The Forrest City times., 1890-04-19


 T(9 ss", s~a s....ss.,ss, s.s,. %y however, controverts this statement have a morbid habit of imagining the crimes that certain persons of my acquaintance might commit, if given the temptation and opportu- nifty. No doubt this mental peculiar ity of mind is due to my occupation, that of detective.
 had been sent to Paris upon busi- ness connected with bank robbery, and having no charge upon my re- turn voyage was at liberty to em- ploy my leisure time in studying my fellow-passengers.
 l was especially fascinated by Q young husband and wife, of whom 1 could not learn much except that they were New Workers and bore the name of Tracy.
 Though l never exchanged dozen words with the lady, yet she won my deepest sympathy, from a certain wistfnl expression of her beautiful eyes-a look which imagine often characterizes neglected vile.
 The gentleman was always affa- ble, and general favorite; still, could not rid myself of tic convie- ton that he would help his gentle, delicate wife out of the world if he had any powerful incentive to the crime.
 European voyages were rather longer in those days than they are now. Ours was at first a prosper ous one. The good ship sped on, through bright days and starry nights, until we were nearing 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.
 Mir. and Mrs. Tracy did not appear, however, and l was shocked and star tied to learn that the lady had died during the storm, supposedly from heart disease, aggravated by sea sick ness, her body had been consigned to the watery deep. The funeral had been hurried, in compliance with the demands of superstitious sailors, who i'll some way learned of Mrs. Tracy's death, and insisted that n corpse on board would sink the ship.
 Of course the explanation of the lady's sudden death seemed reasona- ble enough to everybody except my self. Grave suspicious haunted mo that the poor sad-iaced little wife had been foully murdered, without a hand having been raised either to help or ayenge her.
 But l kept my own counsel, for if crime had been committed all evi- denees oft had been swallowed up by the sea, and bringing the guilt home would be a hopeless under taking. So l tried to dismiss the affair from my mind; but at night in my state-room, pair of soft, dark eyes seemed to haunt me, pleading for help. had no opportunity to see the widower, for he remained con stantly alone i'll his state-room, evi- dently in too deep aflliction to come among us.
 We arrived in New York two weeks behind time. and found n great deal oi business waiting for me at the Bureau, My attention was occupied by n hundred new cases, still l was often haunted by Mrs. Traey'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 l had mentally volunteered my services. yet so far could see mo thorough fare to the end desired. And now strangely enough, frequently en- eountered Mir Tracy, the widower. in my wanderings, and l occasionally devoted some ofmy leisure time to shadowing him, so that became pretty well acquainted with his mode of life, which was not at all that of sorrow-stricken man; it was. in fact, n decidedly gay career in which he was indulging.
 thtt toffta Ots uttttt IL NNs UpttfiN n year since my return to Europe. and with all my experience not ghost of a plan for bringing the gay widow CT to justice had onec presented itself to my mind. lnthis isemergency one evening coniided the story to my sis ter Rose, whose quick intuition had often thrown light upon some ob- scure point in eases was studying.
 She was interested at once, and after n little reflection said.
 If you will eontrivc some way to bring that man here few times in n social way, l think I will find out some plan to force full confession from him.
 l lsmiled little doubtfully at this. as answered. T hope you will, sister mine, yet remember, we have not n particle of evidence against him. Even the ships surgeon was i'll at the time of Mrs. Traey's death and una ble to attend her.
 Yes, l know all that" answered Rose, but you bring him here and I think we will force full confession from him before many weeks roll by"
 The result of this conversation was that Mir. Tracy soon became quite n frequent guest at our little home. yet nothing of any interest occurred.