Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-07-25
CHAPTER ".
MURDER AND MYSTERY.

was q bachelor, but managed to main
tain cozy little household in cottage
near the waters edge, and little east Of
the bridge that spans the Harlem at the
head Of Third avenue, where a widowed
sister kept house for me, and in various
ways contributed to my creature comforts.
After buying an evening paper at the
bridge, and satisfying myself that Miss
Lulu's mad freak at the locomotive-ya yard
had only been described as an accident to
nicely dressed and unknown young lady,
who had been saved from injury only by
the presence of mind and singular expedi-
ent Of Officer Piercer, Of the Central De-
tective Force, and something more in the
same view, hastened home, apoloRized to
my sister for having disappointed her at
dinner, and told her Of the strange Incl
dents Of the day.
Every little detail that I mention CON-
corning myself will ultimately plead FOR
the readers forbearance in the direct and
important bearing which it will be seen to
have upon subsequent events of q most
startling character.
was enjoying Q sort of half vacation
from my general detective duties at the
time, In confederation of exceptionally
arduous employment that had occupied me
for several previous months.
AS was my custom at such time, sat up
reading that night until long after nv Sis
ter had retired. It was precisely half past
one O'Clock when at last laid down nv
book and looked out of the window for q
weather observation before going to bed,
! then noticed that snow was again falling,
though but lightly, and with some stars
still visible at intervals.
then made all secure, and went upstairs
to my room. There, while taking off nv
coat, some important memoranda that had
escaped my mind fell out Of one of the
breast-pockets, and sat down by the bed
to examine them. This occupied me an
other half hour, for as concluded the task
! heard the clock strike two in the room
below.
Once more looking ont upon the weather
before seeking my couch, / perceived that
the snowfall had again ceased, leaving the
bright starry sky perfectly cloudless.
l then went to bed, and slept undis-
turbed till seven in the morning, my usual
hour for rising when ut home as / mostly
make up for short nations of sleep by steal
ing brief arm chair nap in the middle of
the day.
At breakfast, half an hour Inter, my sis
ter commented on the previous itfulness Of
the weather, and said:
The milkman said little while ago that
ne had been up all night, and that up to
two O'Clock this morning it showed and
cleared of several times, but that it's been
as clear as bell ever since.
was about to make a commonplace re-
loinder to such commonplace remark.
when hasty steps were heard without. Then
r1rne pull at our little door bell so viRor-
ous as 70 break the wire, to be followed by
loud and hurried knocks.
NY sister sprang to open the door, and
was preparing no very friendly greeting
On the breaker Of the bell, wire, whom she
nshered into my presence Eunice, the
pretty but singular looking mulatto girl
whom had seen at The Aspens on the
previous day. Her appearance al once
aused me TO forget al about the bell
gire
She was bresthless, bare headed. and |
'hivering with cold. as we'll as fright. bay-
1g run in search Of me without suitably |
protecting herself against the weather; hes |
~ were wide md staring. she was Is ~
j.. l