert one in a velvet jacket, and
pencil skewer-wise in her hair, made
purchases with the celebrity of an ex-
pert. Drays, trucks, wagons of all
sizes jammed the narrow way. Here
a driver of q truck and team that
reached across the streets managed
to turn about in the crowd with
amazing skill. There horse man.
aged by q mere child helped himself
to carrots from the next wagon.
No one needed, or knew, or cared
for the tragedy.
II returned to the hotel. The
newsboys were crying their goods:
Supposed murder! Blood found!
The trail followed and lost! The
detectives at work!
II examined the hand, and for the |
first time noticed bloody mark of
another hand outlined family along
the deadly pallor ofthe wrist. made |
drawing, but it was not satisfacto- |
~. Every person has his individu-
atty stamped in the fine lines of the |
inner palm and fingers. l resolved
to photograph these, and, by the
liberal use Of money, succeeded and |
no one the wiser. felt that / could |
succeed as a detective, and the idea