Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-03-22

habit of imagining the crimes that GER
tain persons of my acquaintance might
commit, If given the temptation and
opportunity. No doubt this mental
popularity of mind is due to my occu-
patton, that of detective.
l had been sent to Paris upon bust
ness connected with bank robbery,
and having no charge upon my return
voyage was at liberty to employ my
leisure time in studying my fellow-pas
seng rs.
l was especially fascinated by a
young husband and wife, of whom [
could not learn much except that they
were New Workers and bore the name
of Tracy.
Though I never exchanged dozen
words with the lady, yet she won my
deepest sympathy, from certain visit
full expression of her beautiful eyes
look which imagine often character
ICES neglected wife.
The gentleman was always affable.
and general favorite; still, 1 could
not rid myself of the conviction that
he would help his gentle, delicate wife
out of the world if he had any power
full incentive to the crime.
European voyages were rather longer
in those days than they nre now. Ours
was at first prosperous one. The
good ship sped on, through bright days
and starry nights, until we were near
ing New York; then fierce storm
drove us out of our course, and for a
week most of our passengers were too
sick to care whether we ever reached
our destination or not. Then the gale
abated and we resumed our occupa-
tions.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy did not appear,
however, and | was shocked and star.
tied to learn that the lady had died
duing the storm, suppo cdly from
heart disease, aggravated by sea sick
ness, and her body had been consigned
to the watery deep. The funeral had
been hurried, in compliance with the
demands of superstitious sailors, who
in some way learned of Mrs. 1racy's
death, and insisted that corpse on
board would sink the ship.
OF course the explanation of the
lady's sudden death seemed reasonable
enough to everybody except myself
Grave suspicious haunted me that the
poor, sad faced little wife had been
foullr murdered, without hand hay
ing been raised either to help or
avenge her.
But kept my own counsel, for if q
crime had been committed all evil
dences of it had been swallowed up
by the sea, and bringing the guilt
home would be q hopeless undertaking.
SO | tried to dismiss the affair from
my mind; but at nigh, in my state
room, pair of soft, dark eyes seemed
to haunt me, pleading for help. I had
no opportunity to sec the widower, for
he remained constantly alone in his
state-room, evidently i'll too deep atflic-
ton to come among us.
We arrived in New York two weeks
behind time, and | found d great deal
of business waiting for me at the Blu
rcau. My attention was occupied by a
hundred new cases, still | was often
haunted by Mrs. Tracy's sad eyes, and
the old suspicious would arise as to the
causes that led to her mysterious death
at sea.
This was case in which I had men.
tally volunteered my services, vet so
far could see mo thoroughfaro" to
the end desired. And now, strangely
enough, l frequently encountered Mr..
Tracy, the widower, in my wander
ings, and | occasionally devoted some
of my leisure time to shadowing him.
so that [ became pretty we'll acauaint-
ed vi h his mode of life, which was not
at all that of a sorrow-shicken man :;
it was, in fact, a decidedly gay career
in which he was indrlging.
Time rolled on, until it was nearly
year since my returnfrom Europe, and
with all my experience not a ghost OF
II plan for bringing the gay widower to
justice had one presented itself to my
mind. In this emergency | one even
ing contided the story to my sist er
Rose, whose quick intuition lad of!e
thrown light upon some obscure point
in cases | was studying.
She was interested at once, and after
a little reflection said:
IF You will contrlve some way to
b. ing that man here few times in
social way, think l will find out some
plan to force full confession from
him
l smiled little beautifully at this,
as l answered: 81 hope you will, sis
ter mine, yet remomhcr, We have not
particle OF evidence against him
Even the ships surgeon was i'll at the
time of Mrs, Tracys death and una
BILE to attend hor."
"le,. | know all that answered
Rose, "but you bring him here and
think we will force full confession
from him before many weeks roll by
The result OF this con, ersutlon was
that Mr.. Tracy soon became quite a
frequent guest at oar little home, yet
nothing of any interest occurred He
was genial, polite, and apparently very
frank, without care upon his mi,.,i.
l confess that l almost grew TO like
the man, and began TO be ashamed of
my suspicious. ! remarked something
like this to my sister one day, and then
begged her to tell me what was hei
plan to extort confession She only
shook her pretty head to all my plead
lngs, but refu cd to join me in my new
feelings Of regard for Mr.. Tracy.
A few weeks later / was deputed to