Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-01

the criminals. but to discover them. turned
from the ocean and stared inland; but, Of
course, 1 could see nothing. The ground be-
fore me gradually rose upward toward the
clump Of poplars, and L thought if I
erouched down in the hollow I might see
any moving orm outlined against the clear
blue SKY. The thought was immediately
followed by the act; threw myself prone on
the grass, and toward a mass of blackberr
bushes saw clearly projected against the
lmmensity of heaven a black human figure.
L! there were crime / was surely equal to
cope with the wretch. / rose and boldly
walked in the direction OF the figure, grasp
ing my heavy walking stick tightly in nv
hand, and ready for nothing or everything.
took no precautions to hide my approach,
trusting to the darkness and the noise of
wind and waves to shield me. But the
wretch saw or OWNED that he was detected.
for had not crossed half the distance that
separated him rom me when he started into
activity and disappeared in the direction Of
the Poplars.
To follow him was a stupidity, especially
as l was ignorant whether be were a GRIM
lnal or an innocent night wanderer like
myself / write "he" from habit. but
whether the individual were a man or a
woman l could not say. The figure might
~
in tightly fitting cloak. In any case, if
there were crime, it was my duty to dis
cover the victim and give aid if aid were
needed. So thought then and 50 / think
now. When l reached the ghborhood of
the black berry bushes opened my buIl's-eye
lantern and carefully scanned the ground.
My labor was not long. Lying there in the
grass was the nlotionless figure of woman,
and a moments inspection demonstrated
that she was dead. The figure OF young,
slender and handsome woman, dressed CO.
quettishly, and with jewels in her ears and
on her fingers. There were no signs of a
struggle, the poor creature laid placidly az
in sleep, only down the SOFT still warm
breast there was u stream OF yet liquid blood
that flowed from wound in the heart The
one fatal blow had stllled the young life
forever. / had heard the instructive shrek.
but had arrived too lAEel
The woman was past human help. but
human Justice demanded prompt action, I
bad to summon assistance aud then notify
the authorities. The nearest house was the
hotel, and, walk as briskly as / might IL
would take me a Iull hall hour to reach IL
A hall hour going, hall hour returning:
one hour at least before the dead woman
could be removed. L do not know What
stimulated NE into the action, but before
leaving the victim / removed the breastpin
from the cold throat aud ring from the
cold finger, and carefully studied such
details o. the attire as the dim lantern light
allowed me. My action was instructive, but
it was born OF a systematic and cautious
mind that is always on the alert, and
reaches consequences OF the future as well
as OF the past. AT the time 1 could have
given no reason lor despoilIng the placid
figure OF its now useless ornaments. Per-
haps was inspired. Be this as it NAV, I
placed the jewels care. ully in the breast
pocket Of my rock coat aud then, with .
last look at the pale. handsome face I
walked briskly toward the hotel. It was q
weary walk, and seemed interninable to me
in my anxious frame oil mind. I was not
by morbid fancies, my one desire
being to prevent the escape OF the criminal.
There was no police at EglAntine Hill, and
l knew that l could open no Communication
with the city until the following morning.
Fortunately what prevented me from Z
justice also prevented the escape
OF the criminal. The trains had ceased rum
ming for the night, and tor some hours, at
least, the wretch must remain 10 the neigh
borhood of the victim. This was satlsfac-
tory as far as 1t went, and it 10 not in my
nature to anticipate trouble. I would do