Thomas County cat., 1890-03-06
BY BARBARA THORNE.

verts this statement l have morbid
habit of imagining the crimes that Ger
tain persons of my acquaintance might
commit, if given the temptation anG
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 a bank robbery
and having no charge upon my return
voyage was at liberty to employ my
leisure time in studying my fellow-pas.
SeDgars.
1 was especially fascinated by a
Young husband and wife, of whom ]
could not learn much except that they
were New orkers 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-a
look which | imagine often character
izes neglected wife.
The gentleman was always affable.
and general favorite; still, / 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 re 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 a fierce storm
drove us out of our course, and for a
week most of our passengers were toe
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 20 learn thai the lady had died
during the storm, supposedly 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. Tracy'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 beer
foully murdered, without hand hav
ing been raised either to help OF
avenge her.
But L kept my own counsel, for if q
crime had been committed all eyi
dences of it had been swallowed ur
by the sea, and bringing the gull
home would be hopeless undertaking
So tried to dismiss the. affair from
my mind: but at night. in NV state
room, pair of soft, dark eyes seemed
to haunt me, pleading for help. 1 had
no opportunity to see the widower, fol
he remained constantly alone in his
state-room, evidently in too deep attic
6on to come among us.
We arrived in New York two week.
behind time, and found a great dea
Of business waiting for me at the Bu
reau. My attention was occupied bv &
hundred new cases, still l was otter
haunted by Mrs. Tracy's sad eyes. and
the old suspicious would arise as to the
causes that led to her mysterious deatl
at sea.
This was case in which had men.
tally volunteered my services, vet SC
lar could see mo ehoroughfare" to
the end desired. And now, strangely
enough, 1 frequently encountered Mr.
Tracy, the widower, in my wander
ings, and l occasionally devoted some
of my leisure time to shadowing him
so that l became pretty well acquaint
ed with his mode of life, which was moi
at all that of sorrow-stricken man
it was. in fact, decidedly gay career
in which he was indulging
Time rolled on, until it was nearly a
year since my returnfrom Europe, and
with all my experience not a ghost OF
aplan for bringing the gay widower to
justice had one presented itself to my
mind. In this emergency one even.
ing confided the story to my sister
Rose, whose quick intuition had often
Thrown light upon some obscure point
in cases l was studying.
She was interested at once, and after
o little reflection said:
If you will contrive some way to
bring that man here few times in q
social way, / think I will find out some
plan to force full confession from
him"
I smiled little doubtfully at this,
es answered: Il hope you will, sis
ter mine, vet remember, we have not
a particle of evidence against him.
Even the ships surgeon was i'll at the
time of Mrs, Tracy's death and una
BILE to attend her"
aYes. L know all that" answered
Rose. 3but You bring him here and
think we will force full confession
frou him before many weeks roll by.