The Florida agriculturist., 1889-08-07


last for want of conclusive evidence, and
Dupee was discharged, as you say, after
having been kept in Jail for year.
Well. must say, Miss Nolen, that the
doubt as to his guilt is reasonable one;
and supposing him to have been inno-
cent, he has certainly received hard treat
ment; for such an accusation as that,
though not proved, is enough to ruin a
mans career"
81 do not believe he was innocent, In
spector Byrnesl l am sure that he was
guilty, and, having escaped punishment
for that, he means to do us more injury
still. Moan innocent man would not
have been ruined by an unjust accusa-
tiOn! 1t would have stimulated him to
prove by his after life that he had been
wronged."
''Do you know what his subsequent
life has been" inquired the Inspector.
81 have heard enough to know that it
has been what should have expected it
to be. He has associated with low and
dishonest people; he has gone under diff
ferent names, and it is probable that he
may have been arrested more than once
for other crimes. have always felt that
he was our enemy, and have expected
that something like this would happen.
am the only one of us left to fight him,
Inspector Byrnes. He killed my eldest
brother; he was the means of bringing
about the disgrace and death of Percy;
my father died of disappointment and
grief; my mother is broken down in
valid. But am strong and well, and /
am determined to bring him to justicel
Will you help me?"
Her eyes darkened and her cheeks
flushed as she put the question. The in
spector, though he could not but per-
ceive that the chances were against the
correctness Of her theory, was touched
by her earnestness.
''In what way would you expect me
to assist your he inquired.
''You can communicate with the po-
lice in all parts of the country" she an
swered, land you know, or can find out,
the history of all the criminals who have
been arrested in New York and in many
other places. What ask you to do is to
trace the record of Horace Dupee from
the time he left the Jail on the termina-
tion of his trial till now. Find out his
associates, and make them give evidence
against him; learn what his aliases have
been, and whether he was not in New
York on the day that Mrs. Tunstall lost
her money. If he was-and l am sure
it will turn out so-it will be found that
he had money to spend soon afterwards,
and perhaps some one of the bank notes
can be traced to him. Oh!' she ex-
claimed lifting one hand with an ire
pressible gesture, ''if can see him stand
before me in the prisoners dock, shall
have lived long enough!"
"Upon my word, Miss Nolen," re-
marked the inspector with smile, Il
wouldn't envy the man who had done
you an injury, be he who he may; and
if this fellow Dupee, or any one else, has
been guilty of the crimes you charge him
with hope with all my heart you may
live to see him convicted Of them-and
a long time afterwards, too! AS for my
N share in the business, can assure you
that all possible Investigations shall be
made and, if Dupee has really joined the
criminal classes, it will probably only be
a question of time before we run across
him. 1t is something to have a definite
person suspected in connection with the
affair. | don't want to give you any
hopes that cannot fulfill; but am will
ing to say that it is not impossible some